Submitted by admin on April 22, 2009 - 21:51
Missionary Interests Abroad
Until 1913 New Zealand Methodism shared the responsibilities of Australasian Methodism for its extensive missions in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, New Britain, Papua, India, and the Western Solomon Islands. In 1922 this last-named group was separated to become the sole overseas missionary field of the New Zealand church. Today there are 30 New Zealand missionary workers in these islands serving a Methodist community of 21,000 people. The medical unit makes a large contribution to public health. In addition, a few New Zealand Methodists work in other Pacific islands under the Australasian Board of Missions. Yet again, since 1953, New Zealand Methodism has been associated with that board in a joint enterprise in the highlands of New Guinea, where there are now four New Zealand Methodists working.