Henry Williams

A leading and often controversial figure in the Church Missionary Society (CMS), Archdeacon Henry Williams was central to the creation of the Treaty of Waitangi. A former naval officer, he led the translation of the Treaty into te reo Māori and was its most influential advocate among chiefs. His mission extended directly to Marlborough in June 1840, when he sailed into the Sounds to persuade key Ngāti Toa leaders, including the high-ranking chief Nohorua, to add their signatures to the document, a crucial step in establishing British sovereignty.

Listen to Full Article

From Navy to Mission Field

Born in Nottingham, England, in 1792, Henry Williams served in the Royal Navy for over a decade, seeing action during the Napoleonic Wars. After leaving the navy, he felt a calling to missionary work and was ordained in the Church of England. He arrived in New Zealand's Bay of Islands in 1823 to join the CMS mission. His discipline and leadership qualities, honed in the navy, quickly saw him become the head of the mission. He was a pragmatic and determined leader, focused on spreading Christianity and building peaceful relations between Māori and Europeans.

The Treaty and the Marlborough Signings

In February 1840, Lieutenant Governor William Hobson tasked Williams with the urgent translation of the Treaty of Waitangi into Māori overnight, a task he undertook with his son Edward. His explanation of the document was crucial to securing the first signatures at Waitangi. In the following months, Williams embarked on a voyage to collect further signatures. In June 1840, he sailed his schooner, the *Ariel*, to the Marlborough Sounds, an area of strategic importance due to the presence of the powerful Ngāti Toa iwi.

On 19 June, at Horahora-kākahu Island in Port Underwood, Williams successfully persuaded the senior chief Nohorua and another chief, Te Wi, to sign. His established reputation and fluency in the language were key to overcoming their initial reluctance.

These signatures were vital, as they represented the agreement of the most powerful iwi with influence over the South Island at the time. He collected further signatures in the region before returning north, his mission a success.

A Controversial Legacy

Despite his pivotal role in creating the Treaty, Williams's later career was fraught with controversy. He was fiercely criticised by Governor George Grey and others over the large areas of land he had acquired for his family, leading to his dismissal from the CMS in 1849. He was later exonerated and reinstated, but the conflict damaged his reputation. He died in Pakaraka in the Bay of Islands in 1867. Henry Williams remains a complex figure in New Zealand history. He was a man of deep faith who believed the Treaty was an act of protection for Māori, yet he was also a pragmatist who secured his family's future in the new colony. His direct involvement in the Marlborough signings, however, is an undeniable and foundational part of the region's history.