In 1870 William Leonard Williams, known as Leonard Williams to Pakeha and as Mita Renata to Māori bought some suburban sections in Gisborne where he built Te Rau Kahikatea, which became his family home from 1877 until 1894.
It was also to be the nucleus of Te Rau College for the systematic training of Māori students with a view to recruiting the men as ordinands to the ministry. Te Rau was built with money from the property transferred to the New Zealand Mission Trust Board by the London-based Church Missionary Society. This Māori theological college was officially opened in 1885.
This photograph of Te Rau Theological College Māori students was taken Dec 2 1920.
Standing: K Kerekere, P Ngatai, B Nathan, T Titore, P Natene, T Toka, H Ngatai
Sitting: H Pakake, A Paora, W Panapa, Rev. Neild, K Harawira, R Simeon
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