An Early Missionary’s Tale (Press, 25 September 1971)
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Summary: An Early Missionary’s Tale (Press, 25 September 1971)
The book "An Account of New Zealand, and of The Church Missionary Society's Mission In the North Island," written by William Yate and edited by Judith Binney, was published by A. H. and A. W. Reed. First released in 1835, this re-issue comes at a time when New Zealand historians and anthropologists are increasingly interested in the work of early missionaries. Judith Binney's introduction offers a compelling overview of Yate’s life and his subsequent expulsion from the Church Missionary Society due to informal accusations of homosexual practices. This incident effectively ended his religious career, and the response from his fellow missionaries involved significant hostility, including rituals that symbolically condemned him. Yate's commitment to studying Maori culture often put him at odds with the prevailing missionary attitudes of his time. Though he engaged deeply with Maori customs, he did so through a Christian lens, reflecting a complex dynamic between acceptance and critique. His writings not only explore Maori customs but also provide descriptions of New Zealand's natural environment, including its flora, fauna, and geography. While the work is chiefly a historical account of early 19th-century New Zealand, it also sheds light on the perspectives and behaviours of the early missionaries, indicating a spectrum of belief and practice within the missionary community. Despite the book’s historical significance, it contains inaccuracies that were noted by readers of Yate's time. The review mentions that it would have been beneficial for the editor, Judith Binney, to include detailed annotations addressing these errors and the author’s biases. The re-issue itself is described as a high-quality photolithographic facsimile of the second edition, although its pricing raises concerns about accessibility for general readers who might prefer a more affordable version. Overall, this re-publication is expected to find an audience due to the growing contemporary interest in the early missionary efforts in New Zealand and the intriguing, albeit contentious, figure of William Yate himself.
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