Guy Houlbrooke White was born in Huntly on 11 January 1971. By the time he was 2 years old he and his family were living on the sheep & beef hill country family farm in the Northern Wairarapa. that was his "home" for the rest of his life.

Living in the country gave him many responsibilities, but also the freedom and space to roam, dream and test himself, with his brother and sister for company.

He went to Wairarapa College in Masterton, where he was a boarder, for 5 years. In his final year at college he was Head Boy at the Hostel, deputy Head Boy at the college and had the rare distinction of captaining both the 1st XV rugby and 1st XI cricket teams. He coped well with secondary schooling, leaving with an "A" bursary, which was a real asset when he enrolled at Otago University, Dunedin.

After 3 years at Otago University he had his BSc, majoring in Chemistry, and a love of tramping and climbing in the mountains. From Dunedin he moved to Auckland where he studied te reo Maori and become a fluent speaker of the language. He also helped run the AUT Maori Expositions and was involved from the very beginning with the Marae at AUT.

Guy was very committed to his Ngai Tahu and Ngati Kahungunu heritage.