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{{Short description|British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812–1898)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Similar names|George Grey (disambiguation)|George Gray (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Sir George Grey
| honorific-suffix    = [[Order of the Bath|KCB]]
| image               = GeorgeEdwardGrey01.jpg
| caption             = Sir George Grey in 1861
| order1              = 11th
| office1             = Premier of New Zealand
| term_start1         = 13 October 1877
| term_end1           = 8 October 1879
| monarch1            = [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]]
| governor1           = [[George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby|George Phipps]]<br/>[[Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead|Hercules Robinson]]
| successor1          = [[John Hall (New Zealand politician)|John Hall]]
| predecessor1        = [[Harry Atkinson]]
| order2              = 3rd
| office2             = Governor of New Zealand
| monarch2            = Victoria
| term_start2         = 18 November 1845
| term_end2           = 3 January 1854
| predecessor2        = [[Robert FitzRoy]]
| successor2          = Sir [[Thomas Gore Browne]]
| monarch3            = Victoria
| premier3            = [[William Fox (politician)|William Fox]]<br/>[[Alfred Domett]]<br/>[[Frederick Whitaker]]<br/>[[Frederick Weld]]<br/>[[Edward Stafford (politician)|Edward Stafford]]
| term_start3         = 4 December 1861<ref name=Grey1861>{{Cite web|title=Governor Grey sworn in |url=http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DSC18611206.2.4 |publisher=[[The Daily Southern Cross|The Southern Cross]]| volume=XVII| issue=1458 |page=2 |date=6 December 1861 |access-date=6 September 2011}}</ref>
| term_end3           = 5 February 1868
| predecessor3        = Sir Thomas Gore Browne
| successor3          = Sir [[George Bowen]]
| office4             = Governor of [[Cape Colony]]
| term_start4         = 1854
| term_end4           = 1861
| successor4          = [[Philip Wodehouse (colonial administrator)|Philip Wodehouse]]<br/>([[Robert Wynyard]] acting)
| predecessor4        = [[George Cathcart]]<br/>([[Charles Henry Darling]] acting)
| order5              = 3rd [[Governors of South Australia|Governor of South Australia]]
| monarch5            = Victoria
| term_start5         = 15 May 1841
| term_end5           = 25 October 1845
| successor5          = [[Frederick Robe]]
| predecessor5        = [[George Gawler]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1812|4|14|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Lisbon]], Kingdom of Portugal
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1898|9|19|1812|4|14|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[South Kensington]], London, England
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Eliza Grey|Eliza Spencer]]|1839|1898|reason=died}}
| children            = 1
| relatives           = [[John Gray (New Zealand politician)|John Gray]] (uncle)
| education           = {{plainlist|*[[Royal Grammar School, Guildford]]
* [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]}}
| signature           = George Grey Signature.jpg|
| monarch4            = Victoria
}}
{{Campaignbox New Zealand Wars}}

'''Sir George Grey''', [[Order of the Bath|KCB]] (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: [[Governor of South Australia]], twice [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor of New Zealand]], [[History of Cape Colony from 1806 to 1870#Sir George Grey's governorship (1854-1870)|Governor of Cape Colony]], and the 11th [[premier of New Zealand]].{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}} He played a key role in the [[History of New Zealand|colonisation of New Zealand]], and both the purchase and [[annexation]] of [[Whenua|Māori land]].<ref name="rnz.co.nz">{{Cite web |last1=Collective |first1=Aotearoa Media |last2=Air |first2=Great Southern Television {{!}} Made with the support of NZ On |date=3 February 2021 |title=Documentary: NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/nzwars-tainui/story/2018782134/documentary-nz-wars-stories-of-tainui |access-date=25 June 2022 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

Grey was born in Lisbon, Portugal, just a few days after his father, Lieutenant-Colonel George Grey, was killed at the [[Siege of Badajoz (1812)|Battle of Badajoz]] in Spain.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}} He was educated in England. After military service (1829–37) and two explorations in [[Western Australia]] (1837–39), Grey became Governor of [[History of South Australia|South Australia]] in 1841. He oversaw the colony during a difficult formative period. Despite being less hands-on than his predecessor [[George Gawler]], his fiscally responsible measures ensured the colony was in good shape by the time he departed for New Zealand in 1845.<ref name="H. Pitt 1972 pp 43-81">G. H. Pitt, "The Crisis of 1841: Its Causes and Consequences" ''South Australiana'' (1972) 11#2 pp 43–81.</ref>

Grey was the most influential figure during the European settlement of [[New Zealand]]. Governor of New Zealand initially from 1845 to 1853,{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} he was governor during the initial stages of the [[New Zealand Wars]]. Learning Māori to fluency, he became a scholar of [[Māori culture]], compiling [[Māori mythology]] and oral history and publishing [[Polynesian Mythology (book)|it in translation]] in London. He developed a cordial relationship with the powerful rangatira [[Pōtatau Te Wherowhero]] of [[Waikato Tainui|Tainui]], in order to deter [[Ngāpuhi]] from invading [[Auckland]].<ref name="rnz.co.nz"/> He was [[knighted]] in 1848. In 1854, Grey was appointed Governor of Cape Colony in [[South Africa]], where his resolution of hostilities between indigenous South Africans and European settlers was praised by both sides. After separating from his wife and developing a severe [[Opioid use disorder|opium addiction]],<ref name="rnz.co.nz"/> Grey was again appointed Governor of New Zealand in 1861, three years after Te Wherowhero, who had established himself the first [[Māori King Movement|Māori King]] in Grey’s absence, had died. The Kiingitanga (Maori King) posed a significant challenge to the British push for sovereignty, and with his Ngāpuhi absent from the movement, Grey found himself challenged on two sides. He struggled to reuse his skills in negotiation to maintain peace with Māori, and his relationship with Te Wherowhero's successor [[Tāwhiao]] deeply soured.<ref name="rnz.co.nz"/> Turning on his former allies, Grey began an aggressive crackdown on Tainui and launched the [[Invasion of the Waikato]] in 1863, with 14,000 [[British Army during the Victorian Era|Imperial]] and colonial troops attacking 4,000 Māori and their families.<ref name="Belich2">{{cite book|last=Belich|first=James|title=The New Zealand Wars|publisher=Penguin|year=1986|isbn=0-14-027504-5|location=Auckland|pages=125–133|author-link=James Belich (historian)}}</ref><ref name="inglorious3" /> Appointed in 1877, he served as Premier of New Zealand until 1879, where he remained a symbol of colonialism.<ref name=":0" />

By political philosophy a [[Gladstonian liberal]] and [[Georgist]],<ref>George, Henry, Jr. The Life of Henry George. New York: Doubleday & McClure, 1900. Quote: "Sir George Grey made a fine little speech, attesting his entire faith in the gospel of the single tax."</ref> Grey eschewed the class system to be part of Auckland's new governance he helped to establish. Cyril Hamshere argues that Grey was a "great British proconsul", although he was also temperamental, demanding of associates, and lacking in some managerial abilities.<ref>Cyril Hamshere, "Sir George Grey: A Great Proconsul" ''History Today'' (April 1979) 29#4 pp 240–247.</ref> For the wars of territorial expansion against Māori which he started, he remains a controversial and divisive figure in New Zealand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Helen |date=24 May 2022 |title=The Māori historian providing a critique of controversial New Zealand governor George Grey |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/128653068/the-mori-historian-providing-a-critique-of-controversial-new-zealand-governor-george-grey |access-date=25 June 2022 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life ==
Grey was born in [[Lisbon]], [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]], the only son of Lieutenant-Colonel George Grey, of the [[30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot]], who was killed at the [[Siege of Badajoz (1812)|Battle of Badajoz]] in Spain just a few days before.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}} His mother, Elizabeth Anne {{nee|Vignoles}},<ref name="AusDB" /> on the balcony of her hotel in Lisbon, overheard two officers speak of her husband's death and this brought on the premature birth of the child. She was the daughter of a retired soldier<ref>Grace Lawless Lee, ''The Huguenot Settlements in Ireland'' Longmans, Green London 1936</ref> turned Irish clergyman, Major later Reverend John Vignoles. Grey's grandfather was Owen Wynne Gray ({{circa}} 1745 – 6 January 1819). Grey's uncle was [[John Gray (New Zealand politician)|John Gray]], who was Owen Wynne Gray's son from his second marriage.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Gray or Grey Family |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH18981112.2.66.3 |access-date=18 January 2016 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |volume=XXXV |issue=10908 |date=12 November 1898 |page=1}}</ref>

Grey was sent to the [[Royal Grammar School, Guildford]] in Surrey,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rgs-guildford.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Sir+George+Grey&pid=352 |title=Distinguished Old Guildfordians – Sir George Grey |work=Royal Grammar School Guildford Website |access-date=7 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927212551/http://www.rgs-guildford.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Sir+George+Grey&pid=352 |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> and was admitted to the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] in 1826.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}} Early in 1830, he was gazetted ensign in the [[83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot|83rd Regiment of Foot]]. In 1830, his regiment having been sent to Ireland, he developed much sympathy with the Irish peasantry whose misery made a great impression on him. He was promoted lieutenant in 1833 and obtained a first-class certificate at the examinations of the Royal Military College, in 1836.<ref>Serle, Percival (1949). "Grey, Sir George". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 28 December 2008</ref>

==Exploration==
In 1837, at the age of 25, Grey led an ill-prepared expedition that explored [[North-West Australia]]. British settlers in Australia at the time knew little of the region and only one member of Grey's party had been there before. It was believed possible at that time that one of the world's largest rivers might drain into the Indian Ocean in North-West Australia; if that were found to be the case, the region it flowed through might be suitable for colonisation. Grey, with Lieutenant Franklin Lushington, of the [[9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot]], offered to explore the region. On 5 July 1837, they sailed from [[Plymouth]] in command of a party of five, the others being Lushington; Dr William Walker, a surgeon and naturalist; and Corporals John Coles and Richard Auger of the [[Royal Sappers and Miners]]. Joining the party at [[Cape Town]] were Sapper Private Robert Mustard, J.C. Cox, Thomas Ruston, Evan Edwards, Henry Williams, and Robert Inglesby. In December they landed at [[Hanover Bay]] (west of [[Uwins Island]] in the [[Bonaparte Archipelago]]). Travelling south, the party traced the course of the [[Glenelg River (Western Australia)|Glenelg River]]. After experiencing boat wrecks, near-drowning, becoming completely lost, and Grey himself being speared in the hip during a skirmish with [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal people]], the party gave up. After being picked up by [[HMS Beagle|HMS ''Beagle'']] and the schooner ''Lynher'', they were taken to [[British Mauritius|Mauritius]] to recover. Lieutenant Lushington was then mobilised to rejoin his regiment in the [[First Anglo-Afghan War]]. In September 1838 Grey sailed to Perth hoping to resume his adventures.<ref name="AusDB">{{cite dictionary|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/grey-sir-george-2125|title=Grey, Sir George (1812–1898)|chapter=Sir George Grey (1812–1898) |dictionary=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Henderson|first1=Graeme|title=The Wreck of the Elizabeth|volume=1|series=Studies in Historical Archaeology|publisher=Australian Society for Historical Archaeology|year=1973|location=Sydney|page=28 |url=http://www.ashadocs.org/studiesinhistoricalarchaeology/SHA01_Henderson.pdf |access-date=30 October 2013|isbn=0-90979-701-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531184943/http://www.ashadocs.org/studiesinhistoricalarchaeology/SHA01_Henderson.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2011}}</ref><ref name=grey1>{{cite book | last1 = Grey | first1 = George | title = Journals of two expeditions of discovery in North-West and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, etc. etc. | volume = 1 | publisher = T. and W. Boone | year = 1841 | location = London | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DUNCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA24 | access-date = 17 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Shire of Northampton|author-link1=Shire of Northampton|title=Grey's Spring |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/62bd0638-5214-4951-91e2-fdc8cb682ecd|website=inHerit – our heritage places|publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia, State Heritage Office|access-date = 17 November 2019|location=Perth, WA|date=27 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="favenc">{{cite book |last1=Favenc |first1=Ernest |editor1-link=Ernest Favenc |title=The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 |date=1888 |publisher=Turner and Henderson |location=Sydney |url=http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300101.txt |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref>

In February 1839 Grey embarked on a second exploration expedition to the north, where he was again wrecked with his party, again including Surgeon Walker, at [[Kalbarri]]. They were the first Europeans to see the [[Murchison River (Western Australia)|Murchison River]], but then had to walk to [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], surviving the journey through the efforts of Kaiber, a [[Whadjuk]] [[Noongar]] man (that is, indigenous to the Perth region), who organised food and what water could be found (they survived by drinking liquid mud). At about this time, Grey learnt the [[Noongar language]].<ref name="AusDB"/><ref name=grey2>{{cite book | last1 = Grey | first1 = George | title = Journals of two expeditions of discovery in North-West and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, etc. etc. | volume = 2 | publisher = T. and W. Boone | year = 1841 | location = London | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=C1vRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1 | access-date = 17 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Shire of Northampton|author-link1=Shire of Northampton|title=Grey's Spring |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/62bd0638-5214-4951-91e2-fdc8cb682ecd|website=inHerit – our heritage places|publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia, State Heritage Office|access-date=21 December 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=27 February 2016}}</ref><ref name=cygnet>{{cite news|last=Cygnet|title=Yesterday – and the Day Before|date=7 March 1935|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38397901|work=The Western Mail|page=11|access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref>

Due to his interest in Aboriginal culture in July 1839, Grey was promoted to captain and appointed temporary [[Resident Magistrate]] at [[King George Sound]], Western Australia,{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}} following the death of Sir [[Richard Spencer (Royal Navy officer)|Richard Spencer]], the previous Resident Magistrate.<ref name="TTR"/>

==Marriage and children==
On 2 November 1839 at King George Sound, Grey married [[Eliza Lucy Spencer]] (1822–1898), daughter of the late Government Resident, Sir Richard Spencer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65049469 |title=Posthumous Papers |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)]] |volume=LXXXVIII |issue=25,869 |location=South Australia |date=24 November 1923 |access-date=21 November 2021 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Their only child, born in 1841 in South Australia, died aged five months and was buried at the [[West Terrace Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63432444 |title=The Sorrows of Government House |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)]] |volume=11 |issue=907 |location=South Australia |date=12 October 1929 |access-date=21 November 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It was not a happy marriage. Grey, obstinate in his domestic affairs as in his first expedition, accused his wife unjustly of flirting with Rear-Admiral Sir [[Henry Keppel]] on the voyage to Cape Town taken in 1860, and sent her away. Per her obituary, she was an avid walker, reader of literature, devout churchwoman, exceptional hostess and valued friend in her life away from him. It was noted that she had keen insight into character.<ref name="AusDB" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Death of Lady Grey |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18981018.2.90 |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |volume=XXXV |issue=10886 |date=18 October 1898 |page=6}}</ref> After their separation, Grey began the habitual abuse of [[opium]], and struggled to regain his tenacity in maintaining peace between [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]] and British colonisers.<ref name="rnz.co.nz"/>

Grey adopted Annie Maria Matthews (1853–1938) in 1861, following the death of her father, his half-brother, Sir Godfrey Thomas.<ref name="dnzb-GG">{{cite web| last = Sinclair | first = Keith | work = Dictionary of New Zealand Biography | title= Grey, George 1812–1898 | date = 7 April 2006|url=http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1G21 | access-date=14 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Kawau family reunion">{{cite news |title=Grey family descendants reunite on Kawau |url=http://www.localmatters.co.nz/Mahurangi+Matters/News+-+February+2012/Grey+family+descendants+reunite+on+Kawau.html |access-date=5 March 2012 |work=Local Matters |date=February 2012 |archive-date=3 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103092423/http://www.localmatters.co.nz/Mahurangi+Matters/News+-+February+2012/Grey+family+descendants+reunite+on+Kawau.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She married [[Seymour Thorne George]]<ref name="Grey DoC bio">{{cite web|title=Sir George Grey 1812–1898|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/getting-involved/students-and-teachers/field-trips-by-region/george-grey.pdf|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref> on 3 December 1872 on [[Kawau Island]].<ref name="marriage George Grey">{{cite news|title=Marriages|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DSC18721205.2.7 |access-date=5 March 2012|work=[[The Daily Southern Cross]]|volume=XXVIII |issue=4768 |date=5 December 1872|page=2}}</ref>

==Governor of South Australia==
Grey was the third [[List of Governors of South Australia|Governor of South Australia]], from May 1841 to October 1845. [[Secretary of State for the Colonies]], [[Lord John Russell]], was impressed by Grey's report on governing indigenous people. This led to Grey's appointment as governor.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=71}}

Grey replaced [[George Gawler]], under whose stewardship the colony had become bankrupt through massive spending on public infrastructure. Gawler was also held responsible for the illegal retribution exacted by Major [[Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran]] on an Aboriginal tribe, some of whose members had murdered all 25 survivors of the ''[[Maria (brigantine)|Maria]]'' shipwreck. Grey was governor during another mass murder: the [[Rufus River Massacre]], of at least 30 Aboriginals, by Europeans, on 27 August 1841.<ref>Foster R., Nettelbeck A. (2011), ''Out of the Silence'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=r9ETLG_aKbkC&pg=PA32 p. 32-39] ([[Wakefield Press (Australia)|Wakefield Press]]).</ref><ref>"Papers Relative to the Affairs of South Australia—Aborigines", ''Accounts and Papers 1843'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=d3VbAAAAQAAJ Volume 3] (London: [[William Clowes Ltd.|William Clowes and Sons]]), p. 267-310.</ref>

Governor Grey sharply cut spending. The colony soon had full employment, and exports of primary products were increasing. Systematic emigration was resumed at the end of 1844.<ref name="H. Pitt 1972 pp 43-81"/> Gawler, to whom Grey ascribed every problem in the colony,<ref name="AusDB"/> undertook projects to alleviate unemployment that were of lasting value. The real salvation of the colony's finances was the discovery of copper at [[Burra, South Australia|Burra Burra]] in 1845.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Aboriginal Witnesses Act===
In 1844, Grey enacted a series ordinances and amendments first entitled the Aborigines' Evidence Act and later known as the [[Aboriginal Witnesses Act]]. The act, which was created to "facilitate the admission of the unsworn testimony of Aboriginal inhabitants of South Australia and parts adjacent", stipulated that [[Under oath|unsworn]] testimony given by [[Aboriginal Australians|Australian Aboriginals]] would be inadmissible in court. A major consequence of the act in the following decades in Australian history was the frequent dismissal of evidence given by [[Indigenous Australians]] in [[List of massacres of Indigenous Australians|massacres]] perpetrated against them by [[History of Australia (1788–1850)|European settlers]].<ref>Frontier wars:
*{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Robert |last2=Hosking |first2=Rick |last3=Nettelbeck |first3=Amanda |title=Fatal Collisions : the South Australian frontier and the violence of memory. |date=2000 |publisher=Wakefield Press |location=Kent Town, South Australia |isbn=9781862545335 |pages=79–80 |edition=first }}
*{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Robert |last2=Nettelbeck |first2=Amanda |title=Out of the Silence - The history and memory of South Australia's frontier wars |date=2012 |publisher=Wakefield Press |location=Kent Town, South Australia |isbn=9781743051726 |pages=161–162 |edition=first }}</ref><ref name="acts">The acts:
*{{cite web |title=Aborigines' Evidence Act (No 8 of 7 and 8 Vic, 1844) |url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/num_act/aea8o7a8v1844262/ |website=South Australia Numbered Acts |publisher=South Australian Government |access-date=24 February 2019}}
*{{cite web |title=Aborigine's Evidence Act (No 5 of 10 Vic, 1846) |url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/num_act/aea5o10v1846246/ |website=South Australia Numbered Acts |publisher=South Australian Government |access-date=24 February 2019}}
*{{cite web |title=Aboriginal Witnesses Act (No 3 of 11 and 12 Vic, 1848)  |url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/num_act/awa3o11a12v1848316/ |website=South Australia Numbered Acts |publisher=South Australian Government |access-date=24 February 2019}}
*{{cite web |title=Aboriginal Witnesses Act (No 4 of 12 and 13 Vic, 1849)   |url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/num_act/awa4o12a13v1849316/ |website=South Australia Numbered Acts |publisher=South Australian Government |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

==First term as governor of New Zealand==
Grey served as Governor of [[Colony of New Zealand|New Zealand]] twice: from [[Timeline of New Zealand history#1840s|1845]] to [[Timeline of New Zealand history#1850s|1853]], and from [[Timeline of New Zealand history#1860s|1861]] to 1868.

During this time, [[History of New Zealand|European settlement]] accelerated, and in 1859 the number of [[Pākehā]] came to equal the number of [[Māori people|Māori]], at around 60,000 each. Settlers were keen to obtain land and some Māori were willing to sell, but there were also strong pressures to retain land – in particular from the [[Māori King Movement]]. Grey had to manage the demand for land for the settlers to farm and the commitments in the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] that the Māori chiefs retained full "exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties." The treaty also specifies that Māori will sell land only to the Crown. The potential for conflict between the Māori and settlers was exacerbated as the British authorities progressively eased restrictions on land sales after an agreement at the end of 1840 between the company and Colonial Secretary [[Lord John Russell]], which provided for land purchases by the [[New Zealand Company]] from the Crown at a discount price, and a charter to buy and sell land under government supervision. Money raised by the government from sales to the company would be spent on assisting migration to New Zealand. The agreement was hailed by the company as "all that we could desire ... our Company is really to be the agent of the state for colonizing NZ."<ref name="Burns">{{cite book | author=Patricia Burns | title=Fatal Success: A History of the New Zealand Company | year= 1989 | isbn=0-7900-0011-3 | publisher=Heinemann Reed }}</ref> The Government waived its right of pre-emption in the Wellington region, Wanganui and New Plymouth in September 1841.

Following his term as Governor of South Australia, Grey was appointed the third Governor of New Zealand in 1845.<ref name="dnzb-GG"/> During the tenure of his predecessor, [[Robert FitzRoy]], violence over land ownership had broken out in the [[Wairau Valley]] in the [[South Island]] in June 1843, in what became known as the [[Wairau Affray]] (FitzRoy was later dismissed from office by the Colonial Office for his handling of land issues).{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=37}} It was only in 1846 that the war leader [[Te Rauparaha]] was arrested and imprisoned by Governor Grey without charge, which remained controversial amongst the [[Ngāti Toa]] people.

=== Hōne Heke and the Flagstaff War ===
[[File:Gilfillan hone heke.jpg|thumb|upright|Drawing of Hōne Heke, who opposed Grey's governorship]]
In March 1845, Māori chief [[Hōne Heke]] began the [[Flagstaff War]], the causes of which can be attributed to the conflict between what the [[Ngāpuhi]] understood to be the meaning of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] (1840) and the actions of succeeding governors of asserting authority over the Māori. On 18 November 1845 George Grey arrived in New Zealand to take up his appointment as governor,{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} where he was greeted by outgoing Governor FitzRoy, who worked amicably with Grey before departing in January 1846.{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=37}} At this time, Hōne Heke challenged the British authorities, beginning by cutting down the flagstaff on [[Flagstaff Hill, New Zealand|Flagstaff Hill]] at [[Kororareka]]. On this flagstaff the flag of the [[United Tribes of New Zealand]] had previously flown; now the [[Union Jack]] was hoisted; hence the flagstaff symbolised the grievances of Heke and his ally [[Te Ruki Kawiti]], as to changes that had followed the signing of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]].

There were many [[Flagstaff War#Causes|causes of the Flagstaff War]] and Heke had a number of [[Flagstaff War#Grievance of the Ngāpuhi|grievances in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi]]. While [[Henry Williams (missionary)#Controversy over land purchases|land acquisition]] by the [[New Zealand Church Missionary Society|Church Missionary Society]] (CMS) were politicised, the rebellion led by Heke was directed against the colonial forces with the CMS missionaries trying to persuade Heke to end the fighting.<ref name="CARv2-4">{{cite book |last1= Carleton |first1=Hugh |title= The Life of Henry Williams: "Early Recollections" written by Henry Williams  |access-date= 19 October 2013 |year= 1874 |publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|chapter= Vol. II |chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1048&page=1&action=null}}</ref><ref name="CAR87">{{cite book |last1= Carleton |first1=Hugh |title= The Life of Henry Williams|year= 1874 |publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] University of Auckland Library|chapter= Appendix to Vol. II. |chapter-url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1056&page=0&action=null }}</ref> Despite the fact that [[Tāmati Wāka Nene]] and most of Ngāpuhi sided with the government, the small and ineptly led British had been beaten at [[Battle of Ohaeawai]]. Backed by financial support, far more troops, armed with 32-pounder cannons that had been denied to FitzRoy, Grey ordered the attack on [[Kawiti]]'s fortress at [[Ruapekapeka]] on 31 December 1845.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} This forced Kawiti to retreat. Ngāpuhi were astonished that the British could keep an army of nearly 1,000 soldiers in the field continuously. Heke's confidence waned after he was wounded in battle with [[Tāmati Wāka Nene]] and his warriors, and by the realisation that the British had far more resources than he could muster; his enemies included some [[Pākehā Māori]] supporting colonial forces.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Nicholson | first1 = John | title = White Chief – The Story of a Pakeha Maori | publisher = Penguin Books (NZ) | year = 2006 | pages = 100–140 | isbn = 978-0-14-302022-6}}</ref>

After the Battle of Ruapekapeka, Heke and Kawiti were ready for peace.<ref name="TW">{{cite book |last1= Kawiti |first1= Tawai |title= Hekes War in the North |url= http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao16TeA/c22.html |access-date=10 October 2012 |date= October 1956|publisher=No. 16 Ao Hou, Te / The New World, National Library of New Zealand Library|pages=38–46 }}</ref> It was Tāmati Wāka Nene they approached to act as intermediary in negotiations with Governor Grey, who accepted the advice of Nene that Heke and Kawiti should not be punished for their rebellion.  The fighting in the north ended and there was no punitive confiscation of Ngāpuhi land.<ref>The Colonial New Zealand Wars, Tim Ryan and Bill Parham, pg 28</ref>

=== Ngāti Rangatahi and Hutt Valley campaign ===
Colonists arrived at Port Nicholson, [[Wellington]], in November 1839 in ships chartered by the [[New Zealand Company]]. Within months the New Zealand Company purported to purchase approximately {{convert|20|e6acres|e6ha|abbr=off}} in [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], Wellington, [[Whanganui]] and [[Taranaki]]. Disputes arose as to the validity of purchases of land, which remained unresolved when Grey became governor.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The company saw itself as a prospective government of New Zealand and in 1845 and 1846 proposed splitting the colony in two, along a line from [[Mōkau]] in the west to [[Cape Kidnappers]] in the east – with the north reserved for Māori and missionaries.  The south would become a self-governing province, known as "New Victoria" and managed by the company for that purpose. Britain's [[Secretary of State for the Colonies|Colonial Secretary]] rejected the proposal.<ref name="Burns"/> The company was known for its vigorous attacks on those it perceived as its opponents – the British [[Colonial Office]], successive governors of New Zealand, and the [[New Zealand Church Missionary Society|Church Missionary Society]] (CMS) that was led by the Reverend [[Henry Williams (missionary)|Henry Williams]]. Williams attempted to interfere with the land purchasing practices of the company,<ref name="Fitzgerald-1">{{cite book | author=Caroline Fitzgerald | title= Te Wiremu – Henry Williams: Early Years in the North | year= 2011 | isbn=978-1-86969-439-5| publisher=Huia Press }} Henry Williams Journal (Fitzgerald, pages 290-291)</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald-2">{{cite book | author=Caroline Fitzgerald | title= Te Wiremu - Henry Williams: Early Years in the North | year= 2011 | isbn=978-1-86969-439-5| publisher=Huia Press }} Letter Henry to Marianne, 6 December 1839</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald-3">{{cite book | author=Caroline Fitzgerald | title= Te Wiremu - Henry Williams: Early Years in the North | year= 2011 | isbn=978-1-86969-439-5| publisher=Huia Press }} Henry Williams Journal 16 December 1839 (Fitzgerald, p. 302)</ref> which exacerbated the ill-will that was directed at the CMS by the Company in Wellington and the promoters of colonisation in Auckland who had access to the Governor and to the newspapers that had started publication.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Unresolved land disputes that had resulted from New Zealand Company operations erupted into fighting in the [[Hutt Valley]] in 1846. Ngāti Rangatahi were determined to retain possession of their land. They assembled a force of about 200 warriors led by [[Te Rangihaeata]], [[Te Rauparaha]]'s nephew (son of his sister Waitohi, died 1839), also the person who had killed unarmed captives in [[Wairau Affray]]. Governor Grey moved troops into the area and by February had assembled nearly a thousand men together with some Māori allies from [[Te Āti Awa]] to begin the [[Hutt Valley campaign]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Māori attacked [[Taitā]] on 3 March 1846, but were repulsed by a company of the 96th Regiment. The same day, Grey declared [[martial law]] in the Wellington area.<ref name="NZhist1">{{cite web| work =Ministry for Culture and Heritage | title=A line in the bush – war in Wellington| date =20 December 2012 |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/wellington-war/line-in-the-bush |access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref>

[[Richard Taylor (missionary)|Richard Taylor]], a [[Church Missionary Society|CMS missionary]] from [[Whanganui]], attempted to persuade [[Ngāti Tama]] and Ngāti Rangatahi to leave the disputed land. Eventually Grey paid compensation for the potato crop they had planted on the land. He also gave them {{convert|300|acre}} at [[Kaiwharawhara]] by the modern ferry terminal. Chief [[Taringakuri]] agreed to these terms. But when the settlers tried to move onto the land they were frightened off.<ref name="Kupe. R. McIntyre 2012 p 51">The Canoes of Kupe. R. McIntyre. Fraser books. Masterton (2012) p 51.</ref> On 27 February, the British and their Te Āti Awa allies burnt the Māori [[pā]] at Maraenuku in the Hutt Valley, which had been built on land that the settlers claimed to own. Ngāti Rangatahi retaliated on 1 and 3 March by raiding settlers' farms, destroying furniture, smashing windows, killing pigs, and threatening the settlers with death if they gave the alarm. They murdered Andrew Gillespie and his son.<ref>The Canoes of Kupe. R. McIntyre. Fraser Books. Masterton (2012) p 51.</ref> Thirteen families of settlers moved into Wellington for safety. Governor Grey proclaimed martial law on 3 March. Sporadic fighting continued, including a major attack on a defended position at Boulcott's Farm on 6 May.<ref name="Kupe. R. McIntyre 2012 p 51"/> On 6 August 1846, one of the last engagements was fought – the [[Battle of Battle Hill]] – after which Te Rangihaeata left the area. The Hutt Valley campaign was followed by the [[Whanganui campaign|Wanganui campaign]] from April to July 1847.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

In January 1846, fifteen chiefs of the area, including Te Rauparaha, had sent a combined letter to the newly arrived Governor Grey, pledging their loyalty to the British Crown. After intercepting letters from [[Te Rauparaha]], Grey realised he was playing a double game. He was receiving and sending secret instructions to the local Māori who were attacking settlers. In a surprise attack on his pā at Taupō (now named [[Plimmerton]]) at dawn on 23 July, Te Rauparaha, who was now quite elderly, was captured and taken prisoner.<ref name="Dom1907">{{cite web| work =Dominion, Rōrahi 1, Putanga 16, 14 Whiringa-ā-nuku, Page 3 | title=Te Rauparaha. How he was captured| year =1907|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DOM19071014.2.13.6&l=mi&e=-------10--1----0-- | access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="NZhist2">{{cite web|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage | title=Last battles – war in Wellington | date =5 September 2013|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/wellington-war/last-battles | access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref> The justification given for his arrest was weapons supplied to Māori deemed to be in open rebellion against the Crown. However, charges were never laid against Te Rauparaha so his detention was declared unlawful.<ref name="NZhist2"/><ref name="NZhist3">{{cite web|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage | title=Political prisoners – war in Wellington| date =5 September 2013|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/wellington-war/political-prisoners| access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref> While Grey's declaration of [[Martial law]] was within his authority, internment without trial would only be lawful if it had been authorised by statute.  Te Rauparaha was held prisoner on [[HMS Driver (1840)|''HMS Driver'']], then he was taken to Auckland on [[HMS Calliope (1837)|HMS ''Calliope'']] where he remained imprisoned until January 1848.<ref name="NZhist2"/>

His son [[Tāmihana Te Rauparaha|Tāmihana]] was studying Christianity in Auckland and Te Rauparaha gave him a solemn message that their [[iwi]] should not take [[utu (Māori concept)|utu]] against the government.  Tāmihana returned to his [[rohe]] to stop a planned uprising. Tāmihana sold the Wairau land to the government for 3,000&nbsp;pounds.<ref name="TTR">{{cite encyclopedia| last =Oliver  | first =Steven | encyclopedia =Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand | title=Tamihana Te Rauparaha | date =5 September 2013|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1t75/te-rauparaha-tamihana | access-date=26 October 2013}}</ref> Grey spoke to Te Rauaparaha and persuaded him to give up all outstanding claims to land in the Wairau valley. Then, realising he was old and sick he allowed Te Rauparaha to return to his people at [[Ōtaki, New Zealand|Ōtaki]] in 1848.<ref name="HMMJM">{{cite book |last1=[[Hilary Mitchell]], [[John Mitchell (historian)|Maui John Mitchell]] |title=History of Māori of Nelson and Marlborough –Volume 1 |publisher=Random House |year=2004 |pages=349–50}}</ref>

===Government at Auckland===
[[File:First Government House, Auckland.jpg|thumb|[[Government House, Auckland|Government House]] in Auckland, as painted by [[Edward Ashworth]] in 1842 or 1843]]
[[Auckland]] was made the new [[Capital of New Zealand|capital]] in March 1841<ref>{{cite book |last = Reed |first = A. W. |author-link = Alexander Wyclif Reed |title = Auckland, the city of the seas |year = 1955 |publisher = A.H. & A.W. Reed |location = Wellington | page=58}}</ref> and by the time Grey was appointed governor in 1845, it had become a commercial centre as well as including the administrative institutions such as the [[High Court of New Zealand|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stone |first1=R. C. J. |author-link1=Russell Stone (historian) |title=From Tamaki-makau-rau to Auckland |publisher=Auckland University Press |date=2001 |isbn=1869402596|page=75}}</ref> After the conclusion of the war in the north, government policy was to place a buffer zone of European settlement between the [[Ngāpuhi]] and the city of Auckland.<ref>''The Te Roroa Report 1992'' (Wai 38), Waitangi Tribunal (1992) Chapter 1, Section 1.1. p 8</ref> The background to the [[Invasion of Waikato]] in 1863 also, in part, reflected a belief that the Auckland was at risk from attack by the [[Waikato]] Māori.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Governor Grey had to contend with newspapers that were unequivocal to their support of the interests of the settlers: the ''Auckland Times'', ''Auckland Chronicle'', ''The Southern Cross'', which started by [[William Brown (New Zealand politician)|William Brown]] as a weekly paper in 1843 and ''The New Zealander'', which was started in 1845 by [[John Williamson (New Zealand politician)|John Williamson]]. These newspapers were known for their partisan editorial policies – both William Brown and John Williamson were aspiring politicians. ''The Southern Cross'' supported the land claimants, such as the New Zealand Company, and vigorously attacked Governor Grey's administration, while ''The New Zealander'', supported the ordinary settler and the Māori. The northern war adversely affected business in Auckland, such that ''The Southern Cross'' stopped publishing from April 1845 to July 1847.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.DSC&essay=1 |title=Daily Southern Cross |work=National Library of New Zealand – Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa |access-date=30 October 2012}}</ref> [[Hugh Carleton]], who also became a politician, was the editor of ''The New Zealander'' then later established the ''Anglo-Maori Warder'', which followed an editorial policy in opposition to Governor Grey.<ref name="Fitzgerald2011">{{cite book |last1= Fitzgerald  |first1= Caroline |title= Te Wiremu: Henry Williams – Early Years in the North |year=2011|publisher=Huia Publishers, New Zealand |page=xii }}</ref>

At the time of the northern war ''The Southern Cross'' and ''The New Zealander'' blamed [[Henry Williams (missionary)|Henry Williams]] and the other CMS missionaries for the [[Flagstaff War]].<ref name="CAR87"/><ref>Rogers, Lawrence M., (1973) ''Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams'', Pegasus Press, pp. 218–282</ref> The ''New Zealander'' newspaper in a thinly disguised reference to Henry Williams, with the reference to "their Rangatira pakeha [gentlemen] correspondents", went on to state: <blockquote>We consider these English traitors far more guilty and deserving of severe punishment than the brave natives whom they have advised and misled. Cowards and knaves in the full sense of the terms, they have pursued their traitorous schemes, afraid to risk their own persons, yet artfully sacrificing others for their own aggrandizement, while, probably at the same time, they were most hypocritically professing most zealous loyalty.<ref name="CAR87"/>
</blockquote>
Official communications also blamed the CMS missionaries for the Flagstaff War. In a letter of 25 June 1846 to [[William Ewart Gladstone]], the [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies|Colonial Secretary]] in Sir [[Robert Peel]]'s government, Governor Grey referred to the land acquired by the CMS missionaries and commented that "Her Majesty's Government may also rest satisfied that these individuals cannot be put in possession of these tracts of land without a large expenditure of British blood and money".<ref name="dnzb-GG"/><ref name="CAR87"/> By the end of his first term as governor, Grey had changed his opinion as to the role of the CMS missionaries, which was limited to attempts to persuade Hōne Heke bring an end to the fighting with the British soldiers and the Ngāpuhi, led by [[Tāmati Wāka Nene]], who remained loyal to the Crown.<ref name="nzhon2">{{cite web| title = Puketutu and Te Ahuahu – Northern War| date =3 April 2009|url= http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/northern-war/puketutu|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage – NZ History online | access-date=1 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="dnzb-HW">{{cite web|last = Fisher| first = Robin| work = Dictionary of New Zealand Biography |  title = Williams, Henry 1792 – 1867 |url= http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1W22|year = 2012 |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

Grey was "shrewd and manipulative" and his main objective was to impose British sovereignty over New Zealand, which he did by force when he felt it necessary. But his first strategy to attain land was to attack the close relationship between missionaries and Māori, including Henry Williams who had relationships with chiefs.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jay|first=Ruka|title=Huia come home|publisher=Oati|year=2017|isbn=978-0143204084|page=148}}</ref>

In 1847 [[William Williams (bishop)|William Williams]] published a pamphlet that defended the role of the CMS in the years leading up to the war in the north.<ref name="Vlib W Williams">{{cite book|author=The Revd. William Williams|url=http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/singleViewer.do?dvs=1463810158028~639&locale=en_US&metadata_object_ratio=10&show_metadata=true&VIEWER_URL=/view/action/singleViewer.do?&preferred_usage_type=VIEW_MAIN&DELIVERY_RULE_ID=10&frameId=1&usePid1=true&usePid2=true|title=Plain facts about the war in the north|publisher=Philip Kunst, Shortland Street, Auckland|year=1847|location=Online publisher – State Library Victoria, Australia|access-date=21 May 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The first Anglican [[Primate of New Zealand|bishop of New Zealand]], [[George Selwyn (bishop of Lichfield)|George Selwyn]], took the side of Grey in relation to the purchase of the land.<ref name="CAR159-0">{{cite book|last1=Carleton|first1=Hugh|title=The Life of Henry Williams|publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|year=1877|pages=159–200|chapter=Vol. II|chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=1051&page=0&action=null}}</ref><ref name="WWTJ442">{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=William|url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=3692&page=0&action=null|title=The Turanga journals, 1840–1850|publisher=F. Porter (Ed)|year=1974|pages=442–448}}</ref> Grey twice failed to recover the land in the Supreme Court, and when Williams refused to give up the land unless the charges were retracted, he was dismissed from the CMS in November 1849.<ref name="LMR18742">{{cite book|last1=Rogers|first1=Lawrence M.|title=Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|publisher=Pegasus Press|year=1973}}</ref><ref name="CAR873">{{cite book|last1=Carleton|first1=Hugh|title=The Life of Henry Williams|publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] University of Auckland Library|year=1874|chapter=Appendix to Vol. II.|chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1056&page=0&action=null}}</ref><ref name="B&T I">{{cite book|last=Newman|first=Keith|title=Bible & Treaty, Missionaries among the Māori – a new perspective|publisher=Penguin|year=2010|isbn=978-0143204084|pages=252–254|orig-year=2010}}</ref> Governor Grey's first term of office ended in 1853. In 1854 Williams was reinstated to CMS after Bishop Selwyn later regretted the position and George Grey addressed the committee of the CMS and requested his reinstatement.<ref name="dnzb-HW2">{{DNZB|Fisher|Robin|1W22|Williams, Henry|28 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="CAR160-1">{{cite book|last1=Carleton|first1=Hugh|title=The Life of Henry Williams|publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|year=1877|pages=260–281|chapter=Vol. II|chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=1053&page=0&action=null}}</ref>

When he returned to New Zealand in 1861 for his second term as governor, Sir George and Henry Williams meet at the [[Te Waimate Mission|Waimate Mission Station]] in November 1861.<ref name="LMR299">{{cite book |last1= Rogers |first1= Lawrence M. |title= Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|year=1973 |publisher=Pegasus Press |pages=299–300 }}</ref> Also in 1861 Henry Williams' son [[Edward Marsh Williams]] was appointed by Sir George to be the Resident [[Magistrate]] for the [[Bay of Islands]] and Northern Districts.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Self-government and Constitution Acts ===
Following a campaign for self-government by settlers in 1846, the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] passed the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1846]], granting the colony self-government for the first time, requiring Māori to pass an English-language test to be able to participate in the new colonial government.{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=42}} In his instructions to Grey, Colonial Secretary [[Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey|Earl Grey]] (no relation to George Grey) sent the 1846 Constitution Act with instructions to implement self-government.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} George Grey responded to Earl Grey that the Act would lead to further hostilities and that the settlers were not ready for self-government.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} In a dispatch to Earl Grey, Governor Grey stated that in implementing the Act, Her Majesty would not be giving the self-government that was intended, instead:
<blockquote>"...she will give to a small fraction of her subjects of one race the power of governing the large majority of her subjects of a different race... there is no reason to think that they would be satisfied with, and submit to, the rule of a minority"{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=11}}</blockquote>

Earl Grey agreed and in December 1847 introduced an Act suspending most of the 1846 Constitution Act.{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=44}} Grey wrote a draft of a new Constitution Act while camping on [[Mount Ruapehu]] in 1851, forwarding this draft to the Colonial Office later that year.{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=44}} Grey's draft established both provincial and central representative assemblies, allowed for Māori districts and a Governor elected by the General Assembly.{{sfn|Sinclair|1986|p=25}} Only the latter proposal was rejected by the Parliament of the United Kingdom when it adopted Grey's constitution,{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=44}} the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]].

Grey was briefly appointed Governor-in-Chief on 1 January 1848,{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=43}} while he oversaw the establishment of the first [[provinces of New Zealand]], [[New Ulster Province|New Ulster]] and [[New Munster Province|New Munster]].

====Treaty obligations====

In 1846, [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Lord Stanley]], the British Colonial Secretary, who was a devout Anglican, three times British Prime Minister and oversaw the passage of the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833]],<ref>William Flavelle Monypenny and George Earl Buckle, ''The Life of Benjamin Disraeli Earl of Beaconsfield, vol. 2'' (1912), p, 451.</ref><ref name="Hawkins Vol I">{{cite book|last1=Hawkins|first1=Angus|title=The Forgotten Prime Minister – The 14th Earl of Derby Volume I Ascent: 1799–1851|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press Inc|isbn=9780199204403|edition=1st|location=New York|pages=125–134}}<!--|access-date=7 June 2016--></ref> was asked by Governor Grey how far he was expected to abide by the [[Treaty of Waitangi]]. The direct response in the Queen's name was:

{{blockquote|You will honourably and scrupulously fulfil the conditions of the Treaty of Waitangi...
<ref name="Moxon" /<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moxon |first1=David |title=The Treaty and the Bible in Aotearoa New Zealand |url=https://vaughanpark.nz/?sid=124 |website=Vaughan Park |access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref>}}

Following the election of the [[1st New Zealand Parliament|first parliament]] in 1853, [[responsible government]] was instituted in 1856.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=15}} The direction of "native affairs" was kept at the sole discretion of the governor, meaning control of Māori affairs and land remained outside of the elected ministry.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=18}} This quickly became a point of contention between the Governor and the colonial parliament, who retained their own "Native Secretary" to advise them on "native affairs".{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=20}} In 1861, Governor Grey agreed to consult the ministers in relation to native affairs,{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=20}} but this position only lasted until his recall from office in 1867. Grey's successor as governor, [[George Bowen]], took direct control of native affairs until his term ended in 1870.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=22}}{{sfn|McLean|2006|p=64}} From then on, the elected ministry, led by the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Premier]], controlled the colonial government's policy on Māori land.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=22}}

The short-term effect of the treaty was to prevent the sale of Māori land to anyone other than the Crown. This was intended to protect Māori from the kinds of shady land purchases which had alienated [[indigenous people]]s in other parts of the world from their land with minimal compensation. Before the treaty had been finalised the New Zealand Company had made several hasty land deals and shipped settlers from Great Britain to New Zealand, hoping the British would be forced to accept its land claims as a [[Glossary of French expressions in English#Fait accompli|fait accompli]], in which it was largely successful.{{sfn|Orange|1987|p=20}}

In part, the treaty was an attempt to establish a system of property rights for land with the Crown controlling and overseeing land sale to prevent abuse. Initially, this worked well with the Governor and his representatives having the sole right to buy and sell land from the Māori.<ref name="Donald McLean">{{Cite book|last=Fargher|first=Ray|title=The Best Man who Ever Served the Crown?: A Life of Donald McLean|publisher=Victoria University Press|year=2007|isbn=9780864735607|location=Wellington|pages=54–58}}</ref> Māori were eager to sell land, and settlers eager to buy.<ref name="Donald McLean" />

===Legacy of Grey's first term as Governor===
Grey took pains to tell Māori that he had observed the terms of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], assuring them that their land rights would be fully recognised. In the [[Taranaki Province|Taranaki]] district, Māori were very reluctant to sell their land, but elsewhere Grey was much more successful, and nearly 33&nbsp;million acres (130,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) were purchased from Māori, with the result that British settlements expanded quickly. Grey was less successful in his efforts to assimilate Māori; he lacked the financial means to realise his plans. Although he subsidised mission schools, requiring them to teach in English, only a few hundred Māori children attended them at any one time.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

During Grey's first tenure as Governor of New Zealand, he was created a Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Bath]] (1848). When Grey was knighted he chose [[Tāmati Wāka Nene]] as one of his esquires.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Grey gave land for the establishment of [[Auckland Grammar School]] in [[Newmarket, New Zealand|Newmarket]], Auckland in 1850. The school was officially recognised as an educational establishment in 1868 through the Auckland Grammar School Appropriation Act of the [[Auckland Province|Provincial Government]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL Historical Chronology |url=http://www.ags.school.nz/content/about/history.html |publisher=[[Auckland Grammar School]] |access-date=7 September 2010 |archive-date=2 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602114247/http://www.ags.school.nz/content/about/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Chris Laidlaw]] concludes that Grey ran a "ramshackle" administration marked by "broken promises and outright betrayal" of Māori people.<ref>Rights of passage: beyond the New Zealand identity crisis: Laidlaw, Chris, Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett, 1999. p.134</ref> Grey's collection of [[Māori culture|Māori]] artefacts, one of the earliest from New Zealand and assembled during his first governorship, was donated to the [[British Museum]] in 1854.<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?people=39410&peoA=39410-3-9 British Museum Collection]</ref>

Much of Grey's manuscript collections were donated to the [[Auckland Libraries|Auckland Free Public Library]] in 1887, one of the first substantial donations to the library. Grey's Māori manuscript collections held at Auckland Libraries were added to the [[UNESCO]] [[Memory of the World Register – Asia and the Pacific|Memory of the World Register]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://unesco.org.nz/news/grey-m%C4%81ori-collection-drawings-heading-to-london |title=Grey Māori Collection drawings heading to London |website=[[UNESCO|UNESCO New Zealand]] |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="AucklandLibraries">{{Cite web |url=https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/unescomow-at-auckland-libraries.aspx |title=UNESCO Memory of the World collections at Auckland Libraries |website=[[Auckland Libraries]] |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref>

==Governor of Cape Colony==
[[File:GGrey VA0898.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Sir George Grey as Governor of the Cape Colony]]
Grey was Governor of [[Cape Colony]] from 5 December 1854 to 15 August 1861. He founded [[Grey College, Bloemfontein]] in 1855 and was the benefactor for [[Grey High School]] in [[Port Elizabeth]], founded by [[John Paterson (Cape politician)|John Paterson]] in 1856. In 1859 he laid the foundation stone of the [[Somerset Hospital (Cape Town)|New Somerset Hospital, Cape Town]]. When he left the Cape in 1861 he presented the [[National Library of South Africa]] with a remarkable personal collection of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and rare books.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hollis |first=Stephanie J. |author-link=Stephanie Hollis |date=2015 |title=Invidious comparisons: Manuscripts and incunabula in the libraries donated by Sir George Grey to Cape Town and Auckland |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/62/article/610874 |journal=Parergon |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=207–231 |doi=10.1353/pgn.2015.0111 |via=[[Project MUSE]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

During his term as governor, Grey faced a growing rivalry between the eastern and western halves of the Cape Colony, as well as a small, but also growing, movement for local democracy ("[[responsible government]]") and greater independence from British rule. 
"There were moves for responsible government in the [[Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope|Cape Parliament]] in 1855 and 1856 but they were defeated by a combination of Western conservatives and Easterners anxious about the defence of the frontier under a responsible system. But undoubtedly Sir George Grey's political ability, charm and force of personality – aided by the parliamentary leadership of liberal-minded Attorney-General, William Porter – contributed to this result."<ref>MacMillan, Mona (1969). ''Sir Henry Barkly, mediator and moderator, 1815–1898''. Balkema: Cape Town. p. 18.</ref> 
In South Africa Grey dealt firmly with the natives, endeavouring to "protect" them from white settlement while simultaneously using reservations to coercively demilitarize them, using natives, in his own words, "as real though unavowed hostages for the tranquillity of their kindred and connections."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bell|first1=Kenneth|title=Select Documents on British Colonial Policy, 1830–1860|date=1928|publisher=The Clarendon Press|location=Oxford|page=504}}</ref> On more than one occasion, Grey acted as [[arbitrator]] between the government of the [[Orange Free State]] and the natives, eventually drawing the conclusion that a [[federation|federated]] South Africa would be a good thing for everyone.  The Orange Free State would have been willing to join the federation, and it is probable that the [[South African Republic|Transvaal]] would also have agreed.  However, Grey was 50&nbsp;years before his time: the [[Colonial Office]] would not agree to his proposals. In spite of their instructions, Grey continued to advocate union, and, in connection with other matters, such as the attempt to settle soldiers in South Africa after the [[Crimean War]], instructions were ignored.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Sir George was recalled in 1859.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=73}} He had, however, scarcely reached England before a change of government led to the offer of another term, on the understanding that he abandon schemes for the federation of South Africa and, in future obey his instructions.  Grey was convinced that the boundaries of the South African colonies should be widened, but could not obtain support from the British government.  He was still working for this support when, war with the [[Māori people|Māori]] having broken out, it was decided that Grey should again be appointed governor of New Zealand.  When he left his popularity among the people of Cape Colony was unbounded, and the statue erected at [[Cape Town]] during his lifetime described him as<blockquote>a governor who by his high character as a Christian, a statesman, and a gentleman, had endeared himself to all classes of the community, and who by his zealous devotion to the best interests of South Africa and his able and just administration, has secured the approbation and gratitude of all Her Majesty's subjects in this part of her dominions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cockburn Henderson |first1=George |title=Sir George Grey: Pioneer of Empire in Southern Lands |date=1907 |publisher=The University of Michigan |page=191}}</ref></blockquote>

==Second term as governor of New Zealand==
[[File:GeorgeEdwardGrey02.jpg|thumb|right|Painting of Sir George Grey by [[Daniel Louis Mundy]] 1860s]]
Grey was again appointed governor in 1861, to replace Governor [[Thomas Gore Browne]], serving until 1868.<ref name="dnzb-GG"/> His second term as governor was greatly different from the first, as he had to deal with the demands of an [[New Zealand Parliament|elected parliament]], which had been established in 1852.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Invasion of the Waikato===
{{main|Invasion of the Waikato}}
Immediately prior to Grey's re-appointment as governor, there were rising tensions in [[Taranaki]] over land ownership and [[sovereignty]] that eventually led to the involvement of British military forces at [[Waitara, New Zealand|Waitara]], in what is called the [[First Taranaki War]], from March 1860 until the fighting subsided in 1862.

The leaders of the [[Māori King Movement|King movement]] or Kīngitanga had written a letter to Governor Browne stating that the Waikato tribes had never signed the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] and that they were a separate nation. Browne regarded the stance of the Kīngitanga as an act of disloyalty; and prepared plans for the invasion of Waikato, in part to uphold "the Queen's supremacy" in the face of the Kīngitanga challenge.<ref name="dalton128">{{cite book | last =Dalton | first = B.J. | title = War and Politics in New Zealand 1855–1870| publisher =Sydney University Press |  year = 1967 | location =Sydney | pages =128, 131}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author=Michael King | title=The Penguin History of New Zealand | year= 2003 |page = 214| isbn=0-14-301867-1 | publisher=Penguin Books}}</ref>

Grey launched the invasion of the Waikato in June 1863 amid mounting tension between Kingites and the colonial government and fears of a violent raid on [[Auckland]] by Kingite Māori. Grey used as the trigger for the invasion Kingite rejection of his ultimatum on 9 July 1863 that all Māori living between Auckland and the Waikato take an oath of allegiance to [[Queen Victoria]] or be expelled south of the [[Waikato River]].<ref name="Belich">{{cite book|last=Belich|first=James|title=The New Zealand Wars|publisher=Penguin|year=1986|isbn=0-14-027504-5|location=Auckland|pages=119–125|author-link=James Belich (historian)}}</ref>

The war brought thousands of Imperial British troops to New Zealand: 18,000 men served in the British forces at some point during the campaign, with a peak of about 14,000 troops in March 1864.<ref>{{cite book|last=Belich|first=James|title=The New Zealand Wars and the Victorian Interpretation of Racial Conflict|publisher=Penguin|year=1986|isbn=0-14-011162-X|edition=1st|location=Auckland|pages=125, 126}}</ref>

The subsequent invasion included the [[Battle of Rangiriri]] (November 1863)—which cost both sides more men than any other engagement of the New Zealand Wars<ref name="Belich8">{{cite book|last=Belich|first=James|title=The New Zealand Wars|publisher=Penguin|year=1986|isbn=0-14-027504-5|location=Auckland|pages=142–157|author-link=James Belich (historian)}}</ref>—and the attack on [[Rangiaowhia]] (February 1864) a village largely occupied by women, children and older men.<ref name="inglorious3">{{cite web|title=Inglorious Dastards: Rangiaowhia raid and the 'great war for New Zealand'|date=6 March 2021 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/e_james_bowman/albums/72157718540314792|publisher=NZ Listener|access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref><ref name=":75">{{Cite web|last=O'Malley|first=Vincent|date=December 2010|title=Te Rohe Potae War and Raupatu|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_791880/Wai%20898%2C%20A022.pdf|website=Ministry of Justice – Waitangi Tribunal}}</ref>

The campaign ended with the retreat of the Kingitanga Māori into the rugged interior of the North Island and the colonial government [[New Zealand land confiscations|confiscating]] about 12,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of Māori land.<ref name="ReferenceA">Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act 1995, s 6."Text in English"</ref> The defeat and confiscations left the King Movement tribes with a legacy of poverty and bitterness that was partly assuaged in 1995 when the government conceded that the 1863 invasion and confiscation was wrongful and apologised for its actions.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In the later 1860s, the British government determined to withdraw Imperial troops from New Zealand. At the time the Māori chiefs [[Te Kooti]] and [[Tītokowaru]] had the colonial government and settlers extremely alarmed with a series of military successes. With the support of the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Premier]] [[Edward Stafford (politician)|Edward Stafford]], Grey evaded instructions from the Colonial Office to finalise the return of the regiments, which had commenced in 1865 and 1866. In the end, the British government recalled (removed) Grey from the office of governor in February 1868.<ref name="dnzb-GG"/> He was replaced by Sir [[George Bowen]] and during his term hostilities concluded with the abandoned pursuit of war leader Riwha Tītokowaru – again in Taranaki – in 1869.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Legacy ===
Grey was greatly respected by some Māori and often travelled with a company of chiefs.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} He induced leading chiefs to write down their accounts of Māori traditions, legends and customs.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} His principal informant, [[Te Rangikāheke]], taught Grey to speak  [[Māori language|Māori]].<ref name="dnzb-GG"/> Historian [[Michael King (historian)|Michael King]] noted:<blockquote> He learned Māori and persuaded Māori authorities to commit their legends and traditions to writing, some of which were subsequently published ... His collected papers would turn out to be the largest single repository of Māori-language manuscripts.<ref name="King">''The Penguin History of New Zealand'', p. 203.</ref>
</blockquote>
Grey bought [[Kawau Island]] in 1862, on his return to New Zealand for a second term as governor. For 25&nbsp;years, he lavished large amounts of his personal wealth on developing the island. He enlarged and remodeled [[Mansion House, Kawau Island|Mansion House]], the former residence of the copper mine superintendent.<ref name="Mansion">{{cite web |title=History of Mansion House |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/kawau-island-historic-reserve/mansion-house/ |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |publisher=Department of Conservation T Papa Atawhai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116152229/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/kawau-island-historic-reserve/mansion-house/ |archive-date=16 November 2020 |url-status=live |language=en-nz}}</ref> Here he planted a huge array of native and non-native trees and shrubs, and acclimatised many exotic birds and other animal species.<ref name="Mansion"/> The [[Invasive species in New Zealand|invasive species]] he introduced included [[pine]] trees and Australian [[marsupial]]s ([[Phalangeriformes|possum]] and [[Wallaby|wallabies]]), which went on to become significant weeds and pests.<ref name="ecoproblems">{{cite web |title=The ecological problems and need for the project |url=http://www.pohutukawatrust.org.nz/ecoproblems.htm |website=www.pohutukawatrust.org.nz |publisher=Pohutukawa Trust New Zealand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115165028/http://www.pohutukawatrust.org.nz/ecoproblems.htm |archive-date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> He also amassed a celebrated collection of rare books and manuscripts, many purchased from the Auckland bibliophile [[Henry Shaw (accountant)|Henry Shaw]], artworks and curiosities, plus artefacts from Māori.<ref>Kerr, Donald Jackson. (2006). ''Amassing Treasures for All Times: Sir George Grey, Colonial Bookman and Collector''.  New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press; Dunedin: Otago University Press, 2006.</ref>

== Return to England ==
On his return journey to England from New Zealand, Grey worked on preparing previously compiled [[Māori mythology|Māori myths]] for publication; this work led to ''Ko Nga Mahinga a Nga Tupuna Maori'' and the English translation [[Polynesian Mythology (book)|''Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race as Furnished by Their Priests and Chiefs'']].<ref>Coleridge, Kathleen. "Governor George Grey publishes Maori poetry." ''Bulletin (Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand)'' 28.4 (2004): 5–19. <nowiki>https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/ielapa.200700063</nowiki></ref> ''Polynesian Mythology'' was well received by the European public, with Grey receiving many letters of praise.<ref>O'Leary, John (2008). "George Grey, 1812 – 1898". ''Kōtare''. '''7''' (2): 19–26.</ref> In particular, the story of Hinemoa was popular enough to inspire [[Alfred Domett|Alfred Domett's]] novel ''Ranolf and Amohia'', [[Nicholas Chevalier|Nicholas Chevalier's]] painting ''Hinemoa'', and New Zealand's first feature film in 1914.

Although by philosophy Grey was a liberal, his extremist views on the questions of the [[British Empire]], of emigration, of [[Home rule#Irish home rule|Home Rule for Ireland]] and the cause of the English poor were contrary to the interests of Gladstone's [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] government. Grey was marked as a "dangerous man". In 1870, at a parliamentary by-election for the [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|Borough of Newark]] that followed the death of the sitting Liberal MP, Grey stood as an independent liberal against Gladstone's Liberal candidate Sir [[Henry Knight Storks]]. Determined that Grey should not be elected and seeing that splitting the Liberal vote would result in both Grey and Storks losing to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate, the Liberal government engineered an arrangement where both would withdraw, leaving another Liberal candidate, [[Samuel Boteler Bristowe]], to take the seat. Storks was rewarded with the post of [[Surveyor-General of the Ordnance]] and Grey returned to New Zealand later that year.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rees|first1=William Lee|last2=Rees|first2=Lilly|author-link1=William Lee Rees|author-link2=Annie Lee Rees|title=The Life and Times of Sir George Grey, K.C.B.|date=1892|publisher=Hutchison and Co|location=London|pages=437–452|url=https://archive.org/stream/lifetimesofsirge02reesuoft#page/437/mode/2up|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref>

== Premier of New Zealand==
{{NZ parlbox header|nolist=true|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[City of Auckland West by-election, 1875 (1st)|1875]]
 |end        =
 |term       = 5th
 |electorate = [[Auckland West]]
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1875–1876 New Zealand general election|1876]]<!-- election held on 6 January 1876 -->
 |end        = 1879
 |term       = 6th
 |electorate = [[Thames (New Zealand electorate)|Thames]]
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1879 New Zealand general election|1879]]
 |end        = 1881
 |term       = 7th
 |electorate = Thames
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1881 New Zealand general election|1881]]
 |end        = 1884
 |term       = 8th
 |electorate = [[Auckland East]]
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1884 New Zealand general election|1884]]
 |end        = 1887
 |term       = 9th
 |electorate = Auckland East
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1887 New Zealand general election|1887]]
 |end        = 1890
 |term       = 10th
 |electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}}
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox break}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1891 Newton by-election|1891]]
 |end        = 1893
 |term       = 11th
 |electorate = [[Newton (New Zealand electorate)|Newton]]
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start      = [[1893 New Zealand general election|1893]]
 |end        = 1895
 |term       = 12th
 |electorate = [[Auckland (New Zealand electorate)|Auckland]]
 |party      = Independent politician
}}
{{End}}
In 1875 Sir George was elected [[Superintendent (New Zealand)|Superintendent]] of [[Auckland Province]] (24 March 1875 – 31 October 1875).<ref name="Scholefield 1950">{{cite book |last= Scholefield |first= Guy Hardy |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 |author-link=Guy Scholefield |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1950 |publisher=Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |page=179 }}</ref> He stood in the general election for both the [[Auckland West]] and the [[Thames (New Zealand electorate)|Thames]] electorates in the [[1875–1876 New Zealand general election|1875–1876 general election]].  In the two-member Auckland electorate, only Grey and [[Patrick Dignan (politician)|Patrick Dignan]] were put forward as candidates, and were thus declared elected on 22 December 1875.<ref name="Akld West results Dec 1875">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NOT18751223.2.14.2 |title=(By Telegraph). Auckland. Dec. 22. |volume=XXIII |issue=1159 |date=23 December 1875 |work=North Otago Times|page=2|access-date=11 April 2010}}</ref> The two-member Thames electorate was contested by six candidates, including [[Julius Vogel]] (who was [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Premier]] in 1875), [[William Rowe (politician)|William Rowe]] and Charles Featherstone Mitchell.  On election day (6 January 1876), Grey attracted the highest number of votes and, unexpectedly, Rowe beat Vogel into second place (Vogel also stood in [[Whanganui (New Zealand electorate)|Wanganui]]<!-- Note that at the time, the electorate was spelt without an 'h' -->, where he was returned).  Hence Grey and Rowe were declared elected for Thames.<ref name="1876 Thames detailed results">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DSC18760108.2.16 |title=THE ELECTIONS|volume=XXXII |issue=5708 |date=8 January 1876 |publisher=The Daily Southern Cross |page=3|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> A protest against Grey's election was lodged with the returning officer the following day, protesting that Grey had not been eligible to stand in Thames as he had already been elected in Auckland West.  This petition was filed to the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] at the end of January.<ref name="Petition against Grey in Thames">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DSC18760201.2.23 |title=The Thames election : petition against sir George Grey's election.|volume=XXXII |issue=5724 |date=1 February 1876|publisher=The Daily Southern Cross |page=3|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref>

With this controversy going on for several months unresolved, Grey advised in mid-June 1876 in a series of telegrams that he had chosen to represent Auckland West.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DSC18760617.2.12.4 |title=Sir George Grey and the seats for the Thames and City West.|volume=XXXII |issue=5205 |date=17 June 1876|publisher=The Daily Southern Cross |page=3|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> On 8 July, the report of the committee inquiring into his election for Thames was read to the House.  It was found that this was in accordance with the law, but that he had to make a decision for which electorate he would sit.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TH18760712.2.22 |title=New Zealand Parliament|volume=XXIV |issue=2427 |date=12 July 1876|work=Taranaki Herald|page=3|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> On 15 July 1876, Grey announced that he would represent Thames, and he moved that a by-election be held in Auckland West for the seat that he would vacate there.<ref name="Grey's decision to represent Thames">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=BOPT18760715.2.13 |title=Parliamentary |volume=IV |issue=401 |date=15 July 1876 |work=Bay of Plenty Times|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref>

[[File:George Grey, 1885.jpg|thumb|upright|Cabinet portrait of Grey, 1885]]
Grey opposed the abolition of the [[Provinces of New Zealand|provinces]], but his opposition proved ineffective; the provincial system was abolished in 1876.  On defeating [[Harry Atkinson]] on 13 October 1877 in a vote of no confidence, he was elected Premier by Parliament.  He asked Governor [[George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby|Lord Normanby]] for a dissolution of parliament but was flatly refused.  Grey thought New Zealand's unique constitutional provincialism was under threat, so championed radical causes, such as one man-one vote. An economic downturn in 1878 put pressure on incomes; defection across the floor of the house of four Auckland members defeated Grey on a vote in October 1879.  He resigned as prime minister.  Grey described his philosophical radicalism: <blockquote>This is a revolt against despotism…. What I am resolved to maintain is this, that there shall be equal justice in representation and in the distribution of land and revenue to every class in New Zealand … equal rights to all – equal rights in education, equal rights in taxation, equal rights in representation … equal rights in every respect.<ref>{{cite web |editor-last=McLintock |editor-first=Alexander Hare |editor-link=Alexander Hare McLintock |title=Grey, Sir George: Later Career, 1868–98 |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/grey-sir-george/page-6 |publisher=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |access-date=27 October 2018}}</ref>
</blockquote> 
His government did not operate particularly well, with Grey seeking to dominate the government came into conflict with the governor.  His term as premier is regarded by historians as a failure.<ref name="King"/> Towards the end of 1879, Grey's government got into difficulties over land tax.  Eventually, Grey asked for an early [[1879 New Zealand general election|election, in 1879]].

Grey was elected in both the Thames and the [[Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)|City of Christchurch]] electorates in September 1879.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WH18790911.2.10|title=General Election News|volume=XII |issue=9511 |date=11 September 1879|work=[[The Wanganui Herald]]|pages=2|access-date=16 March 2010}}</ref> Grey came first in the three-member Christchurch electorate ([[Samuel Paull Andrews]] and [[Edward Cephas John Stevens|Edward Stevens]] came second with equal numbers of votes, 23 votes ahead of [[Edward Richardson]]).<ref name="1879 Christchurch results">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18790911.2.28|title=The Christchurch Election|date=11 September 1879|issue=3563|work=[[The Star (Christchurch)|The Star]]|pages=3|access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref> Richardson petitioned against Grey's return on technical grounds, as Grey had already been elected in the Thames electorate.<ref name="Commentary on petition">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18791030.2.5|title=The Timaru Herald|volume=XXXI |issue=1594 |date=30 October 1879|pages=2|access-date=20 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18791103.2.25|title=The Christchurch Election|date=3 November 1879|issue=3608|work=[[The Star (Christchurch)|The Star]]|pages=3|access-date=20 March 2010}}</ref> The electoral commission unseated Grey on 24 October,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18791025.2.12|title=Sir George Grey unseated for Christchurch|volume=XXXI |issue=1590 |date=25 October 1879|work=The Timaru Herald|pages=2|access-date=20 March 2010}}</ref> effective 28 October, with Richardson declared elected to the vacancy on that date.<ref>{{cite book |last= Scholefield |first= Guy Hardy |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 |author-link=Guy Scholefield |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1950 |publisher=Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |pages=110, 135}}</ref> Grey kept the Thames seat and remained a member of parliament through that electorate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH18791027.2.9|title=Parliamentary|volume=VI |issue=934 |date=27 October 1879|work=Poverty Bay Herald|pages=2|access-date=20 March 2010}}</ref>

In the [[1881 New Zealand general election|1881 election]], Grey was elected in [[Auckland East]]<ref name="1881 election">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18811210.2.15|title=The Remainder of the Colony|date=10 December 1881|issue=4255|work=[[The Star (Christchurch)|The Star]]|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> and re-elected in the [[1884 New Zealand general election|1884 election]].<ref name="1884 election">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WH18840729.2.13.1|title=The New Parliament|volume=XIX |issue=5378 |date=29 July 1884|work=[[The Wanganui Herald]]|pages=2|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> In the [[1887 New Zealand general election|1887 election]] Grey was returned for the {{NZ electorate link|Auckland Central}} electorate.<ref name="1887 election">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=HBH18870928.2.14|title=THE GENERAL ELECTION.|volume=XXII |issue=7859 |date=28 September 1887|publisher=Hawke's Bay Herald|pages=3|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Georgegrey.jpg|thumb|[[Statue of George Grey, Auckland|Statue of Sir George Grey]] in Albert Park, [[Auckland]]]]
In 1889, recalling his earlier proposal for the Governor to be elected from his first draft of the 1852 Constitution Act,{{sfn|Sinclair|1986|p=25}} Grey put forward the Election of Governor Bill, which would have allowed for a "British subject" to be elected to the office of Governor "precisely as an ordinary parliamentary election in each district."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=THD18890718.2.23&e=-------10--1----0--|title=New Bills|work=[[The Timaru Herald]]|volume=XLIX|issue=4594|date=18 July 1889|page=3|access-date=8 February 2011 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>

By now Grey was suffering from ill health and he retired from politics in 1890, leaving for Australia to recuperate. While in Australia, he took part in the [[Constitutional Convention (Australia)#1891 convention|Australian Federal Convention]].{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=75}} On returning to New Zealand, a deputation requested him to contest the [[Newton (New Zealand electorate)|Newton]] seat in Auckland in the [[1891 Newton by-election|1891 by-election]].  The retiring member, [[David Goldie (politician)|David Goldie]], also asked Grey to take his seat. Grey was prepared to put his name forward only if the election was unopposed, as he did not want to suffer the excitement of a contested election.<ref name="Resignation Goldie">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH18910223.2.13|title=RESIGNATION OF MR GOLDIE, M.H.R|volume=XVIII |issue=6001 |date=23 February 1891|work=Poverty Bay Herald|pages=2|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WC18910227.2.12|title=The Newton Seat.|volume=XXXIII |issue=11205 |date=27 February 1891|work=Wanganui Chronicle|pages=2|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> Grey declared his candidacy on 25 March 1891.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=IT18910327.2.9|title=Telegrams|volume=XVI |issue=20216 |date=27 March 1891|work=Inangahua Times|pages=2|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> On 6 April 1891, he was declared elected, as he was unopposed.<ref name="1891 by-election result">{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18910406.2.18|title=NEW ZEALAND|volume=XXVII |issue=79 |date=6 April 1891|work=[[The Marlborough Express]]|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> In December 1893, Grey was again elected, this time to [[Auckland (New Zealand electorate)|Auckland City]]. He left for England in 1894 and did not return to New Zealand. He resigned his seat in 1895.<ref name="dnzb-GG"/>

==Death==
Grey died at his residence at the Norfolk Hotel, Harrington Road, [[South Kensington]], London, on 19 September 1898, aged 86 years, and was buried in [[St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref name="dnzb-GG"/><ref>{{cite news | title = The Death of Sir George Grey | date = 25 October 1898 | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56536290 | work = [[The South Australian Register]] | pages = 7 | access-date = 30 October 2013}}</ref><ref>"Memorials of St Paul's Cathedral" [[William Sinclair (Archdeacon of London)|Sinclair, W.]] pp. 463/4: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.</ref>

==Taxa named after Grey==
''[[Menetia greyii]]'', a [[species]] of [[lizard]], is named after Grey. Other animal [[Taxon|taxa]] named in his honour include two [[mammal]]s and a [[bird]].<ref>[[species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]]; [[species:Michael Watkins|Watkins, Michael]]; Grayson, Michael. (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. ("Grey, G.", p. 108).</ref>

The genus ''[[Greyia]]'' (wild bottlebrush) which is endemic to southern Africa was also named after him.<ref>Boon, R. 2010. Pooley's Trees of eastern South Africa. Flora and Fauna Publications Trust, Durban.  Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of Southern Africa, edn 3. Struik, Cape Town. Schmidt, S. Lotter, M. & McCleland, W. 2002. Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park. van Wyk, B. & van Wyk, P. 1997 Field guide to Trees of Southern Africa, Struik, Cape Town. Palmer, E. & Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa, Balkema, Amsterdam, Cape Town.</ref>

==Popular culture and depiction in art==
[[File:9 2 018 0186-SA Library & Sir George Grey-The Cape01-s (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Statue of George Grey, Cape Town|Statue of George Grey]] (1863) by [[William Calder Marshall]] in [[Cape Town]], South Africa]]

A [[Statue of George Grey, Cape Town|Statue of George Grey]] created by [[William Calder Marshall]] was unveiled at the [[Company's Garden]] in [[Cape Town]], South Africa in 1863.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Ashgate| isbn = 978-1-138-26840-1| pages = 125–141| last1 = Stocker| first1 = Mark| last2 = Codell| first2 = Julie F.| title = Transculturation in British Art, 1770-1930| chapter = Te kai-hautu o te waka/Director of the Canoe: The Statue of Sir George Grey in Auckland| location = Farnham, Surrey, England| date = 2012}}</ref> Sculptor [[Anton Teutenberg]] created a relief sculpture of Grey as a part of his commission for the [[Auckland High Court]] in 1866.<ref name="Dunn">{{cite book|last1=Dunn |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Dunn (art historian) |title=New Zealand Sculpture: A History |edition=Updated |year=2008 |isbn= 978-1-86940-425-3|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]] |location=[[Auckland]] |pages=13–15, 20–22}}</ref> In 1904, a [[Statue of George Grey, Auckland|statue of George Grey]] was erected on the corner of Greys Avenue and Queen Street, later moved to [[Albert Park, Auckland|Albert Park]] in 1922. Grey's statue has been the target of vandalism and activism, including in 1987, when the head of the statue was broken off on [[Waitangi Day]].<ref name="Dunn"/>

'' [[The Governor (New Zealand TV series)|The Governor]]'', an historical drama [[miniseries]] based on Grey's life, was made by [[TVNZ]] and the [[National Film Unit]] in 1977, featuring [[Corin Redgrave]] in the title role. Despite critical acclaim, the miniseries attracted controversy at the time because of its then-large budget.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/tracking-shots/close-ups/The-Governor.html |title=Tracking Shots: Close Ups on NZ Film History – The Governor/Te Kawana |date=June 2007 |website=[[Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision|New Zealand Film Archive]] |access-date=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407050713/http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/tracking-shots/close-ups/The-Governor.html |archive-date=7 April 2013}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = George Grey Arms.svg
|bannerimage =
|badgeimage =
|notes = The arms of George Grey consist of:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burke |first1=Bernard |last2=Burke |first2=Ashworth Peter |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry |date=1895 |publisher=Harrison |pages=582–585, Grey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0wXkAAAAMAAJ |access-date=25 June 2022 |language=en}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
|adopted =
|crest = An [[Unicorn#Heraldry|unicorn]] [[Attitude (heraldry)#Passant|passant]] [[Ermine (heraldry)|ermine]], armed, maned, tufted and unguled [[Or (heraldry)|or]], in front of a [[Sun (heraldry)|sun in splendour]].
|torse =
|helm =
|escutcheon = [[Variation of the field#Barry, paly, bendy|Barry]] of six [[argent]] and [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]], in [[Escutcheon (heraldry)#Points|chief]] three [[Roundel (heraldry)#Terms for roundels|pellets]]{{efn|Other sources give "[[torteaux]]" (i.e. a red roundel) instead of "pellets".<ref>{{cite web |title=History of The Grey |url=https://www.greyhighschool.com/school-information/history-of-the-grey/ |website=www.greyhighschool.com |publisher=[[Grey High School]] |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref>}} and [[Label (heraldry)|label]] of three points ermine. 
|supporters =
|compartment =
|motto = {{lang|la|Stabilis}} (Steadfast)
|orders =
|other_elements =
|banner =
|badge =
|symbolism =
|previous_versions =
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
*''[[Historical Records of Australia]]''
*[[History of Adelaide]]
*[[History of Cape Colony from 1806 to 1870]]
*'[http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010439b.htm Grey, Sir George (1812–1898)]', ''[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]'', Volume 1, [[Melbourne University Press|MUP]], 1966, pp.&nbsp;476–80. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
*{{Dictionary of Australian Biography|First=Sir George |Last=Grey|shortlink=0-dict-biogG.html#grey1| access-date=28 December 2008}}
*[[Polynesian Mythology (book)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Cyril Hamshere, "Sir George Grey: A Great Proconsul" History Today (April 1979) 29#4 pp 240–247.
* Kerr, Donald Jackson. (2006) Amassing Treasures for All Times. Sir George Grey, Colonial book Collector. Otago University Press.
* {{cite book|title=Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (1812–1898)|url=https://archive.org/details/sirgeorgegreykcb0000ruth|url-access=registration|last=Rutherford|first=J.|date=1961}}
* {{cite book|title=Crown Colony Government in New Zealand|url=https://archive.org/details/crowncolonygover0000mcli|url-access=registration|last=McLintock|first=A. H.|date=1958|publisher=Wellington, R.E. Owen, Govt. printer}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16928|first=James|last=Milne|date=1899|title=The Romance of a Pro-Consul – being the personal life and memoirs of the Right Hon. Sir George Grey KCB|publisher=Creative Media Partners, LLC|isbn=9780342242047}}
*{{cite book |first=Gavin |last=McLean |author-link=Gavin McLean |title=The Governors: New Zealand's Governors and Governors-General |date=2006 |publisher=Otago University Press |location=Dunedin |url=http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/2006/governors.html |isbn=1-877372-25-0 |access-date=26 April 2020 |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624194345/http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/2006/governors.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |last=Orange |first=Claudia |author-link=Claudia Orange |title=The Treaty of Waitangi |year=1987 |publisher=[[Bridget Williams Books|Allen & Unwin]] |location=Wellington |isbn=9781877242489 |url=https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/the-treaty-of-waitangi |edition=Second }}
* {{cite book|title=Origins of the Maori Wars|last=Sinclair|first=Keith|date=1957}}
* {{cite journal|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g21/grey-george|title=George Grey biography|journal=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]|year=1990|access-date=26 April 2020|last=Sinclair|first=Keith|author-link=Keith Sinclair}}
*{{cite book |first=Keith |last=Sinclair |title=A Destiny Apart: New Zealand's Search for National Identity |date=1986 |publisher=Unwin Paperbacks |location=Wellington |isbn=0-86861-682-6}}
* {{citation|title=Wiremu Tamihana biography|journal=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand}}
* {{cite book|author-link1=Alison Quentin-Baxter|last1=Quentin-Baxter|first1=Alison|last2=McLean|first2=Janet|title=This Realm of New Zealand: The Sovereign, the Governor-General, the Crown|url=http://www.press.auckland.ac.nz/en/browse-books/all-books/books-2017/this-realm-of-new-zealand--the-sovereign--the-governor-general--.html|date=2017|publisher=Auckland University Press|isbn=978-1-869-40875-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Wolfe|first=Richard|year=2005|title=Battlers Bluffers and Bully-Boys|edition=1st|publisher=Random House|isbn=1869417151}}
* {{citation|title=Grey Collections (MSS), Cape Town, South Africa, and Auckland, New Zealand|author=Sir George Grey}}
{{refend}}

===From the ''Herald'' archives===
* "A summary of 1863", ''New Zealand Herald'', 31 December 1863
* "Letter to the editor", ''New Zealand Herald'', 26 February 1864
* "Letter to the editor", ''New Zealand Herald'', 19 May 1864
* "William Thompson criticised for treachery", ''New Zealand Herald'', 11 October 1864
* "William Thompson obituary", ''New Zealand Herald'', 5 February 1867
* "George Grey obituary", ''New Zealand Herald'', 21 September 1898
* "Comment of George Grey", ''New Zealand Herald'', 22 September 1898
* "The Kingitanga represents our history – and future", ''NZ Herald'' online
* "The year Auckland went mad", ''NZ Herald'' online, 25 August 2010
* ''The New Zealand Railways Magazine'', Volume 8, Issue 2 (1 June 1933), "Famous New Zealanders – No. 3 Sir George Grey – Some Impressions of a Great Administrator"

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |author=Russell, Roslyn |date=Oct 2001 |title=His island home : Sir George Grey's development of Kawau Island |journal=National Library of Australia News |volume=XII |issue=1 |pages=3–6 |url=http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2001/oct01/oct01news.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120119224400/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/131760/20120120-0944/www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2001/oct01/oct01news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 January 2012 <!--|access-date=28 November 2016-->}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|George Grey}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110925142047/http://www.georgegrey.org.nz/ Grey Collection, some 14,000 items given to the Auckland Free Public Library in 1887 by Sir George Grey]
*[http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2001/oct01/sir_george_grey.html Grey's development of Kawau Island]
*[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/name-208095.html Works edited by Grey in the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre Collection]
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/george-grey}}
* {{Gutenberg author |id=6433| name=George Grey}}
* {{Librivox author |id=11025}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=George Grey}}
*[http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/G/GreySirGeorge/GreySirGeorge/en "Sir George Grey" in the 1966 ''Encyclopaedia of New Zealand'']
*Comments on scope of the [http://www.nlsa.ac.za/index.php/what-we-do/we-collect#grey Collection] donated in 1861 by Sir George Grey, to the [[National Library of South Africa|South African Library]] containing the earliest South African printed specimen by [[Johann Christian Ritter]] and many other manuscripts, incunabula and books.
*[http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowAgent&agentId=A2@D George Grey entry on AustLit with links to works available in full text.] (subscription required outside Australia)
*[https://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410257&p=2794960 Sir George Grey: Books and pamphlets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002181003/https://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410257&p=2794960 |date=2 October 2018 }} (information about the life of former South Australian Governor George Grey) &nbsp;—[[State Library of South Australia]]

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{{s-bef | before = [[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]] [[Robert FitzRoy]]}}
{{s-ttl | rows=2 | title = [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor of New Zealand]]|years=1845–1854<br/>1861–1868}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Governor of Cape Colony]] |years=1854–1861}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Robert Wynyard]] (acting)<br/>[[Philip Wodehouse (colonial administrator)|Sir Philip Wodehouse]]}}
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{{S-bef | before = [[Harry Atkinson]]}}
{{s-ttl | title= [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Premier of New Zealand]]|years=1877–1879}}
{{s-aft | after= [[John Hall (New Zealand politician)|John Hall]]}}
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{{s-off}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Thames (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Thames]]|years=1876–1881 | alongside = [[William Rowe (politician)|William Rowe]], [[John Sheehan (New Zealand politician)|John Sheehan]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Auckland Central (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Auckland Central]]|years=1887–1890}}
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{{s-aft | after = Thomas Thompson}}
{{s-end}}

{{New Zealand prime ministers}}

{{Governors-General of New Zealand}}
{{Governors of South Australia}}
{{British Governors of the Cape Colony}}
{{Authority control}}

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