Gilbert Mair was the eighth of twelve children to Elizabeth Gilbert Puckey and Gilbert Mair, a merchant trader in kauri gum.

Two of his brothers, Cpt. Henry Abbott Mair and Mjr. William G. Mair, were also both active in the New Zealand Wars. See Henry and William's individual Cenotaph records for more details.

In helping his father with his kauri gum business, Gilbert Mair had frequent contact with the Te Awara people and subsequently learned to speak Maori fluently and acquired a life-long interest in Maori culture and history.

He obtained his provincial surveyor's certificate in 1864.

He was employed as clerk of court and interpreter at the Resident Magistrate's Court in Tauranga in 1867, when fighting errupted over confiscation of lands within the Pirirakau hapu's tribal boundaries.

Mair married Eleanor Katherine Sperrey on 19 September 1888 while in his mid- forties. They had a son, who died in childhood, and a daughter.

"In 1901 [Mair] organized the celebrations in Rotorua for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and of York." (DNZB, p. 261)

He was also an avid collector of Maori artifacts. His collection was purchased by the Auckland Institute and Museum. AWMM