Abstract:
No study of the history of new Zealand is possible which does not include the study of Missionary enterprise. And this study cannot be limited to those years prior to 1840 when the missionaries were almost the sole white inhabitants of the country. The story of the missionary and the political history of New Zealand are inextricably interwoven. In the history of no other nation has the missionary played such an important part. Captain Hobson had to enlist the support of the missionaries in the negotiation of the Trety of Waitangi and it is no idle boast on the part of the champions of the missionaries, to say that these men had but to say the word and Hobson would have been utterly unable to secure any signatures for his document. Later the missionaries were called upon on countless occasions to act as peace-makers, as intermediaries between the government and the Maoris and as advisers to the Governor. Even as late as 1858 and in following years the government officials found it necessary to secure the assistance of members of the missionary body in the compilation of census returns for they realised that it was within the power of these men to secure information which it would have been impossible for Government servants to obtain.