During and after the Waikato War of 1863-64 in New Zealand, well-connected Wesleyan Methodists capitalized on vacated Māori land on the Ihumātao Peninsula by leasing ‘Native Reserves’ and buying ‘Waste Land’ lots to run cattle. These incursions by two Wesleyan families – the Vercoes and the Wallaces – occurred with the knowledge of Wesleyan reverends … Continue reading Deep History of Ihumātao: The Methodist Connection