Jean Baptist Pompallier (Bishop Pompallier) was born in Lyon, France on the 11th of December 1801. And in 1838 he ventured to New Zealand.
By 1840 Bishop Pompallier had already established a number of Catholic Missions. Some of the missions include ones in Auckland, Otago, Wellington, Otaki and Rotorua.
In 1842, Pompallier Mission had a printing press. It was used for translating texts from church from Latin in to Te Reo Maori. This shows he was respecting Maori spirituality. That means he respects their religion and their gods. This shows he id a kind man and doesn't want to just shove the bible into their lives. He took a kind slow approach on teaching them about his religion.
Bishop Pompallier lived a life full of adventure. Coming from France and ending up one of the most important Catholics to come to New Zealand.
Bishop Pompallier sadly died in Puteaux 21st December 1871. On 9th January 2001 his remains were then exhumed.
Even today he is looked up to and remembered as New Zealand's first Bishop. There is even now a college called the Pompallier Catholic College.