Who's Who from New Zealand

1875-1975, also an author and entrepreneur

Born 1958, is a NZ entrepreneur who popularised the ectreme sport of bungy jumping

(1917-2004) ONZ, OBE. Trained Murray Halberg, Peter Snell and Barry Magee who won medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Under Lydiard's coaching Snell went on to double-gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Athletes subsequently coached by him or influenced by his coaching methods included Rod Dixon, John Walker, Dick Quax and Dick Tayler.

1879-1963, her real name was Maud Ruby Basham

1948-1991, was a well known and much loved entertainer and comedian, he is famous for his black singlet, yellow towel around the neck and a characteristic chuckle that he claimed was inspired by Maori children

Among the most successful left handed golfers of all time, being the first left-hander to win a golf major, he won more than 70 titles.

19th C painter. Famous for his portraits of Maori people.

Watercolours. Also a well-known explorer.

1820-1881, also a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the Heaphy Track is named after him

Captain Upham (1908 - 1994) remains the only combat soldier to have received the Victoria Cross and Bar awarded to members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth for exceptional bravery. He earned his VCs for his actions in Crete 22-30 May 1941 and El Alamein in Egypt battlefield 14-15 July 1942. Spent time in Colditz.

1919-1987, prominent NZ artist, he also worked in art galleries and as a university lecturer

Born 1936. Nicknamed 'Pinetree', is a former NZ rugby union footballer who played 133 times as an All Black from 1957-1971.

Invented the disposable syringe

Lead protests against the loss of Māori land. Lead a hikoi (symbolic march) from the northern tip of the North Island to Parliament in Wellington

1895-1994. She took a leading role in community activities and her flair and abilities led her to becoming the undisputed Maori leader of the Northen Hokianga by her mid-30s. Founding president of the Màori Women’s Welfare League.

Born 1957, is a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer from NZ

(1961 - ) Captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. Awarded an MBE in 1987 for services to Rugby.

(1942 – 2005) CH, ONZ. NZ Prime Minister from 1984 - 1989. Had a reputation for cutting wit and eloquence. His government implemented far-reaching free-market reforms. New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation is often described as his legacy

1936-1992, the 1967 Formula One World Champion for the Brabham team, he is the first former Formula One champion to die of natural causes

1902-1998, described as the architect of NZ's modern education system

1858-1938. Generally known as Truby King, was a NZ health reformer and Director of Child Welfare.

1929-1993, became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries

1945-2004, widely respected NZ historian, author and biographer

1796-1862, was the driving force behind much of the early colonization of South Australia and later New Zealand

1871-1937. Became known as the "father" of nuclear physics. Winner of the 1908 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

1877-1936, was a Tasmanian-born New Zealander whose work among servicemen in Paris and the Somme during WWI made her a war hero among the French, yet through the same events became persona non grata in NZ

(1869 - 1947) Watercolourist and one of the leading artists of British Modernism.

1903-1982, was the pen name of Norris Frank Davey, one of NZ's foremost short story writers, he and Katherine Mansfield helped to put NZ literature on the world map

Born 1957, was the world's first openly transsexual Member of Parliament, and from 1999-Feb 2007 was an MP for the Labour Party

Also coached Wales and the British and Irish Lions IRB International Coach of the Year 2005 & 2006. Has had a chequered career with notable successes and failures.

Born 1950. Became PM of NZ in Dec 1999 and entered her 3rd successive term in that office in 2005.

1810?-1850. Chief and war leader in New Zealand. He is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War.

1810?-1850. Chief and war leader in New Zealand. He is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War.

1910-1949, was a 1936 Olympic champion winning 1500 metres in Berlin

1926-1972, a ontroversial figure in NZ society

1924-2004. Famous for both her prose and her life story.

1909-1982. In 1934 she flew solo from England to Australia.

New Zealand's first woman Prime Minister.

Born 1948, also a writer has lived in Australia since the 1970's,

Is a NZ based political activist known for his involvement in various left-wing groups and causes, most notably Halt All Racist Tours.

1919-1987, after 1982, Rangihau became an advisor to the Maori Affairs Department, he encouraged Maori elders to contact their children and grandchildren in prisons and encourage them to return to their families once released, he facilitated research into Maori health

Won gold at the 1,500 metres in 1976

Born 1975, a NZ rugby union footballer generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union, and one of the sport's most intimadating players on the pitch

1848-1934. The most prominent member of New Zealand's women's suffrage movement.

1888-1923. Was a prominent NZ modernist writer of short fiction.

Sang at Prince Charles' first wedding. Middle name Janette

In the Maori mythology of some tribes, Kupe was involved in the Polynesian discovery of New Zealand

1894-1972. Was a well known NZ trade unionist and politician. She was the first woman secretary of a male union (the Canterbury General Labourers' Union).

(1956 - ) Won two Olympic Games gold medals, (the first rider to win successive individual three-day-event titles for 60 years), and also won two bronzes. He won the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials three times and the Burghley three-day trials five times. Won gold medals as a member of the New Zealand team at the World Championships in 1990 (Stockholm) and 1998 (Rome), the European Championships in 1997. In 1995, he rode 2/3 of the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country round with only one stirrup after his stirrup leather broke.

1916-2004. Was a NZ born British molecular biologist, and Nobel Laureate who contributed research in the fields of phosphorescence, radar, isotape separation and X-Ray diffraction. He is most widely known for his work at King's College London on the structure of DNA for which he, Francis Crick and James Watson were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.

Winner of the 2005 U.S. Open.

1872-1940. The first Labour PM of NZ.

1835-1926, she started a home for orphans and the under-privileged in Jerusalem, New Zealand on the Whanganui River in 1885, she is better known as Sister Mary Joseph and is said to likely be the 1st New Zealander to be made a saint

Created the Footrot Flats cartoons featuring Wal and Dog.

Born 1958, is a singer and songwriter, he is frontman for Crowded House and previously with the band Split Enz

(1937 - ) DCNZM, QSO. A notable Māori writer of novels, short stories, and children's books. She is the 2008 recipient of the Neustadt International Prize for Literature.

Born 1961. Best known as the Director of Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1923-1986, was a NZ Queen's Counsel, best known for his Commission of Inquiry into the Mt Erebus Disaster

Born 1938. Is known for the three Olympic gold medals he won.

1927-2007, was one of three recipients of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2000

Born 1931, he is regarded as New Zealand's most important living artist, in 1994 he was awarded and honorary doctorate from the University of Otago

1897-1987, was a New Zealand-born writer, educator, social reformer and member of the Communist Party of China

1897-1987, was a New Zealand-born writer, educator, social reformer and member of the Communist Party of China

1877-1953. Performed pioneering experiments in aviation.

1845-1906. Sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving PM of NZ.

(1908 - 1970) Along with Colin McCahon &Toss Woollaston she is credited with introducing modern styles to New Zealand art. Worked primarily in oil and water colour. Known for her portraits and landscapes.

As Minister of Finance he implemented revolutionary policies which became known as "Rogernomics.

1869-1937, also a faith healer and land rights activist

Born 1962, considered by many to be the best match racer in the world, he has won the America's Cup 3 times and various sailing world championships

Born 1964, he is a winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 2000's Gladiator

Born 1947. Television and film actor, who was actually born in Northern Ireland to his 3rd generation NZ father and English mother. Starring roles have included in My Brilliant Career (1979), Dead Calm (1989), The Piano (1993), and Jurassic Park (1993).

Winner of the 2008 Indianapolis 500.

1874-1950. He has often been described as the foremost Maori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Maori culture and language.

1889-1963. NZ's most famous soldier and military commander, also served as Governor-General of NZ, was awarded the Victoria Cross in World War I. During WWII he commanded the NZ Army Expeditionary Force in the Battle of Crete, the North African Campaign and the Battle of Monte Cassino.

1899-1978, who developed the modern jetboat

1926-2006. He pioneered the development of cardiopulmonary bypass in NZ.

1891-1963, ultimately ended uo in London (1919) where he made his career and earned fame for his Colonel Blimp depictions and his merciless satirising of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and thier policies. Such stinging depictions led to his work being banned in Italy and Germany

(1919 - 2008) In 1953, along with Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to have reached the summit of Mt Everest. Also the first to drive overland (by tractor) to the South Pole in 1958.

1812-1898. A Prime Minister of NZ.

1882-1960, widely considered as the father of plastic surgery

1835-1899. Was NZ's only practicing Jewish PM.

1892-1975, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the WWII, he was in tactical command during two of the most significant air battles in the European theatre in the Second World War, The Battle of Britain and the Battle of Malta

Born 1933, ONZ. A former middle distance runner winning gold at 1960 Rome in 5000metres, In 1963 he set up the Halberg Trust, which supports children with disabilities

1948-2001, had won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989 and the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994, he was murdered by pirates in 2001 during an environmental exploration trip in South America

C1877-1951. Known for much of his life as Te Rangi Hiroa, was a prominent member of the Ngati Mutunga Maori iwi.

C1877-1951. Known for much of his life as Te Rangi Hiroa. Entered parliament in 1909. As part of the Liberal government helped delay the sale of Maori land to Pakeha.

First person to take 400 Test wickets

1910-2004. Headed Pasadena, California's Jet propulsion Laboratory for 22 years, retiring in 1976. He was senior NASA luminary and pioneered the exploration of space.

C1820-1891, a warrior and founder of the Ringatu religion

C1820-1891, a warrior and founder of the Ringatu religion

1760?-1849. Took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Affray in Marlborough.

1760?-1849. Maori chief. Took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Affray in Marlborough.

C1815-1905. Founder of the village of Parihaka, in NZ's Taranaki region.

Born 1952, singer and songwriter, was in volved with rock band Split Enz, is older brother of Neil

(1910-1998) was one of the most important NZ painters of the 20th century.

1792-1842. Was the first Governor of New Zealand. Co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi

Born 1944, regarded as the most prominent Maori writer alive today. Wrote 'Whale Rider'.