News Release

Renamed Tauranga Park Honours Mormon Missionary Who Loved Maori People and Language

Mayor Stuart Crosby: ‘It’s very important that we recognise people who had a huge influence in the city’

In 1914, 17-year-old Mormon missionary, Matthew Cowley, would often go to a Tauranga park at 6am to pray, fast, read the scriptures, and study the Maori language.

Cowley became fluent in te reo Maori and later in his nearly five-year mission he helped revise and translate Maori scriptures for the Church.

His genuine love for New Zealand and its people ensured he was happy and willing when called to return for a second mission from 1938-1945.  

His assignment was to supervise the missionary program here but in 1940 all foreign missionaries were returned home by the Church because of WWII. Only Cowley stayed on with his family throughout the long war years, sustaining the New Zealand Church and winning the love and respect of its members.

On his return home to the USA in 1945, Cowley was called to serve in the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until his death in 1953.

This week, on Wednesday at 6am, Tauranga City officials, including the mayor, Stuart Crosby, Latter-day Saint and other community leaders gathered to celebrate the renaming of Churchill Park to Matiu Kauri (Matthew Cowley) Grove. ​

Mayor Crosby told the group that the City Council met last October to ratify the renaming of the grove in memory of Cowley, “So his presence will be felt and will be enduring as time goes on.”

“I think that it’s very important that we recognize people who had a huge influence in the city.”

Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, local leader Francis Fitzpatrick responded to Mayor Crosby’s remarks. 

“We appreciate you acknowledging this for us and approving it as a council; and we are, indeed, very thankful for this.”

Reweti Peri Kohu, whose grandparents were baptized by Cowley, said he was known as “The War Missionary,” because he served in New Zealand during the First World War and then came back as mission president throughout the years of the Second World War. 

“More importantly,” Mr Kohu said, “we had 18 men that were with the Maori Battalion and they had a blessing that Matthew Cowley gave those soldiers….that all 18 would return home. And that’s what happened. So this is a special memory for us of that occasion.”

Mr Fitzpatrick noted that this week’s gathering was “in a way, a centennial.” 

“Matthew Cowley first arrived in New Zealand in November of 1914 and spent much of his time right here in this reserve, where he was pondering the words of the scriptures and in particular, learning the Maori language.

“We want to recognize his tremendous efforts and his contributions to the Tauranga people, and particularly the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, much of whom are Maori people that live in this area.” 

He added, “I’m sure that Matthew Cowley would appreciate the acknowledgement of other men and women of whatever faith or whatever background that have made contributions to society and to our nation. And I’m sure that he would like to honour them also as we honour him this morning.”

Many members of families influenced personally by Matthew Cowley were present at this Wednesday’s ceremony and were recognized as descendants of some of Cowley’s first converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They sang a musical number dedicated to Cowley and hosted a breakfast following the service as a thank you to Tauranga City and those attending.

Local Latter-day Saint, Tamati Tata, was a leading exponent of the effort to honour Matthew Cowley in this way. He and others met with City officials over many months to make the necessary plans. A commemorative plaque is being designed and will be placed in the park later this year.

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, says this of Cowley: “His knowledge of the language and enjoyment of their hospitality inspired a warm regard among Maori, who called him Matiu Kauri. Cowley used the printed slogan, “Kia ngawari” (be patient) to instil the faith.”

Watch a video of Matthew Cowley presenting a gift to Princess Te Puea in 1939:

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.