Octavius Hadfield 		December 11
Bishop
Octavius Hadfield was born on the Isle of Wight in 1814 and spent his early years in various parts of Europe. In 1832 he went to Pembroke College, Oxford, but had to give up because of ill health. He recovered, and eventually fulfilled his wish to become a missionary, being accepted by the Church Missionary Society in 1837. Because he did not have a degree, he was not accepted for ordination in England. He went to Australia in 1838 and while in Sydney was made a deacon. In 1839 Bishop Broughton of Sydney was asked to visit New Zealand to report on the church in this country. Hadfield accompanied the bishop to Auckland, where he became the first priest to be ordained in New Zealand. 
Hadfield worked for a while at Waimate North, learning the Maori language. He volunteered to go with Tamihana, son of the famous Te Rauparaha, and his cousin Matene Te Whiwhi, who had come north seeking a missionary for the Kapiti coast (see 18 May). Hadfield, still in poor health, offered to spend what might remain of his life in the service of the people of Otaki. Working from Otaki among the Ngati Toa and the Ngati Raukawa and also from Waikanae among the Te Ati Awa, Hadfield established churches and schools. The gospel became well established, and the formerly warring tribes made peace. Hadfield soon earned the profound respect of both Maori and pakeha, both the humblest folk of each race as well as their rangatira and leaders. One of his finest achievements was to plead for peace when, as an aftermath of the Wairau incident in 1843, Te Rauparaha was determined to destroy the pakeha settlement at Wellington.
In 1844 Hadfield’s health broke down completely, and for four years he was close to death. But throughout his illness he was an influential figure in Wellington, being frequently consulted by the new governor, George Grey, especially on matters of Maori land tenure. By 1849 his health had improved, and he returned with acclamation to Otaki, where his restoration was celebrated in the great new Rangiatea Church, built under the direction of Te Rauparaha. Hadfield was made archdeacon of Kapiti, and in 1852 married Catherine Williams, the third daughter of Henry and Marianne Williams.
For a time the work in Otaki continued to flourish, but Hadfield found himself increasingly at odds with government policy over Maori affairs, and in particular over the war which erupted in Waitara in 1860. He suffered much vilification in the press, being described as “a traitor and a bigoted, meddlesome missionary”. In the end even Prime Minister Stafford agreed that Hadfield had been proved right. In the course of the dispute Hadfield published three influential pamphlets on the war. He was also involved with a petition for the recall of the governor, and had to defend himself before the House of Representatives in August 1860. Later in the 1860s Hadfield supported Ngati Raukawa in their claims before the Native Land Court.
When the Diocese of Wellington was formed in 1858, Hadfield was offered the bishopric, but declined. When Bishop Abraham resigned in 1870, Hadfield, now fifty-six years of age, was again offered the position and this time accepted it. As bishop of Wellington and later as primate (1890-1893), Hadfield was a defender of the independence of the New Zealand church from the mother Church of England. He was a fine administrator and an enthusiastic supporter of Sunday schools and church schools. He followed carefully and critically the intellectual controversies of his times, and worked indefatigably to see churches and parishes established throughout the Diocese of Wellington. Hadfield retired to Marton in 1893 and died there in 1904 in his ninety-first year. 
For Liturgical Use
Octavius Hadfield was born in England in 1814. Although ill health forced the curtailment of his university studies, he came to New Zealand in 1839 as a missionary, determined to serve God faithfully in what he expected to be a short life. He became a great evangelist and teacher of the Maori people on the Kapiti Coast, and was a tremendous influence for good upon the leaders of both races. He became bishop of Wellington in 1870 and primate of New Zealand in 1890. He played his part in securing justice for both Maori and pakeha and in establishing a well-ordered church in this land. He retired in 1893 and died in 1904.
Sentence
Not to us O Lord not to us, but to your name give the glory, because of your love and your faithfulness.		Psalm 115:1
Collects
E te Atua kaha rawa, 
you gave your servant Octavius Hadfield
strength out of weakness and faithful love
to enrich the church in Aotearoa;
may we strive for justice and, 
with equal care for all,
make known your truth,
for the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

E te Atua kaha rawa,
praise to you for Octavius, whom you called 
to preach the gospel, 
to serve the Maori people,
and to build Rangiatea;
may we have his strength, no matter who opposes us.
Psalms	37:23-32	62
Readings
Jeremiah 1:4-10		God’s call
2 Corinthians 2:12-17	A door was opened
Mark 1:35-39		Travelling to preach
Post Communion Sentence
We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.	2 Corinthians 4:7