New Zealand

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1902

The Third Angel's Message has begun to be proclaimed among the natives of New Zealand, the Maoris. In the Union Conference Record (Australia) Brother E. H. Gates makes this report of the beginning of the work:—

“As our readers are all aware, a plan is on foot to establish a mission among the Maoris of New Zealand. At the last Union Conference it was voted to donate the Sabbath-school contributions for the last quarter of 1901 to the work in that field. With the object of finding a suitable location for such a mission, Dr. Caldwell and myself took a trip of several hundred miles through different parts of New Zealand. This trip included a part of the King country.

“After carefully looking over the ground, we decided that Kawhia, on the west coast about ninety miles south of Auckland, was a suitable place for our mission.

“Kawhia is within the borders of the King country, has a good harbor, and is a growing community. Around the Kawhia harbor live several hundred Maoris, and there is no missionary among them. We had hoped that Dr. Caldwell would move with his family to this place several months ago, but for different reasons he was prevented from doing so. As some of our brethren in the north part of the island felt that the mission could be profitably started among the Maoris in that section, a few weeks ago Pastor Baker and Dr. Caldwell took a horseback trip through the country round about Kaeo, Bay of Islands, etc.

“A week or two ago they extended their travels to the King country, visiting on the way the secretary of the native king, who gave them valuable information concerning the settlement of the country round Kawhia.

“At the village the brethren were kindly and hospitably entertained by a gentleman who had become interested in health reform at our sanitarium in South Africa. On Sunday night a religious service was held with a fair-sized congregation. Pastor Baker, who had not previously visited this place, was much pleased with Kawhia and the surrounding country, and advised that Dr. Caldwell at once settle in Kawhia, at least temporarily, and permanently if Providence so indicates.

“The native king expects soon to build a large house near Kawhia, which, if done, will probably attract a large number of natives to that region. All the indications seem to favor the establishment of a mission at that place.

Maori Literature

“Several thousand copies of a thirty-two-page Maori tract on the second advent have just been shipped to the New Zealand Tract Society, from which place they will be distributed to the different Maori settlements by the brethren attending the coming camp-meeting.

“About two thirds of the Maori ‘Christ Our Saviour’ has been printed, most of the remainder has been set up in type, and part of the proofs are in the hands of a competent Maori scholar for correction. Every step we have taken to get this book translated and printed has been contested by the enemy; but we believe it will soon be finished and ready for the market. The enemy will not always be permitted to hold back this work.”