Pai Marire (goodness and peace) was one of several Maori Christian faiths to emerge in the 19th century. Like many others, it was closely tied to issues of land and politics.
At Oihi Beach in the Far North, Marsden preaches in English to a largely Maori gathering, launching the Christian missionary phase of New Zealand history.
The Christian missionaries of the pre-1840s have been described as the 'agents of virtue in a world of vice', although they were not immune to moral blemish themselves.
After charting the coastline, European surveying and exploration of the interior were a fundamental part of the settlement process, defining the boundaries of ownership, and identifying resources, useable land and access routes.
The ritual killing by Pai Marire followers of missionary Carl Völkner in 1865 shocked many people. The government used the event as a reason to take harsh action against Pai Marire in general.
By the later 1830s the British government grew concerned about how land was obtained from Maori. Action was needed, it decided, to protect the interests of Maori from the worst ravages of European impact.
In 1830 Captain William Stewart of the brig Elizabeth entered into a commercial arrangement with Ngati Toa leader Te Rauparaha to ferry a taua (war party) of 100 warriors from their base on Kapiti Island to Banks Peninsula to undertake a surprise attack on northern Ngai Tahu.
Matene Te Whiwhi, about 1870. Henare Matene Te Whiwhi was of Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Toa. As a young man he lived through the turmoil of his people's migration to the Cook Strait region. This may have formed the major theme in his life – the preservation of peace.
Henry Williams believed that too much time and energy had been devoted to teaching 'useful arts and agriculture' as a prelude to conversion. He wanted the mission to spend more time on spiritual teaching.
The Catholic mission fuelled fears of French plans to annex New Zealand, but the number of French missionaries and mission stations remained heavily outnumbered by the Protestant faiths.
Missionary Thomas Kendall is painted with Waikato and Hongi Hika in London in 1820. In 1815 Kendall wrote the first book to be published in the Maori language.
