17 Facts About Octavius Hadfield

Octavius Hadfield was Archdeacon of Kapiti, Bishop of Wellington from 1870 to 1893 and Primate of New Zealand from 1890 to 1893.

Octavius Hadfield was a member of the Church Missionary Society for thirty years.

Octavius Hadfield was recognised as an authority on Maori customs and language.

Octavius Hadfield was born into an affluent family but often had very poor health and nearly died on several occasions.

Octavius Hadfield received an excellent university education but did not finish his degree due to ill health.

Octavius Hadfield was admitted to deacon's orders in September 1838 in Sydney by William Broughton, bishop of Australia.

Octavius Hadfield was very friendly with Samuel Marsden but did not share his views on high church Anglicanism.

Octavius Hadfield was stationed at Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

Octavius Hadfield became close friends with the Ngati Toa leader Te Rauparaha who had led the invasion of the wider Wellington region during the long running Musket Wars.

Octavius Hadfield buried Te Rauparaha in 1849 after his release from imprisonment.

Octavius Hadfield became part of the Otaki Ngati Raukawa community where he made every effort to learn Maori language and customs and shared these with governor George Grey.

Octavius Hadfield lived in the community for 30 years, established 20 mission schools and became well integrated into the Maori community.

Octavius Hadfield lived in an age when the early influence of missionaries had declined.

Octavius Hadfield became far less popular when in 1860 he upheld Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake's claim to the Waitara block.

The surveying of this land prior to military occupation precipitated the First Taranaki War, and Octavius Hadfield became a leading critic of the Government in these actions.

Octavius Hadfield "was for some time the most unpopular man in the colony".

Octavius Hadfield was described in the press at the time as "a traitor and a bigoted meddlesome missionary".