Bible and Treaty: Missionaries Among the Māori - Keith Newman
In 1867 the influential missionary to the Māori people, Henry Williams, died. Williams had been in New Zealand since 1823 and had been responsible (among many other notable events in his life) for translating the Treaty of Waitangi. In the same year that Williams died, Bishop George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand, who had himself been in New Zealand since 1843, returned to England to take up a new post. This book tells the history of New Zealand - with a particular focus on the work of the early missionaries - from the first arrival of Europeans in these islands up until that point in 1867. Choosing to end the book with the death of Williams and departure of Selwyn seems fitting, as these two figures had massive influence on the shape of Christianity in the country, as well as influencing the shape of the country - and interactions between Māori and Pākehā.
In the modern post-Christian worldview, the early missionaries often get given bad press. They are seen as having been in it for the land, self-serving, and at times very hypocritical. Newman seeks to bring a bit of balance to that accusation. He presents the missionaries as flawed figures, yes, but also highlights the heart that many of them had for the people they were reaching. Williams particularly is cast in a far more positive light than is often portrayed; even his land purchases are recontextualised somewhat through references to his stated aims of putting land 'into a trust' in order to preserve it for Māori. Some of his purchases were for himself and his family, but Newman points out that these purchases were done at a much higher rate than was commonly paid, and that they were not controversial at the time until the New Zealand Company sought to discredit him.
Individual missionaries of lesser prominence are also highlighted, with Thomas Grace being an individual I had never heard of, but whom now I have a great respect for. Even some of those who made terrible choices - such as Thomas Kendall and William Colenso, who both committed adultery with Māori women - have their good points highlighted as well. God can use anyone, even sinners, "of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).
It is also neat to read about the many Māori teachers and missionaries who (although most were not ordained) risked - and in some cases gave - their lives to take the gospel to other tribes. Individuals such as Te Manihera and Kereopa or even the chief Taumata-a-kura greatly helped the gospel by carrying it or by teaching it to their own tribe.
Out of all the major church representatives mentioned in Bible and Treaty, the one who comes off the worst is probably Selwyn! Although his heart for people occasionally shines through, his emphasis on high church structure over the 'simple gospel', his insistence that the Anglicans try to win everyone rather than working with the Wesleyan missionaries for the greater good, and his reluctance to ordain Māori until long after others deemed it appropriate all add up to give a negative feel. Of course, a few of the Governors and the majority of the NZC are seen in a far harsher light, but it does seem unfortunate that Selwyn had such an impact in those early days.
The book is interesting, but not perfect. Newman structures the chapters oddly, meaning that the narrative jumps around in time a lot, sometimes in a fairly confusing manner. He also gives very little commentary on what he is presenting, and although this prevents the book from being one-sided it does lose just a bit of the impact it could have.
Overall though, a helpful resource for anyone interested in this point of New Zealand history.
Completed 23 October 2021.
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