Pioneers of language
In 1820, Bay of Islands rangatira (chiefs) Hongi Hika and Waikato travelled to England with missionary Thomas Kendall. The three went to Cambridge to work with renowned linguist Professor Samuel Lee on Kendall's book, A grammar and vocabulary of the language of New Zealand. While in England, the two rangatira were introduced to
King George IV.
The book was published at the end of the year, laying the foundations for the way te reo Māori is written today.