[7] White was interested in botany, ornithology and tramping, and his paintings reflect his personal love of remote places, wilderness areas and New Zealand's landscape.

He was also a life member of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the QEII National Trust.

[11] During the summer season of 1989 to 1990, White visited Antarctica with the New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme, to execute a series of sketches and paintings of the historic buildings[12] and the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

In reporting on the exhibition, The Southland Times noted that White was "known for his highly detailed, large-scale landscapes, which often feature vistas of Fiordland and the Haast", and described him as "internationally renowned" but "publicity-shy".

[4] Wayne Marriott, the city council manager of museum and heritage services, noted that White's death was a huge loss, and said, "We've lost two of the masters this year" (the other being Peter Beadle).