WOON, WILLIAM (1803-58) was born at Truro, Cornwall. As a boy he was apprenticed to the printing trade. Showing evidence of preaching ability, he became a local preacher, and in 1830 he was accepted for the Methodist ministry and appointed to the Friendly Islands mission. In Aug he sailed with James Watkin and Peter Turner in the ship Lloyds, which arrived at Bay of Islands in Jan 1831. After a few weeks at Mangungu they sailed for the Friendly Islands and disembarked at Nukualofa, Tongatabu. Woon's work was mainly in connection with the translation and printing of the scriptures in Tongan. In 1833 he resigned and returned to Mangungu (Jan 1834). A new printing press having just arrived from England, Woon set it going and gave practical assistance to John Hobbs. In Nov 1834 he was appointed to open a mission in the Waikato. He went to Kawhia, and was soon joined by John Whiteley and James Wallis in adjacent stations. In Feb 1836 all were withdrawn by direction of the London committee, and Woon was sent to Manukau and soon afterwards to assist Hobbs and to supervise the printing press. He remained at Hokianga for 10 years and did a vast amount of printing, including a Harmony of the Gospels (1836), primers for school children, hymn books, tracts and many other Maori publications.

On 13 Feb 1840 he witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Hokianga. In Heke's war he ministered to wounded rebels. In Jan 1846 Governor Grey insisted on the removal of white settlers to Auckland for safety and Woon and his family were among the refugees taken from Hokianga in the Government brig Victoria. In 1846 Woon was sent to south Taranaki to minister to the Ngati-Ruanui and Taranaki tribes, the former perhaps the most turbulent and hostile in the North Island. Stationed at Heretoa, Woon carried on his work amongst them until 1853. During this time his rush house was burnt down and all his possessions were destroyed. 'Te Wunu' was a man of gigantic stature and was everywhere admired by the Maori for his physique and his vocal powers. His health necessitated his superannuation in 1854, and he retired to Wanganui, where he acted as postmaster and ministered to the military and the civil population. He died on 22 Sep 1858.

M.A.R.P.

Woon (p); Wells; Morley; Cycl. NZ.

Reference: Volume 2, page 269

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