Recent discussion related to the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill into Parliament has led to questions being directed to the Wesley Historical Society (NZ).

With a request to provide clarification of some statements made about the involvement of the Wesleyan Missionaries and the influence that they had at the locations where some signings took place.

The Wesley Historical Society requested that Rev Gary Clover record a summary of what is contained in available writings. He provided a detailed and informative account of which missionaries were present /not present at a number of significant signings, with accompanying references to recognised historical publications.

This is a brief summary of the involvement of the Wesleyan Missionaries at signings at Waitangi and Māngungu, Whaingaroa, Āotea, and Waiharakeke, based on Rev Gary’s account.

Waitangi, February 5-6, 1844

Samuel Ironside - arrived in New Zealand on 19 March 1839, so he had just 10 months of NZ experience. He had developed some fluency in te reo and was invited by Tamati Waka Nene to accompany him to Waitangi.

Signed as a Wesleyan witness.

Māngungu, Hokianga February 12, 1844

John Hobbs – NZ missionary since August 1823, Chairman of NZ Mission, 1839-1844; Hobson’s interpreter at Māngungu.

William Woon – 2¾ years’ experience in Tonga, 1831-33; NZ missionary and printer since January 1834; stationed at Newark (Pākanae),1839-40. A Wesleyan witness who signed at Māngungu.

(Reputably, 56+ signatures were gathered here: the greatest number at any one signing)

Kawhia District:

James Wallis & John Whiteley – at Whaingaroa (Raglan), Āotea, and Waiharakeke (inland Kāwhia Habour)

Wallis arrived in  NZ on 1 December 1834. Whiteley arrived in NZ on 21 May 1833.

While there were many other signings of the Treaty of Waitangi and/or Te Tiriti o Waitangi around New Zealand / Aotearoa, there is no record of any of the Wesleyan Missionaries being present or exercising what may have been regarded as an influence at any of these.