HONORE, ABRAHAM (1818-94) was of French Huguenot extraction, and was born at Fredericia, in the Danish province of Jutland. An earnest student of the Bible, he offered his services at the age of 22 to the North German Missionary Society and was accepted. Having been brought up to farm work, his education was inadequate, and he spent two years in the seminary at Hamburg. In 1843, following the arrival of a young Maori from Stewart Island in a German whaler, the Society decided to establish a mission in southern New Zealand and chose Wohlers (q.v.) for the post. When Wohlers had been four years at Ruapuke, Honore was sent out in the Blundell (1848) to assist him. They spent 20 years together, working by day on their farms and preaching on Sundays to a dwindling congregation of Maori. Honore went to Stewart Island (1855). In 1859, when living at Jacob's River, he became naturalised. He was now most of the time on the mainland, and had charge of all the natives between Dunedin and Invercargill until he was persuaded that there was better work in the North Island. He settled at Marton, ministering to the Scandinavians and constantly travelling up and down the coast keeping in touch with the despondent and often hostile tribes of Titokowaru, Te Whiti and Wi Kingi te Rangitake. Though his stipend was never much more than £50 a year he was twice married and brought up a family. He died at Foxton on 23 Jul 1894.

Taranaki Herald, 22 Nov 1873; Beattie, ii; Wohlers; Cycl. N.Z., 1; N.Z. Gaz., 1859.

Reference: Volume 1, page 221

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