Background
Buller was born at the Wesleyan mission, Newark at Pakanae in the Hokianga, the son of a Cornish missionary, Review James Buller, who had helped convert the people of Tonga to Methodism.
Buller was born at the Wesleyan mission, Newark at Pakanae in the Hokianga, the son of a Cornish missionary, Review James Buller, who had helped convert the people of Tonga to Methodism.
He was educated at Wesley College in Auckland.
His book, A history of the birds of New Zealand, first published in 1873, was published as an enlarged version in 1888 and became a New Zealand classic. In 1859 he was made Native Commissioner for the Southern Provinces. In 1871 he travelled to England and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple.
Three years later he returned to Wellington and practised law.
They were to have four children. Buller was the author of A History of the Birds of New Zealand (1872–1873, 2nd ed 1887–1888), with illustrations by John Gerrard Keulemans and Henrik Grönvold.
In 1882 he produced the Manual of the Birds of New Zealand as a cheaper, popular alternative. In 1905, he published a two-volume Supplement to the History of the Birds of New Zealand, which brought the work up to date.
In November 1886, he was promoted to Knight Commander.
He had several unsuccessful attempts at entering Parliament. He contested the general elections of 1876 (Manawatu. Beaten by the incumbent Walter Johnston) and 1881 (Foxton, where he came fourth of six candidates), and the 1891 by-election in the Te Aroha electorate (where he was beaten by William Fraser).
He emigrated to England and died at Fleet in Hampshire on 19 July 1906.
Wellington playwright Nick Blake authored a play on Buller"s life, Doctor Buller"s Birds, which had its debut at the 2006 New Zealand International Arts Festival. Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George
Officier de la Légion d"Honneur (France)
Officier de la Palmes académiques (France)
Species named after Walter Buller include Thalassarche bulleri (Buller"s albatross) and Puffinus bulleri (Buller"s shearwater).
Buller was appointed Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Street Michael and Street George in 1875. Buller helped establish the scientific display in the New Zealand Court at the World"s Fair in Paris and was decorated with the Officer of the Legion of Honour by the President of France in November 1889.
Royal Society.
