George Augustus Preece | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1845 Coromandel, New Zealand |
| Died | 10 July 1925 Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Service | Armed Constabulary |
| Years of service | 1865–66 1868–76 |
| Rank | Sub-inspector |
| Commands | Arawa Flying Column No. 2 |
| Campaigns | |
| Awards | New Zealand Cross |
| Other work | Magistrate Businessman |
George Augustus Preece NZC (c. 1845 – 10 July 1925) was an officer in New Zealand's Armed Constabulary who rose to prominence during Te Kooti's War. He was awarded the New Zealand Cross for his actions during the siege of Ngatapa.
The son of a Church Missionary Society worker, Preece was born at Coromandel in New Zealand. Able to speak the Māori language he worked as an interpreter during legal proceedings and then, during the East Cape War, for the military. Following the outbreak of Te Kooti's War in 1868, he became an officer in the Armed Constabulary and was heavily involved in the pursuit of Te Kooti, a militant Māori religious leader. In 1870 he was given command of a force of Armed Constabulary of Te Arawa Māori and led this for the next two years in expeditions in the rugged Urewera ranges, hoping to capture Te Kooti. In 1876 he became a magistrate and several years later a businessman in Palmerston North. He died there in 1925, aged 80.