George Grey

Captain George (later Sir George) Grey was New Zealand's most complex governor. He was  governor, governor-in-chief and then governor again, serving from 1845 to 1853 and again from 1861 to 1868.

The 33-year-old Grey was energetic, able and quickly developed an awareness of Maori life and culture. He learnt Maori language and recorded and published Maori legends. He had already enjoyed a successful military career and had experience in colonial administration in Western Australia before being appointed Governor of South Australia while still in his 20s.

He was also described as ambitious, self-serving, autocratic and deceitful. Some likened him to Wakefield in his ability to create good publicity for himself. He served two terms as Governor of New Zealand and was also in the New Zealand parliament becoming Premier in 1877.

As an assimilationist Grey believed the best way forward for Maori was to adopt the practices of the British. He concluded that Maori were children who needed to be guided through to maturity.

• See also biography of George Grey