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Maori Mission Birthday Gift League
The Maori Mission Birthday Gift League began in a simple way. In 1904 the Rev H. J. Fletcher of addressed a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery on Maori Missions at St. Paul's Church. It was snowing, and only six ladies arrived.
One statement in this address impressed a Mrs Venebles, 'If the Presbyterians in New Zealand would give one shilling per annum per member, this would supply the committee with all the funds it needed for the work in view'. She made this statement a subject for prayer and discussion among the ladies. They launched a scheme under the name of Maori Mission Birthday League.
The idea was to organise a register of birthdays of all the members of the Church, to get from each one of them the sum of no less than one shilling as a thank offering for each anniversary.
The scheme was first mentioned and commended at General Assembly 1906.
In 1908 over forty branches were reported. In 1910 the membership was about 4000 collecting £184. In 1936 the membership reached over 20 000 contributing £1079.
The annual meeting of the Association of Prewbyterian Women (APW) held in Dunedin resolved in October 1969 'that the Annual General Meeting of the APW agree to constitute the Maori Mission Birthday League on the broader basis of a Mission Birthday Gift and funds be allocated to all Departments of Church work. This to be implemented immediately.' APW was responsible for organising the distribution of the envelopes while the Church Treasurer dealt with the money, forwarding it to the General Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church for the Assembly Enterprises Budget. It was allocated to the Maori Synod, overseas mission and home mission projects with the Budget. Later APW had some say about which projects should be supported.
In 1996, all APW funds traditionally held by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand were transferred by the APW. This included Mission Birthday Gift, so that now the money went directly to the APW Regional Committees and Presbyterials in the same way the Stamp Fund money did and then sent to the National APW Treasurer.
At the end of each financial year - 30 September - the money was allocated to various areas of the national church's work, such as Global Mission and to projects overseas and in New Zealand chosen by the APW. A list of allocations was published each year in the Harvest Field.
One statement in this address impressed a Mrs Venebles, 'If the Presbyterians in New Zealand would give one shilling per annum per member, this would supply the committee with all the funds it needed for the work in view'. She made this statement a subject for prayer and discussion among the ladies. They launched a scheme under the name of Maori Mission Birthday League.
The idea was to organise a register of birthdays of all the members of the Church, to get from each one of them the sum of no less than one shilling as a thank offering for each anniversary.
The scheme was first mentioned and commended at General Assembly 1906.
In 1908 over forty branches were reported. In 1910 the membership was about 4000 collecting £184. In 1936 the membership reached over 20 000 contributing £1079.
The annual meeting of the Association of Prewbyterian Women (APW) held in Dunedin resolved in October 1969 'that the Annual General Meeting of the APW agree to constitute the Maori Mission Birthday League on the broader basis of a Mission Birthday Gift and funds be allocated to all Departments of Church work. This to be implemented immediately.' APW was responsible for organising the distribution of the envelopes while the Church Treasurer dealt with the money, forwarding it to the General Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church for the Assembly Enterprises Budget. It was allocated to the Maori Synod, overseas mission and home mission projects with the Budget. Later APW had some say about which projects should be supported.
In 1996, all APW funds traditionally held by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand were transferred by the APW. This included Mission Birthday Gift, so that now the money went directly to the APW Regional Committees and Presbyterials in the same way the Stamp Fund money did and then sent to the National APW Treasurer.
At the end of each financial year - 30 September - the money was allocated to various areas of the national church's work, such as Global Mission and to projects overseas and in New Zealand chosen by the APW. A list of allocations was published each year in the Harvest Field.
Maori Mission Birthday Gift League. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 15/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8259
