Eliza White (née Leigh) (11 July 1809 – 28 February 1883) was a Wesleyan Methodist missionary to New Zealand and leader in establishing a Ladies Christian Association in Auckland.

Her journal, archived at St. John's Theological College in Auckland, provides a unique first-hand account of the life of an English woman evangelist in New Zealand.

William White, a Methodist missionary from New Zealand, visited a nearby village to preach and recruit a wife, Eliza took up the challenge.

Thomas Buddle that she had been influenced by a minister's wife "the niece of the celebrated Fletcher of Madeley, and one of the most noted women of John Wesley's time.

"[5] Her role model, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher was a popular preaching Methodist woman in Shropshire, and her example of Methodism carried her through a life of active charity work, visitation among the most needy and schoolteaching.

[6] William and Eliza White sailed to New Zealand, taking many months to finally arrive on 30 January 1830 at the recently established Māngungu Mission in the Hokianga Harbour.

[18] In 1878 Eliza White was leading a Bible reading class out of her home on Vincent Street when she decided to establish the Auckland Ladies Christian Association.

The group began formally visiting the sick and the elderly poor in the Lunatic Asylum, and holding night school for children who were living on the street.

The group would also send out public announcements about Dorcas meetings to organise the process of gathering and handing out clothing to indigent immigrants.

[24] A public meeting was held on 18 April 1884 by the leaders of the Young Men's Christian Association who proposed a branch specifically for women that would include: This meeting was not well attended and despite the advocacy of YMCA president Reverend Joseph Sidney Hill, the other men present were not convinced a new organisation just for women was needed.

[26] Led by Marianne Leachman and her sister Lucy Hill, the first committee meeting of the Auckland YWCA was held on 8 June 1885 in the social room of the YMCA on the corner of Wellesley and Albert Streets.