Missionary settlement in New Zealand

In 1788 the first English and Irish settlers arrived in Australia. They were felons, debtors, and criminals, whose punishment was "transportation" to a penal colony in Australia. An Anglican priest, Richard Johnson, traveled with them. Since Australia was a part of English colonialism, Anglicanism was the official church; it ministered to the growing Anglo population and, often with the support of missionary societies, engaged in missionary work among the aborigines. In 1814 Anglicans began a mission to the Maori people in New Zealand.