John Gare Butler (March 1781 – 18 June 1841) was the first ordained clergyman to reside in New Zealand with the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
Butler and the Māori workers at the mission at Kerikeri established a small mixed farm, which involved the first use in New Zealand of an agricultural plough, which was pulled by team of six bullocks.
[2] His son, Samuel Butler, remained in New Zealand, engaging in the flax trade in Hokianga, until his death by drowning in 1836.
[9] In 1828 Butler published through G. R. Gittore, of Bridgenorth, an edition of Psalms and hymns, "Abridged, arranged and adapted to Public Worship, selected from the best authors.
Butler was appointed to a parish at Petone and he was a Māori welfare agent until he fell ill in March 1841;[11] and his death followed on 18 June 1841.