Revealing previously unpublished material and drawing new conclusions about the period, this chronicle explores the intricacies of early Maori church building in New Zealand. Focusing on the Anglican and Church Missionary Society structures that dominated the period, this guide also takes a closer look at British church construction and early interactions between Maori and missionaries. Insights into the resolutions of key arguments over carving and painting as well as the use of liturgical space are provided, examining particular buildings in detail. A groundbreaking work in its genre, this account sheds new light on the history of religion, architecture, and the presence of the Maori and Pakeha peoples in New Zealand.