1814 Marsden’s mission

The Reverand Samuel Marsden, the Anglican Chaplain to the British penal colony in New South Wales, was one of the first missionaries in New Zealand. Despite an earlier visit in 1807, a Church Missionary Society (CMS) mission was not established at Rangihoua until December 1814. Three lay missionaries, William Hall, Thomas Kendall and John King, accompanied Marsden, who preached a sermon on Christmas Day – to Māori. This was interpreted for them by local chief Ruatara, who had earlier met Marsden in England. Marsden purchased a supply ship for the mission (the Active), and this was sent on a preliminary voyage in June 1814. At the same time, offences committed against Māori, whether on land or on board ships, led to Thomas Kendall being appointed as Resident Magistrate in the Bay of Islands by New South Wales Governor Macquarie. This was New Zealand's first judicial appointment.