RIEMENSCHNEIDER, JOHANN CARL (1817-66) was born at Bremen, Germany, and educated at the free schools there and at the Sunday schools, where arithmetic, writing, reading and Scripture were taught. He was much influenced by the preaching of Hermann Muller, in the parish of St Stephen's. Working as an errand boy, he continued his studies as a member of the Bremen young people's club (formed in 1834). The North German Missionary Society was formed in 1836, and between the years 1837-42 Riemenschneider and Wohlers (q.v.) were fellow students at the mission house in Hamburg. They studied the classics and subjects likely to aid them in mission work (including English, geography, natural history, algebra, trigonometry and music), and travelled together during their holidays. With Trost and Heine they reached Nelson in the St Pauli (15 Jun 1843). After ministering to the German colonists at Nelson for some time Riemenschneider proceeded in 1844 to found a mission at Taupo but, finding the district already occupied by the Catholic missionaries, he settled at Motu Karamu, on the Mokau river (Taranaki). There he laboured for a number of years, being the spiritual teacher of both Te Whiu and Tohu, upon whom his teaching had great influence. On the outbreak of the Taranaki war he acted as a go-between for the Government with the Maori tribes, and made a valuable report to Colonel Gold (15 May 1860).

The natives having turned against religion, Riemenschneider was advised by them and by the Governor to leave the district. He moved his family to Nelson (Feb 1861), but returned himself to his station. In 1862 he was offered the post of missioner to the Maori in Otago and he settled at Otago Heads, where he preached and kept a school. In 1863 he became a minister of the Free Church of Scotland.

Riemenschneider married (1849) Katherine, daughter of the Rev William Woon. He died on 31 Aug 1866.

App. H.R., 1861; Richmond papers; Wohlers; Hocken, Bibliog.; L. Tiesmeyer, Eine Deutsche Missionarbeit auf Neu-Seeland, 1875; Buller; Carey; C. S. Ross, The Story of the Otago Church and Settlement (1887).

Reference: Volume 2, page 123

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