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Thomas Henry Johnston was born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia, on 26 August 1880, the sixth of nine children of Waldron John Johnston, a chemist, and his wife, Elizabeth Nelson. His father died when he was eight years…

Charles Knight was baptised at Rye, Sussex, England, on 14 July 1808, the youngest child of James and Ann Knight. His father died in 1808 and in 1810 his mother married Thomas Godfrey of Hawkhurst, Kent. In October 1828…

Ina Lamason was a sporting phenomenon. She represented New Zealand at cricket and hockey, was an international hockey umpire and served both sports as an administrator. Born Ina Mabel Pickering in Palmerston North on 2…

William (Bill) Perrett Mead is best known for his role in the development of the Tongariro National Park and Whanganui River recreational areas. He was born at Scarrotts station, near Dargaville, on 7 December 1889. His…

Hōri Mahue Ngata was born on 8 August 1919 at The Bungalow, Waiomatatini, the home of his grandfather, Apirana Ngata. His father, Mākarini Tānara Ngata, a farmer, was Apirana’s eldest son; his mother was Maraea Mereana…

Marcus Frederick Nicholls was born at Greytown on 13 July 1901, the son of Sidney Nicholls, a custodian, and his wife, Margaret Ann Marnell. After the family moved to Petone in 1908 he attended Petone West School and…

Annette Paul was one of a small number of educated women who were influential in the fledgeling Salvation Army in New Zealand. Born in Auckland on 4 November 1863, she was the daughter of Annette McKellar and her…

Violet Augusta Roche was born on 17 June 1885 in Te Awamutu, the daughter of Constance Gertrude Malcolm and her husband, Robert Warren Roche. Robert Roche had a varied career as a journalist, accountant, settler,…

Caesar Roose lived his life on the Waikato River. The elder son of English-born Mary Ashley and her German husband, Ceasar (Caesar) Henry Roose, he was born on 29 July 1886 at Mercer, on the 67-acre Tuoro Island, which…

One of the great characters of New Zealand sport, Paul Thomas Silva overcame the loss of an eye in the First World War to compete successfully in national wood-chopping events for over 20 years. He was born at Mungatu,…

Te Ahu was a missionary among Te Arawa for over 50 years. From Te Uri Taniwha hapū of Ngāpuhi, he was born near Ōkaihau, in northern New Zealand. As a child, in 1832 or early 1833, he became a member of the household of…

Tukumana was born in the Thames district probably in 1862 or 1863. He was the son of Reihana Poto of Ngāti Maru, and Karukino Te Taniwha of Ngāti Puku and Te Mateawa hapu of Ngāti Whanaunga. Taiwiwi was another of his…

Ngāwini and Samuel Yates ran a large farm and general store in the far north of New Zealand during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Samuel Yates was born in London, England, probably in 1829, the son of Saul…

James Bodell was baptised at Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England, on 3 July 1831. He was the son of William Bodell, a framework knitter, and his wife, Maria Margrom. The family soon moved to Leicester, where Bodell went to…

Sarah Ann Rigelsford was born in London, England, probably in 1821 or 1822. Her mother's name is unknown; her father was John Rigelsford, a labourer. She was clever at needlework and as a young woman she set up her own…

George Phillpotts was one of 14 children of Henry Phillpotts, vicar of St Margaret's, Durham, England, and later lord bishop of Exeter, and his wife, Deborah Maria Surtees; his date and place of birth are unknown, but…

Ralph Hōtere was one of New Zealand’s most important late twentieth-century artists. He began as a painter with a strong drawing practice, later moving into sculpture and installation. His work reflected an abstract…

Norris Frank Davey, who would in adult life change his name to Frank Sargeson, was born in Hamilton on 23 March 1903, the second of four children. His father, Edwin John Davey, had taken over his father's general store…

John Cullen was born in Glenfarne, County Leitrim, Ireland, and baptised there on 28 March 1850. He was the son of Mary McNulty and her husband, Patrick Cullen, a farmer. Details of Cullen's life are unknown until he…

Te Rangikāheke, known also by his baptismal name of Wiremu Maihi (William Marsh), or Wī Maihi, was born in the early nineteenth century, according to his own evidence, about 1815, possibly at Puhirua or Te Awahou, in…