Hopeful that the missionaries would help him to further his political ambitions and to trade for the weapons he wanted, Pomare took an interest in their message, and as early as 1811, he asked to be baptized.
Cerībā ar misionāru atbalstu paplašināt savu varu un ietirgot kārotos ieročus Pomare ar interesi uzklausīja viņu sludināto vēsti un jau 1811. gadā lūdza, lai viņu kristī.