Bishop Jackson was named as the Bishop Designate of Lyttelton in New Zealand. At the time, it was envisaged that the principal town in the new settlement would be Lyttelton, not Christchurch which eventually did become the main locality. He was named to the position in June 1850 and from that time until he sailed for New Zealand in September of that same year he addressed many meetings on behalf of the Canterbury Association, which was promoting immigration. He did much to further the cause of immigration. A legal problem emerged some time before the first immigrant ships left England for Canterbury.

The Letters Patent appointing Dr. George Selwyn (Bishop of Lichfield as the Bishop of New Zealand had no clause providing for a resignation of part of the New Zealand Diocese which would have been needed if another person were to be appointed in Canterbury. It was determined that the Diocese of Lyttelton should include all of the South Island, whereas Dr. Selwyn wished to resign from only the Canterbury Settlement and Otago.

Jackson was only in Canterbury for six weeks but he was very active in church matters, and travelled extensively during that time. This report was presumably written by Jackson on the homeward voyage to England and addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, (England).