Two hundred years ago this month, a small missionary schooner sailed into Tauranga Harbour – a visit that would help shape the future of the region.

The vessel, the Herald, arrived from the Bay of Islands under the direction of Church Missionary Society leader Henry Williams, marking one of the earliest sustained points of contact between European missionaries and local Māori.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga lower northern manager Ben Pick said in a statement that while earlier European ships – including whalers and traders – had entered the harbour, the Herald’s arrival had far greater long-term significance.

“The Herald was among the first European sailing vessels to enter Tauranga Harbour, though it was preceded by a handful of others,” Pick said.

“None of those earlier visits had the same enduring impact.”

The voyage came at a challenging time for northern mission stations, which were struggling with food shortages during the Musket Wars. Ngāpuhi were trading their supplies primarily for muskets and gunpowder, leaving missionaries with limited access to provisions.

Seeking alternative sources, the missionaries turned to Tauranga, where they found abundant supplies of potatoes and pigs.

Historical accounts show the visitors were welcomed by Ngāi Te Rangi, who hosted them at Ōtamatāha Pā – now the site of the Mission Cemetery – providing food and shelter during their stay.

Over three days of trading, the Herald was loaded heavily with potatoes in exchange for goods such as axes and blankets.

However, the missionaries were unable to obtain pigs, which were typically traded for muskets and gunpowder – items the missionaries refused to supply for ethical reasons.

Once fully laden – “as deep as she could swim,” according to one account – the schooner departed Tauranga on June 29, 1826.

Before leaving, the crew distributed fruit trees and vegetable seeds and made a commitment to establish a mission in Tauranga once inter-tribal conflict had eased.

That promise was fulfilled less than a decade later.

In 1835, the Church Missionary Society established the Te Papa Mission on a peninsula between Otūmoetai and Maungatapu.

Remnants of that settlement, including the mission house and library at The Elms, remain the oldest known surviving buildings in the Bay of Plenty.

Pick said the foundations of modern Tauranga can be traced back to the Herald’s visit – almost exactly 200 years ago.

Hark the Herald

Missionary Henry Williams brought a wide range of skills to his work in New Zealand – including shipbuilding.

A former Royal Navy officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, Williams joined the Church Missionary Society in 1819 before arriving in the Bay of Islands in 1823 with his family.

Faced with ongoing supply shortages, he oversaw the construction of the 50-ton schooner Herald at Paihia.

Built with assistance from local Māori and experienced craftsman William Puckey, the vessel measured about 18m in length and quickly became central to the mission’s survival.

Its launch drew large crowds, with an estimated 4000 onlookers gathering to watch the ship slide into the water – an event that left a lasting impression.

Within weeks, the Herald made its maiden voyage to Sydney to complete its fit-out and return with much-needed supplies.