Rev. Henry Williams was a former naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He arrived in NZ in the Brampton in 1823 and settled in Piahia, Bay of Islands. His son was born there in 1825. He was leader of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) mission in New Zealand for many years. Acting as a peacemaker, he tried to stop the fighting at Tauranga and Maketu in 1832 and 1833. With some help from his son, Edward Marsh Williams, in February 1840 Williams translated the Treaty of Waitangi into Māori. In late March of 1840 Henry arrived in Tauranga aboard the schooner Ariel. He left a copy of the Treaty at Te Papa Mission Station for missionaries to gather signatures. He became Archdeacon of Waimate in 1844. Biography by Debbie McCauley.

Sources

1. Tauranga Local History: Henry Williams (1792-1867)