The development of Maori Christianity in the Waiapu diocese until 1914 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University

Abstract

In making a study and interpreting the development of Maori Christianity in the diocese of Waiapu, this work has been confined mainly to the forms and direction assumed by the Maori section of the Anglican Church. Whilst the apparent narrowness of this study is somewhat limiting, this should not prevent its purpose being fulfilled within the given period of the study. Throughout the whole period under survey, that is until 1914, Anglicanism was the predominant Maori religion in the area covered by the diocese. Until the wars in the 1860s it had only one rival for the loyalty of the Maoris in the area, - that of Roman Catholicism, whose adherents were a distinctive minority. By 1914 the Roman Catholic, as well as the Presbyterian Church and the Salvation Army, who were now working in the area, were still minority groups concentrating mainly on various parts of the Bay of Plenty region. Whilst Maori initiative and leadership may also have been emerging here, the emphasis appears, on the surface, to be rather more on the mission aspect. After the wars the Ringatu religion emerged strongly in some areas in the Waiapu diocese, to rank second in numerical strength among the Maori Churches. It would have been impossible within the scope of this thesis to have included more than a brief comparative survey of this religion which has already been the subject of a thesis by Lyons 1 E.Lyons "Te Kooti:Priest and warrior and founder of Ringatu church" (1931, no location) as well as a study by W.Greenwood. 2 W.Greenwood The Upraised Hand. (Wellington, 1942.) Mormonism which developed strongly in the Southern Hawkes Bay area from the l880s onward, has been treated even more cursorily. However this again has been the subject of a much more recent and detailed thesis by I.Barker. 3I.Barker "The Connexion:The Mormon Church and the Maori People" (Victoria University,1967.) The predominance of Maori Anglican christianity, its longer history and more widespread nature should therefore allow sufficient scope for this type of study. Whilst avoiding too narrow a specialisation for this subject by confining it to Maori Anglican christianity, it has also kept it to manageable limits.