William Henry Grace

W.H. Grace was the son of missionary Thomas Samuel Grace, an English Anglican Missionary who came from England to New Zealand with his wife Agnes Grace (Fearon). On the 11th of February 1850, Grace's parents arrived with him and his older sister in New Zealand on the Fairy Queen.

During the time of their arrival to the country, it was a period of mass migration of foreigners to New Zealand.  Although he was born in England, he settled in Kihikihi acting as a crown purchasing agent, native agent and licensed interpreter. Through this role, he was heavily involved in Māori land transactions and politics. He also acted as a communicator and translator for Governor Sir George Grey.

He was married twice. His second marriage was to the niece of the Rangatira Rewi Maniapoto. His wife's name was Mākereti Hinewai and she was from Ngāti Maniapoto. 

Dr. Evelyn Stokes from the Department of Geography at the University of Waikato presented copies of the W.H. Grace diaries. Grace's diaries span the years 1882-1884. A five-part letter book spanning 1886-1887 was also presented as part of the collection.