William White (missionary)

William White (11 February 1794 – 25 November 1875) was an English-born missionary for the Wesleyan Church in early colonial New Zealand.

Born in England, White came to New Zealand in 1823 to establish the first Wesleyan mission in the country, Wesleydale, at Kaeo, near Whangaroa Harbour. He later took charge of Māngungu Mission in the Hokianga, having returned to England to find a wife in the interim. Further stations were established along the west coast of the North Island. A difficult personality, he soon alienated fellow missionaries over the running of the mission and was recalled to England in 1836. After an investigation, he was dismissed from the Wesleyan ministry two years later due to having been deemed to have conducted inappropriate commercial activity while in charge of the missions in New Zealand. He briefly worked for the New Zealand Company until he fell out with its leaders. He went back to New Zealand and settled in the Hokianga, preaching and trading. His business interests suffered when a cargo of timber was lost in a shipwreck. He died in Auckland, aged 81.