Story: Anglican Church

Missionary mediators

Missionary mediators

This 1856 drawing depicts unarmed Anglican missionaries William and Henry Williams halting a Māori war party. Henry Williams had been a naval captain and his brother William was a fluent speaker of te reo Māori. By the 1830s both men had the confidence to intervene in disputes between tribal groups, and the mana to prevent violent customs such as utu (revenge) or muru (plundering).

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0151-2-013

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Allan K. Davidson, 'Anglican Church - Missionary beginnings', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/27658/missionary-mediators (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Allan K. Davidson, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 20 Apr 2018