The day Pakeha called NZ home

Dignitaries arrive at the Rangihoua Heritage Park. Photo / Peter Calder

The rain that had threatened all week was nowhere to be seen as more than 500 people gathered on a hilltop in the Bay of Islands yesterday to celebrate the bicentenary of Pakeha settlement in New Zealand.

The occasion was marked by the official opening by the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, of the Rangihoua Heritage Park, dominated by the soaring structure Rore Kahu (soaring eagle) on the hill of the same name overlooking Rangihoua Bay.

It was 200 years ago today that the brig Active dropped anchor in the bay.

On board was the Rev Samuel Marsden, who brought with him the three settler families of Thomas Kendall, John King and William Hall - the first Europeans to come to these islands to stay.

They had come at the invitation of the local Ngapuhi leader Ruatara, who had stayed with Marsden on his farm at Parramatta, west of Port Jackson (modern Sydney), and was keen to set up a school and establish trading links with New South Wales.

Sir Jerry was joined by Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson and Maggie Barry, Minister of Conservation, whose department is a partner with local hapu Ngati Torehina in the park development.

Mr Finlayson reflected the jovial mood of proceedings when he looked around at the representatives of many Ngapuhi hapu and remarked that "I have never seen Ngapuhi so unified; we should do this more often".

The substantial Anglican representation attested to the significance of the place in local Christian history: three days after the Active's arrival, on Christmas Day, Marsden conducted the first Christian service on New Zealand soil, an occasion that will have its own commemoration on Thursday on the site by the Celtic cross that marks the probable spot of his sermon.

From left: Maggie Barry, John King and Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae inside the marquee.

Formalities, in the shade of a large white marquee, concluded with prayers led by the bishops, including one from Australia.

Several speakers emphasised that the occasion was an important one in the history of the nation, and not just one of its churches.

John King, chairman of the Marsden Cross Trust Board, which oversaw the park's establishment (and a descendant of one of the original settlers) said the settlement was a result of the friendship that developed between Marsden and Ruatara.

"That accord marks the beginning of the relationship between [Maori and Pakeha] and we are here to celebrate the warmth of that beginning."