New Zealand was originally part of the Australasian Mission. Interest in having New Zealand be its own mission grew in 1881 when the preaching to the Maori people began. In 1898 the Australasian Mission was divided to reform the Australian Mission and organize the New Zealand Mission.
In 1907 the periodical Elders' Messenger, began publication in January 1907. It carried a Maori-language supplement called Te Karere. In 1908 Te Karere became its own periodical.
Mission Founded
1898 January 1
Ezra Foss Richards, Sr. Called as President
1898 January 1 – April 28 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1898 January 1
Called
Ended On 1898 April 28
Departed from Field
Ezra Thompson DuFresne Stevenson Called as President
1898 March 4 – 1900 February 18 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1898 March 4
Set Apart
Ended On 1900 February 18
Released
John Ephraim Magleby Called as President
1900 February 18 – 1902 July 26 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1900 February 18
Called
Ended On 1902 July 26
Released
Charles Bart Bartlett Called as President
1902 June 30 – 1905 August 4 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1902 June 30
Set Apart
Ended On 1905 August 4
Released
Louis Gerald Hoagland Called as President
1905 May 12 – 1907 May 15 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1905 May 12
Set Apart
Ended On 1907 May 15
Departed from Field
Rufus Kay Hardy Called as President
1907 February 18 – 1909 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1907 February 18
Set Apart
Ended On 1909
Released
George Bowles Called as President
1909 February 19 – 1911 April 2 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1909 February 19
Set Apart
Ended On 1911 April 2
Released
Orson Douglas Romney Called as President
1911 February 10 – 1914 January 12 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1911 February 10
Set Apart
Ended On 1914 January 12
Released
William Gardner Called as President
1913 November 5 – 1916 May 29 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1913 November 5
Set Apart
Ended On 1916 May 29
Released
James Needham Lambert Called as President
1916 April 28 – 1920 May 5 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1916 April 28
Set Apart
Ended On 1920 May 5
Released
George Shepard Taylor Called as President
1920 November 3 – 1923 July 10 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1920 November 3
Set Apart
Ended On 1923 July 10
Departed from Field
Angus Taylor Wright Called as President
1923 March 30 – 1925 April 26 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1923 March 30
Set Apart
Ended On 1925 April 26
Released
John Howard Jenkins Called as President
1925 July 22 – 1928 May 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1925 July 22
Set Apart
Ended On 1928 May 8
Departed from Field
John Ephraim Magleby Called as President
1928 March 1 – 1932 June 22 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1928 March 1
Set Apart
Ended On 1932 June 22
Released
Rufus Kay Hardy Called as President
1933 June 20 – 1934 November 17 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1933 June 20
Set Apart
Ended On 1934 November 17
Departed from Field
Moroni Charles Woods Called as President
1935 March 1 – 1938 April 3 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1935 March 1
Set Apart
Ended On 1938 April 3
Arrived at Home
Matthew Cowley Called as President
1938 January 18 – 1945 July 30 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1938 January 18
Set Apart
Ended On 1945 July 30
Departed from Field
Media
New Zealand (1898 - ?) Profile
![Elder Sarel Porter on Banjo, Maori Agricultural College Band about 1930](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/P/sarel-orien-porter-11-1907-fs.jpg)
Elder Sarel Porter on Banjo, Maori Agricultural College Band about 1930
![New Zealand Mission headquarters, 1905](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/New Zealand Mission HQ 1905.jpg)
New Zealand Mission headquarters, 1905
![New Zealand Missionaries](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/australian/new-zealand-missionaries-2-PH 9790_f0001_00001.jpg)
New Zealand Missionaries
![Elders outside the Tahoraiti Chapel](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/portraits/D/leland-garn-dastrup-2-1916-fs.jpg)
Elders outside the Tahoraiti Chapel
![New Zealand Mission](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/1915-NewZealand-Missionaries.jpg)
New Zealand Mission
![Mission Home 1916](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/mission-home-auckland, new zealand-1916-fs.jpg)
Mission Home 1916
![Missionaries serving in NZ, at Tamaki Marae, near Dannevirke, 6 April 1895](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/Australasian_missionaries-PH 1044_f0001_i0001_00001.jpg)
Missionaries serving in NZ, at Tamaki Marae, near Dannevirke, 6 April 1895
![Men called to translate Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price from English to Maori](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/missionaries-who-translated-book-of-mormon-to maori-fs.jpg)
Men called to translate Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price from English to Maori
![Elders in the Mission Office](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/Elders_in_NZ_Mission_office_1915-PH 7868_f0003_00013.jpg)
Elders in the Mission Office
![Missionaries repairing bicycles](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/New Zealand missionaries repairing bikes - PH8730.jpg)
Missionaries repairing bicycles
![New Zealand Missionaries, Australasian Mission, in front of Maori whare](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/Ezra-Stevenson-1889-NZ-Missionaries-FS.jpg)
New Zealand Missionaries, Australasian Mission, in front of Maori whare
![Hui Tau Annual Conference, New Zealand, 1916](https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/church-history-people/bc/missionaries/new zealand/hui-tau-new-zealand-annual-mission-conference-1916-fs.jpg)
Hui Tau Annual Conference, New Zealand, 1916