He managed to produce a few hymn sheets and another catechism, Ko te katikihama III (1830), before 'forswearing the business as hopeless'. However, his own craftsmanship was not a success. In 1830 he was sent to Sydney to print their first effort: 550 copies of an untitled collection of biblical extracts, the Ten Commandments, some hymns, and two catechisms in Māori. Much of his time was spent, with William Williams and William Puckey, in preparing the first mission texts. Considered 'intelligent and gifted', he acquired, at least in English-speaking circles, a reputation as a powerful preacher. Yate's tasks were to make a study of the Māori language, and to teach in the mission schools. He was to work among the Māori at the Bay of Islands until June 1834.
![william yate william yate](https://s3.amazonaws.com/CFSV2/obituaries/photos/3159/286648/556e0075b9735.jpg)
After a brief stay with Samuel Marsden, chaplain of New South Wales, at Parramatta, he arrived at Paihia, on the missionary vessel Herald, on 19 January 1828. Having spent a year as a curate at St Swithin's Church in east London, Yate sailed in 1827 for New Zealand as a CMS settler. He was ordained deacon on 18 December 1825, and priest, specifically for work in the 'Colonies', on. There he acquired all his formal education. He attended the Church Missionary Society's teaching institution at Islington, London, in 1825. His motivation was, in part, the desire to better himself. After finishing his apprenticeship, he determined to become a missionary. He was brought up in Bridgnorth, and at the age of 14 was apprenticed to a grocer. William Yate was born on 3 November 1802 and baptised in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England, the son of Betty and John Yate of the parish of St Mary Magdalene. This biography, written by Judith Binney, was first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography in 1990.