Abstract

In 1991 Allan Davidson sounded a lament over the lack of historical analysis and reflection on the overseas missionary involvement of New Zealand churches and individuals. In the same decade a range of university research theses emerged that either used missionary archives or subjected the missionary phenomenon to closer analysis. These employed the conceptual and analytical language of feminist, gender and postcolonial studies, and reflected current historiographical concerns – especially women’s history, Pacific history and culture contact and the interface between New Zealanders and modern nationalist movements. Predating both Davidson’s lament and the works of the 1990s there was a raft of writings that, to greater or lesser extents, engaged critically with the historical details and issues.

This paper will take a broad sweep of these trends. It will select representative examples of writing dating from the early twentieth century through until the present day. It will attempt to delineate the main features of these writings and the extent to which they inform a more rigorous critique of mission history. The paper will then conclude by indicating areas for further research and reflection.

ANZAMS Home Page + International Association for Mission Studies