John Hobbs

John Hobbs (22 February 1800 – 24 June 1883) was an English missionary, artisan and interpreter. Along with James Stack, he co-founded the Māngungu Mission in New Zealand.

Early life John Hobbs was born in Thanet, Kent, England, on 22 February 1800. He was the son of Richard Hobbs, a coachbuilder and Wesleyan preacher.

Missionary work In 1816, John Hobbs joined the Wesleyan Church. He became a lay preacher, like his father, three years later. At the end of 1822, Hobbs emigrated to Van Dieman's land in Tasmania, Australia to do missionary work among the convicts. He arrived in Paihia, New Zealand, on 3 August 1823, along with the Rev. Nathaniel Turner, and proceeded to begin his mission at Wesleydale, the Wesleyan mission at Kaeo.

Hobbs' ability to communicate with the Māori people in their tongue made him popular amongst the Māori population and became "unofficial counsellor to several influential chiefs". They had five daughters and two sons. One of his sons was MP Richard Hobbs. He died in 1883 in Auckland and was buried in Grafton Cemetery.

Legacy John Hobbs was greatly admired for his versatility in mechanical matters. He was called upon to tend to the sick, and his relationship with the Maori population was relatively successful due to his ability to speak their language fluently. He assisted in translating the Book of Job into Māori and was one of the three members on the committee that revised Robert Maunsell's translation of the Old Testament into Māori.