Francis William Mary Redwood SM (6 April 1839 – 3 January 1935), was the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Metropolitan of New Zealand.

[2][3] His father had bought land from the New Zealand Company, and the family settled in Waimea West in the Nelson district.

[1] After three years of teaching at Catholic University School, Redwood suffered a near fatal bout of pneumonia in 1867 and went to Lyon to convalesce.

[citation needed] Redwood was consecrated by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning at St Anne's, Spitalfields, London, on 17 March 1874.

Redwood spent his time appealing for funds in France and personnel in Ireland before returning to New Zealand in November 1874.

This would have strengthened the largely Irish diocesan clergy at the expense of the Marists, who successfully petitioned Rome to overturn both recommendations.

[citation needed] For 26 years (1877–1903), he served on the Senate of the University of New Zealand where he played an active part in its proceedings.

[citation needed] At the Diocesan Synod, in 1878, Redwood framed the practical Canon law for the New Zealand Church.