The Whiteley Mission House from New Plymouth, New Zealand, the only surviving building of the former Grey Institute, is one a few examples of mission-style architecture from the early period of European settlement. Built as a school for local Maori girls in 1854, it is also a remainder of the beginnings of European style education in Taranaki. The Whiteley Mission House is a Category 1 heritage building registered by Heritage New Zealand. History The Wesleyan Missionary Society started sending missionaries to New Zealand from 1822 in order to ″to propose the gospel″, but ″refraining from disputing the superstitions of the natives″. Their declared purpose was to learn the local people language and to teach them labour skills, farming, etc. After a number of setbacks, in 1838 the mission sent two Maori teachers, Wiremu Nera Te Awa-I-Taia and Hahaia, to Taranaki, to begin missionary activity. In January 1840, Edward Meurant, on behalf of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, bought 100 acres (40.47 hectares) of land at Ngamotu, New Plymouth. The sale was ratified by Commissioner William Spain on 31 March 1845 and Charles Creed established here a mission station. He was replaced in 1844 by missionary Henry Hanson Turton. With funds obtained under the Education Ordinance of 1847, Turton built a boarding school for Maori pupils next to the mission house. Visiting the mission in March 1847, Governor Sir George Grey offered government assistance and made a small donation himself. As a recognition of Governor Sir George Grey's support, the school was named the Grey Institute, identical to the Wesleyan Native Institute at Grafton Road, Auckland (later moved to Three Kings). Realizing the success of the school, Turton initiated an institution for Maori girls in 1854. Similar to the boys' school, the rimu building included elements of the Gothic Revival architecture, with two steep gables and arched windows in the front façade. Built in board and battens the school had a roof of timber shingles and included a dining and sitting room, a wash house and a dormitory for 25 students. Henry Hanson Turton was replaced in 1856 by Reverend John Whiteley, the new Wesleyan Missionary Society missionary at Ngamotu and in charge of the Grey Institute. Unfortunately, the conflicts over land and sovereignty in Taranaki forced the school to close, but in February next year Whiteley reopened it. He moved in the mission house and wrote a report emphasizing that the