Pompallier Mission
$15.00
Pompallier Mission is a much-visited icon in the Bay of Islands. It was first acquired by the New Zealand government in 1943, and 65 years of caring for and learning to understand the heritage building and gardens have created a wealth of information that is condensed into this small book.
It describes the founding of the Catholic missions to Western Oceania, the French Catholic headquarters in Kororareka Russell and pioneer printing by people there caught up at the same time in Treaty [of Waitangi]-making, the impact of New Zealand rapidly becoming a British colony, and the subsequent war - which literally started on their doorstep.
The booklet portrays the mission building that reflected - and survived - generations of change in New Zealand: from bustling tannery and print factory, to dereliction, its conversion into a family home and garden, to complete misconception of its origins and eventual restoration to its earliest appearance and splendour.
The booklet also peoples the building and its gardens with the generations of occupants and users, French, Maori & colonials, past and present: historic images are side by side with today’s visitors using the age-old tools first brought from France by sailing ship.
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