- Dame Whina Cooper (1895–1994) – Māori leader who campaigned for better recognition and improved conditions for the Maori people. She was given the honorary title of Te Whaea o te Motu (“Mother of the Nation”)
- Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) – writer of short stories and poetry. Modernist writer.
- Thomas Brydone (1837–1904) and William Soltau Davidson (1846–1924) – refrigeration pioneers
- Richard Pearse (1877–1953) – aviation pioneer who developed concepts such as monoplanes, wing flaps, undercarriage wheels and variable propeller.
- Te Whiti o Rongomai (c.1830–1907) – pacifist Māori leader who led people or Parihaka in non-violent resistance to the confiscation of Maori land by the New Zealand government.
- Richard Seddon (1845–1906) – Liberal Party Premier and Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1893 – 1906. He passed social reforms, such as old aged pensions, bought Maori lands and successfully annexed the Cook Islands.
- Sir Te Rangi Hīroa (Peter Buck) (1877–1951) – Māori leader, who was doctor, military leader, health administrator and politician.
- Sir Julius Vogel (1835–1899) – politician and Premier from 1873-1875. Vogel issued bonds to fund infrastructure projects.
- Maurice Wilkins (1916–2004) – scientist Nobel laureate who worked on DNA structure with Crick and Watson.
- Helen Clark (1950–) – politician and Prime Minister from 1999 – 2008. She became the first female head of the UN Development Programme.
- Mabel Howard (1894–1972) – politician and trade unionist. Served as MP from 1943-69.
- Sir Bernard Freyberg (1889–1963) – lieutenant-general. Served at Gallipoli and became the youngest general of First World War. In Second World War he commanded New Zealand Expeditionary force at Battle of Crete, North Africa and in Italy.
- Sir Harold Gillies (1882–1960) – plastic surgeon
- Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (1944–) – opera singer
- Sir Keith Park (1892–1975) – air chief marshal
- Professor Alan MacDiarmid (1927–2007) – Nobel laureate chemist
- Sir Peter Blake (1948–2001) – yachtsman
- Dr C.E. (Clarence Edward) Beeby (1902–1998) – educationalist
- Jack Lovelock (1910–1949) – athlete
- Dr John Bedbrook – biotechnologist
- James K. Baxter (1926–1972) – poet
- Dr Fred Hollows (1929–1993) – eye surgeon
- Sir Murray Halberg (1933–) – athlete and philanthropist
- Neil Finn (1958–) – musician
- Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862) – colony founder
- David Lange (1942–2005) – politician
- Sir Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) – politician
- Thomas Edmonds – industrialist
- Colin McCahon (1919–1987) – painter
- Colin Murdoch (1929–2008) – inventor of the disposable syringe
- Sir Archibald McIndoe (1900–1960) – plastic surgeon
- Rev Samuel Marsden (1765–1838) – missionary
- Peter Fraser (1884–1950) – politician
- John Clarke (1948–2017) – comedian
- Ettie Rout (1877–1936) – campaigner for safe sex
- Arthur Lydiard (1917–2004) – popularised jogging
- Kupe – the discoverer of Aotearoa
- Te Puea Herangi (1883–1952) – Māori leader
- Sir John Walker (1952–) – runner
- Tim Finn (1952–) – musician
- John A. Lee (1891–1982) – politician
- Sir James Wattie (1902–1974) – industrialist
- Sir Bill Hamilton (1899–1978) – inventor
- Norman Kirk (1923–1974) – politician
- Bill Gallagher (1911–1990) – inventor
- Dr Michael King (1945–2004) – historian
- Frances Hodgkins (1869–1947) – painter
- George Nepia (1905–1986) – All Black
- Sir James Fletcher (1886–1974) – industrialist
- Mother Aubert (1835–1926) – nun
- Charles Heaphy (1820–1881) – explorer
- A.H. Reed (1875–1975) – publisher
- Frank Sargeson (1903–1982) – writer
- Sir Roger Douglas (1937–) – politician
- Dr Matthew During – scientist
- Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki (c.1832–1893) – warrior
- Hongi Hika (1772–1828) – warrior chief
- Sir David Low (1891–1963) – cartoonist
- Kate Edger (1857–1935) – women’s pioneer
- Dame Marie Clay (1926–2007) – educationalist
- Rewi Alley (1897–1987) – sinophile
- Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison (1867–1904) – rugby union captain
- Rua Kenana Hepetipa (1869–1937) – prophet
- Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana (1873?–1939) – prophet
- Aunt Daisy (1879–1963) – broadcaster
- Charles Upham (1908–1994) – soldier
- Ralph Hotere (1931–2013) – artist
- Sir Richard Hadlee (1951–) – cricketer
- Billy T James (1948–1991) – comedian
- Sir Keith Sinclair (1922–1993) – historian
- Charles Goldie (1870–1947) – painter
- John Minto (1953–) – activist
- Rudall Hayward (1900–1974) – film maker
- Witi Ihimaera (1944–) – writer
- John Te Rangianiwaniwa Rangihau (1919–1987) – Māori language promoter
- Dave Dobbyn (1957–) – songwriter
- Russell Coutts (1962–) – sailor
- Peter Mahon (1923–1986) – lawyer
- Georgina Beyer (1957–) – transgender politician
- A J Hackett (1958–) – bungy jumping pioneer
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Famous people from Australia”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net, published 19 April 2020.
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