buller was born at newark, the wesleyan mission at pakanae in the hokianga, the son of rev. james buller, a cornish missionary who had helped convert the people of tonga to methodism. he was educated at wesley college in auckland. in 1854, he moved to wellington with his parents, where he was befriended by the naturalist william john swainson. 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.