This ground-breaking book explores the birth, growth, struggles and ongoing life of Te Hahi Mihinare - the Maori Anglican Church.
Anglicanism arrived in New Zealand with the first English missionaries in 1814 but was made widely known by Maori evangelists. The new religion profoundly influenced some iwi, who in turn adapted and made it their own. The ways in which Mihinare (Maori Anglicans) engaged with the settler Anglican Church in New Zealand and created their own unique church casts light on the broader question of how Maori interacted on their own terms with European culture and institutions.
A cast of memorable characters, including nationally wellknown figures such as Apirana Ngata and internationally significant figures, such as Bishop Azariah from India, vividly people the pages of this fascinating book. Author Hirini Kaa describes the quest for a Maori Anglican bishop, the translation into te reo of the prayer book, and the development of a distinctive Maori Anglican ministry. In the process, Kaa uncovers a rich history that enhances our understanding of New Zealand's past.
