Kerikeri Mission House, Heritage building in Far North District, New Zealand
The Kerikeri Mission House is a two-story Georgian building made of Kauri wood with weatherboard cladding, a veranda, and two chimneys. The structure shows typical features of early European architecture adapted for New Zealand conditions.
Built in 1822 by Reverend John Butler under Samuel Marsden's direction, the house is the oldest surviving European residential building in New Zealand. It marks the start of European settlement and missionary work in the Bay of Islands.
The building reflects early meetings between European missionaries and local Ngāpuhi people, as both Māori and European workers built it together. Walking through the rooms, you see how two cultures lived and worked side by side during this period.
The house operates as a public museum beside the Stone Store, giving visitors direct access to early colonial architecture. The rooms are easy to walk through and provide a clear picture of daily life during that era.
The Kemp family held the property for 142 years before it eventually passed to the Historic Places Trust. This long family presence kept the house connected to local history rather than making it feel like just a museum.
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