Influence of the CMS in New Zealand New Zealand Church Missionary Society

a press @ haven of history , reconstruction of cms mission station in paihia, press in same style of william colenso s

the concern european impact on new zealand, particularly lawlessness among europeans , breakdown in traditional restraints in māori society, meant cms welcomed united kingdom s annexation of new zealand in january 1840, henry williams assisting captain william hobson translating document became known treaty of waitangi. henry williams involved in explaining treaty māori leaders, firstly @ meetings william hobson @ waitangi, later when travelled port nicholson, queen charlotte s sound, kapiti, waikanae , otaki persuade māori chiefs sign treaty. involvement in these debates brought him increasingly uncomfortable role of mediating between 2 races .

the cms reached height of influence in new zealand in 1840s , 1850s. missions covered whole of north island , many māori baptised. number of māori attended public worship @ cms churches estimated @ 50,000 , communicants @ between 5,000 , 6,000. māori converts engaged in missionary work. 2 killed in 1847 when travelled onto land of hostile māori. murderers later welcomed christian missionary reside in land.

the cms missionaries held low church beliefs common among 19th century evangelical members of anglican church. there wide gap between views of cms missionaries , bishops , other clergy of high church traditions of oxford movement (also known tractarians) proper form of ritual , religious practice. bishop selwyn, appointed first anglican bishop of new zealand in 1841, held high church (tracharian) views although appointed cms missionaries positions in anglican church of new zealand including appointing william williams first bishop of waiapu.