samuel marsden

Biography

Samuel Marsden

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

Events In History

6 March 1830

Outbreak of the 'Girls' War' at Kororāreka

The so-called ‘Girls‘ War’ was fought between northern and southern Ngāpuhi at Kororāreka (now Russell). Up to 100 Māori were killed or wounded in the fighting, after which the northern alliance took control of the important settlement. Read more...
17 April 1820

General Gates sent to Sydney under guard

The American sealer General Gates – named for a War of Independence general and commanded by Captain Abimileck Riggs – had sailed from Boston in October 1818. Read more...
25 September 1819

New Zealand's first grapevines planted?

Missionary Samuel Marsden planted a vineyard at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) station at Kerikeri. Read more...
25 December 1814

First Christian mission established

At Hohi (Oihi) Beach in the Bay of Islands, Samuel Marsden preached in English to a largely Māori gathering, launching New Zealand’s first Christian mission. Read more...

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.
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Page 2 - Establishing the Church Missionary SocietySamuel Marsden was a key figure in the establishment of the first Christian mission in New Zealand.

An important feature of early cross-cultural contact in New Zealand was the role of intermediaries (kaiwhakarite) who acted as go-betweens – people from one culture who lived within the other culture and helped bridge the gap between the two.

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Page 3 - Māori intermediaries: RuataraIn 1805 the Ngāpuhi chief Ruatara left New Zealand on the whaling ship Argo with the intention of meeting King George