December 2014 marks the bicentenary of the Revd Samuel Marsden's arrival in the Bay of Islands with the first Church Missionary Society families. Ruatara, Hongi Hika, Korokoro and five other kinsmen accompanied them from Australia across the Tasman. Marsden's sermon and theservice he led on Christmas Day formally inaugurated the mission in New Zealand. This unique missionary beginning was encouraged by the friendship that had developed between Marsden and Ruatara, a Rangatira in the Bay of Islands. Christianity was being evaluated and tested by local leaders and their Iwi. Considerable historical debates have taken place over these early missionary beginnings and their implications. The essays in this volume explore different aspects of the influentual Anglican missionary background and beginnings, interactions between Maori and missionaries and historical reflections and reactions.