NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online - samuel marsden

Establishing the Church Missionary Society

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Samuel Marsden and the Church Missionary Society

A key figure in the establishment of the first Christian mission in New Zealand was Samuel Marsden. During his time in Australia as chaplain to the penal colony, he met many visiting Maori and developed a close association with the Rangihoua chief Ruatara.

Maori intermediaries: Ruatara

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Several Maori men travelled the world after joining the crews of ships visiting New Zealand.

In 1805 the Nga Puhi chief Ruatara, from Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands, left New Zealand on the whaling ship Argo with the intention of meeting King George III. Over the next four years he served on several whaling ships and received mixed treatment. He never met the King, but in 1809 he encountered the missionary Samuel Marsden, who was returning to Port Jackson (Sydney) on the convict vessel Ann.

Samuel Marsden

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Reverand Samuel Marsden was the driving force behind the establishment of Anglican mission stations in New Zealand.

NZ's first Christian service?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

At Oihi Beach in the Bay of Islands, Samuel Marsden preached in English to a largely Maori gathering, launching the Christian missionary phase of New Zealand history.

Samuel Marsden

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Samuel Marsden's first service

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Russell Clark's reconstruction of Samuel Marsden's Christmas Day service at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands in 1814 is how many New Zealanders have visualised the first Christmas service in this country.