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Nettie Florence Armstrong was born probably in Carthage, Missouri, USA, on 18 March 1875, the daughter of Frances Haxton and her husband, James Armstrong, a timber merchant. As a child, Florence lived in Arkansas, but…

Alice Hannah Holford was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, on 12 November 1867, the daughter of Annie Brooking and her husband, John Henry Holford, a mariner and later harbourmaster. From an early age her ambition was…

Little is known of Carl Frank Fischer's early life. He was of German origin and told contemporaries that he had lived for some time in Munich. He claimed to have gained the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Martin…

Golan Haberfield Maaka, also known as Te Kōrana, was born on 4 April 1904 on Ōruawharo station, Takapau, Hawke's Bay. His father was Aritaku Maaka, of Ngāti Hikatoa of Waimārama and Ngāi Tahu of Takapau, hapū of Ngāti…

Selina Sutherland (whose name at baptism was Sutherland Sutherland) was born on 26 December 1839 at Culgower, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, the third child of Jane McDonald and her husband, Baigrie Sutherland, a farm…

Sadie Murn was born in Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia, on 3 July 1886. She was subsequently registered as Sarah, but always known as Sadie. Her parents were Sarah Jane Stuart and her husband, John Murn, a miner.…

Herbert Sutcliffe was born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England, on 19 October 1886, the son of Elizabeth Easter Allen and her husband, John James Sutcliffe, an engineer. A lifelong love of singing came from involvement in…

Muriel Helen Easterfield was born in Wellington on 26 February 1900 to Thomas Hill Easterfield and his wife, Anna Maria Kunigunda Büchel, who came from Bavaria. Her father, who was English, was foundation professor of…

George Douglas Robb was born in Auckland on 29 April 1899, the son of Scottish immigrants Agnes Rough, a former schoolteacher, and her husband, John Robb, a timber inspector, who was later general manager of the Kauri…

Diana Mason was one of the country’s best-known obstetricians, delivering countless babies in a medical career spanning more than 50 years. Talented and ambitious, she built a successful practice at a time when there…

Agnes (Nancy) Grieve was born in Hudson's Bay, Canada, probably in 1830 or 1831. Her father, James Grieve, was a bowsman employed by the Hudson's Bay Company and her mother was of Amerindian descent. Agnes married James…

Hilda Margaret Northcroft was born in Hamilton on 22 April 1882, the daughter of Henry William Northcroft, a resident magistrate, and his wife, Margaret Henderson. Her father was English and her mother Canadian. Hilda…

Zillah Smith Billany was born at Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England, on 29 May 1859. Her parents were Charlotte Ann Clevelin and her husband, Neiles Boynton Billany, a shipwright. Nothing is known of Zillah Billany'…

Edna Pengelly was born in Canada on 5 July 1874, the daughter of Laura Ann Brown and her husband, William Pengelly. Edna came to New Zealand as a child when her father bought a small farm at Annat, a settlement near the…

Described as the 'smartest Māori woman it has been my lot to meet' by an investigating policeman, Puna Hīmene Te Rangimārie was one of the first to be prosecuted under the Tohunga Suppression Act 1907. Little is known…

Pansy Helen Auld Chapman was born at Blacks Point, Reefton, on 24 November 1892. Her parents, Hender Chapman, a miner, and his wife, Elizabeth Ann Richards, were both from Cornwall. At the age of 19 Helen Chapman…

James Lister Newman was born in London, England, on 23 April 1903, the son of Kate Beck and her husband, Charles Arnold Newman, a solicitor. He was educated at Shrewsbury school (where he was an excellent classical…

Murray Beresford Roberts was born at Wellington on 10 August 1919, the only child of Andrew Murray Roberts, a surveyor, and his wife, Annie Isabelle Huckstep. He was brought up in a well-to-do Auckland home. His father…

Elizabeth Ann Budge (the Louisa was added later) was born on 23 January 1843 at Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire, England, the daughter of Matthew Budge, a labourer, and his wife, Ann Church. Nothing is known about her…

Reginald Clifton Firth was born at Auckland on 12 April 1904, the eldest son of Edward Thompson Clifton Firth, a manufacturer and inventor, and his wife, Blanch Emily Banks. His grandfather, Josiah Clifton Firth, was an…