When I was a university student… a number of Maori were arguing that we were colonised by Christianity: that these (foreign) thoughts were put in our head.

I want to say… that I do not believe that that was the case, at all.

The Christian message had a natural appeal to Maori – and Maori were active in seeking it out and promoting it themselves.

Let me refer, then, to Ruatara. Ruatara went over to London to hunt out what it was that gave strength to the British people.

He came to the view that it was their spirituality and their religion.

He went to Australia to hunt out someone who could bring that message to New Zealand, and brought over Marsden.

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