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Henry Te Reiwhati (Harry Ray) Vercoe was born at Maketū, Bay of Plenty, probably on 21 July 1884, the third child of Ngāhuia Te Ahoaho and her husband, Henry Vercoe, a surveyor. Vercoe's mother had tribal connections to…

According to family information, Robert Henry Wynyard was born on 24 December 1802, at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England; he was baptised in London on 13 February 1803. He was the younger son of Jane Gladwin, lady-in-…

Early life and schooling Robert David Muldoon (known as Rob or Bob) was the only son of James Henry Muldoon, a government inspector, and his wife, Amie Rusha Browne. He was born in Auckland on 25 September 1921. His…

Hugh Fraser Ayson was born in Toiro, near Balclutha, Otago, on 16 November 1884, the son of Lake Falconer Ayson, a rabbit inspector, and his wife, Alice Dabinett. Educated at Masterton School, Wellington College and…

The life and death of George Bollinger illustrate the extremes of nobility and prejudice engendered in New Zealanders by the experience of the First World War. Bollinger's father, Max, was a Bavarian who migrated to New…

One of New Zealand's greatest aviators, Keith Logan Caldwell was by his own account born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 16 October 1895. He was the son of David Robert Caldwell, a merchant, and his wife, Mary Dunlop…

The small market town of Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland, was the birthplace, on 17 November 1907, of Mary Greig Campbell. Her father, Alexander John Campbell, a doctor, was the third of his family to practise in the area…

Emily Elizabeth Carpenter was born at Scargill, North Canterbury, on 20 January 1917, the daughter of Margaret Elizabeth Fleming and her husband, John Frederick Hyam Carpenter, a farmer. She went to Wharenui School,…

Rua Isobel Gardner was born at Devonport, Auckland, on 13 March 1901, the child of Scottish parents Agnes Dawson Neilson Rankin and her husband, Robert Gardner, a banker. She attended Auckland Girls’ Grammar School (…

Henry Douglas Morpeth Haszard was born on 16 January 1862 at Mangonui, Northland, New Zealand, the eldest surviving son of Moore Hunter Morpeth and her husband, Robert Haszard, a farmer and former goldminer. His parents…

Robert Holt was born at Oldham, Lancashire, England, probably in 1832 or 1833, the son of Thomas Holt, a millwright, and his wife, Sarah Leech. He served his apprenticeship as a joiner and patternmaker, later working in…

Kate Challis Excelsa Hooper was born at Devonport, Auckland, on 25 June 1894 to Sophia Frances Hould and her husband, Richard Henry Hooper, a farmer who later became a journalist. As a girl Challis lived in Wellington…

Lily Annie Brown was born at Halifax, Yorkshire, England, on 10 March 1890 to John Henry Brown, a cabinet maker, and his wife, Rebecca Grundy Morton. She was educated in Brighouse and Huddersfield and after leaving…

Fanny Louise Smith, later known as Fanny Louise Irvine-Smith, was born at Napier on 10 September 1878. Her father, Thomas Smith, a master mariner, died after falling from the topmast of the Mohaka when Fanny was six…

Samuel Jickell was born at Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, on 18 August 1856. His parents were John Jickell, a master joiner, and his wife, Jane Millen. Nothing is known about his early life or education. On…

Pā George was born on 1 August 1893 at Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. His father's identity is unknown; his mother was Takau Tuaraūpoko Mokoroa ki Aitū (she later took the title Makea Karika Ariki). Pā George was…

James Joseph Kelly regarded himself as first an Irishman, then a Catholic, then a Christian. He divided his life equally between Ireland and New Zealand, but was at heart always an exile. He was born on 11 November 1877…

Falconer Larkworthy spent only a few years in New Zealand but was a significant figure in the country's economic development. His career illustrates the importance of New Zealand's links with the London financial…

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin was born at Lindean railway station, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland, on 5 June 1870, the son of Robert Campbell Maclaurin, the resident stationmaster, previously a clergyman, and his wife…

Frank Crossley Mappin was born on 15 August 1884 at Scampton, Lincolnshire, England, the son of Laura Morton and her husband, Samuel Wilson Mappin, a farmer, who many years later inherited the family baronetcy. Mappin…