Search

Mary Ann Recknall McCarthy was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 11 August 1866, the fifth of eight children of Elizabeth Ann Pyke and her husband, Samuel McCarthy, a locksmith. Mary (or Polly, as the family knew her)…

Thomas Arthur McCormack was born on 27 April 1883 at Napier, the son of Irish parents Elizabeth Kirwin and her husband, Thomas McCormack, a labourer. At the Marist brothers' school in Napier he was interested only in…

William Roy McGregor was born in Thames on 8 July 1894, the son of Peter McGregor, a draper, and his wife, Susan Melville Rea. He attended Auckland Grammar School in 1909, then – it is understood – briefly took up…

Peter McSkimming was born, probably in 1847 or 1848, in Auchenheath, Lanarkshire, Scotland; he was the son of Mary McNish and her husband, Peter McSkimming, a brick- and tile-maker and pipe manufacturer. His early life…

Edward Morgan was born in London, England, on 5 April 1906, the son of a labourer, William Edward Morgan, and his wife, Amelia Eliza Davis. When he was about a year old his parents emigrated to New Zealand, settling in…

Katerina Waetford was born at Whakapara in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1903, the daughter of Mereana Teruhi Nēhua and Hare Paerau Waetford, a bushman. She was of Ngāpuhi descent, and a descendant of Eru Patuone of…

Ruth Page came to prominence in 1955 when she led the controversial and much publicised Nelson women’s railway protest. Unusually small of stature, and always correct and ladylike, she stepped into the public gaze for a…

George Conrad Petersen was born in Mauriceville West, near Eketahuna, on 19 June 1900, to Danish parents Jens Peter Petersen and his wife, Anna Katrine Nielsen. They developed a small farm and Jens was a founding…

John Robertson was born at Outram, Otago, New Zealand, on 18 July 1870, the son of Joseph Robertson, a storekeeper, and his wife, Jessie Borrie. He was educated at Kaitangata and Stirling schools, and was a pupil-…

Linden Charles Mansell Saunders was born in Christchurch on 5 December 1908, the son of Violet Mary Georgina March and her husband, Charles Mansell Saunders, a cordial manufacturer. As music critic of the New Zealand…

Desmond James Scott, one of New Zealand’s most decorated fighter pilots, was born at Ashburton on 11 September 1918, the son of John Robert Scott, a shepherd from Aberdeenshire, and his wife, Jean Reid, who had been a…

Doris Gertrude Sheppard was born in Bromley, Kent, England, on 7 February 1902, the daughter of Georgiana Baker and her husband, Charles Valentine Sheppard, a builder. The family later lived in Sydenham, London. In…

Sophia Lois Anthony was born on 12 August 1893 in Bondi, Sydney, Australia, the daughter of Stephen Anthony (formerly Nowinsky), a Polish draughtsman, and his wife, Clara Emma Ackland. She travelled to New Zealand in…

Thomas Fielden Taylor was born in Chelsea, Middlesex, England, on 12 June 1879, the son of Richard Fielden Taylor, a professor of music, and his wife, Annie Philadelphia Williams. Fielden studied law and at the age of…

Pahikore Te Koeti Tūranga was born at Makawhio pā, south Westland, on 18 November 1883 to Rīpeka Tūtoko (also called Patiere Tūtoko) and Te Koeti Tūranga, both of Poutini Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Māmoe. He was baptised John…

Elizabeth (Bessie) Turnbull was born at Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand, on 2 May 1885, the youngest of 11 children of Sydney Turnbull, a baker, and his wife, Catherine Armstrong. Both parents were of Scots birth and sailed…

Piet van Asch’s lifelong passion for photography and flying made him one of New Zealand’s foremost aviation pioneers, though in person he was modest about his achievements. He was born Henry Piet Drury van Asch on 4 May…

Heinrich Franz Vosseler, generally known as Henry or Harry, was born on 18 October 1885 in Wellington, the son of German parents George Vosseler, a baker, and his second wife, Anna Marie Therese Wulff, a schoolteacher.…

Elizabeth Rose Rebecca Bradshaw is thought to have been born in Ireland, probably in 1833 or 1834, but nothing is known of her background or early life. Probably in 1850, in England, she married John Charles Watts…

Benjamin Woods was the most important police officer in northern New Zealand between 1840 and 1853. He was born in King's County, Ireland, probably in 1787 or 1788, the fifth of six children born to Ann Wilkinson and…