Russell's Christ Church is the oldest church in New Zealand, and one of the most historic sites in Northland, capturing both Maori and European history.

The church was built in 1835 or 1836, and is considered the third oldest building in New Zealand.

The church was built at a time of turmoil in the Bay of Islands, in particular in Kororareka, now Russell, which was better known as a port where whalers and sealers came to seek supplies for voyage, and indulged in bouts of drinking and debauchery. The Maori population in this area had been corrupted by the ill behaviour of visiting ships and some European settlers, and in general the town had a poor reputation.

The church was built by Gilbert Mair under the guidance of the Reverend Charles Baker, one of the Bay of Islands missionaries whose name has been remembered at Baker Street, in Russell. The land for the church was given by local Maori on the condition that it would be a place where both Maori and Pakeha could be buried side by side. This agreement of equal rights has been honoured, with the church's gravestones telling some touching tales of both Maori and Pakeha, young and old, coming together in life and then death.

When the H.M.S. Herald arrived in the Bay on 29 January 1840, bringing Governor Hobson to New Zealand, it was at this church that both Maori and Pakeha gathered to hear Proclamations read.

In the presence of several hundred locals, James Busby and a group of missionaries, Hobson read the two Proclamations. These made reference to the establishment of a civil government for Aotearoa, New Zealand, and called for the support of the new Lieutenant-Governor by all loyal citizens, and outlined a Government appointed Commission which would be appointed to examine land claims.

The Maori chief Moka Te Kainga-mataa was present at the reading of the proclamations by Hobson and of the 41 signatories, he was the sole Maori signatory to the document.

The church is one of the few buildings left standing after the ransacking of Kororareka by Hone Heke, after the town's three churches were laid under tapu and guarded by Heke during the fighting. The only damage sustained to the church are several bullet holes caused by muskets to the outer walls. After the sacking, the three churches were the only buildings which remained standing.

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