100 Notable alumni of
University of Canterbury
Updated:
The University of Canterbury is 512th in the world, 11th in Oceania, and 3rd in New Zealand by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from the University of Canterbury sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Sam Neill
- Occupations
- film actorfilm directortelevision actoractorwinegrower
- Biography
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Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
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Ernest Rutherford
- Occupations
- chemistprofessoruniversity teachernuclear physicistpolitician
- Biography
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Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, was a New Zealand physicist and chemist who was a pioneering researcher in both atomic and nuclear physics. He has been described as "the father of nuclear physics" and "the greatest experimentalist since Michael Faraday." In 1908, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his investigations into the disintegration of the elements, and the chemistry of radioactive substances."
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Rhys Darby
- Occupations
- actorcomediantelevision actor
- Biography
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Rhys Montague Darby is a New Zealand actor and comedian. He is known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime, and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2001 and 2002 and won the 2012 Fred (Dagg) Award for best NZ show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
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Christopher Luxon
- Occupations
- chief executive officerpolitical candidatepolitician
- Biography
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Christopher Mark Luxon is a New Zealand politician and businessman who has served as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since 2023. A member of the National Party, he has been member of Parliament (MP) for Botany since 2020 and previously served as leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2023. Prior to entering politics, he was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019.
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John Key
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 1981 graduated with Bachelor of Commerce in accounting
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Sir John Phillip Key is a New Zealand retired politician who served as the 38th prime minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016 and as leader of the National Party from 2006 to 2016.
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Michael Hurst
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorscreenwriterfilm actorstage actor
- Biography
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Michael Eric Hurst ONZM is a British-born New Zealand actor, director, and writer. He is known as a theatre actor, especially in Shakespearean roles, and more widely known for his roles in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess as Iolaus. He directed the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Ash vs Evil Dead. He plays a lead role in the 2025 Australian satirical dark comedy film Birthright.
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Ngaio Marsh
- Occupations
- stage actorwriterautobiographernovelistfilm actor
- Biography
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Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh DBE was a New Zealand writer.
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Scott Barrett
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Scott Kevin Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a Lock for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC. Barrett was named All Black Captain in June 2024.
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Eleanor Catton
- Occupations
- novelistscreenwriterwriter
- Biography
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Eleanor Catton MNZM is a New Zealand novelist and screenwriter. Born in Canada, Catton moved to New Zealand as a child and grew up in Christchurch. She completed a master's degree in creative writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters. Her award-winning debut novel, The Rehearsal, written as her Master's thesis, was published in 2008, and has been adapted into a 2016 film of the same name. Her second novel, The Luminaries, won the 2013 Booker Prize, making Catton the youngest author ever to win the prize (at age 28) and only the second New Zealander. It was subsequently adapted into a television miniseries, with Catton as screenwriter. In 2023, she was named on the Granta Best of Young British Novelists list.
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Chiam See Tong
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Chiam See Tong is a Singaporean former politician and lawyer who was serving as secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), between 1980 to 1993, and later served as secretary-general of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) between 2011 to 2019 and as chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) from 2001 to 2011. Chiam was the de facto Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 2006. Throughout his parliamentary career, he had represented Potong Pasir from 1984 to 2011.
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Vincent Ward
- Occupations
- screenwriterdirectorfilm directorfilm produceractor
- Biography
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Vincent Ward ONZM is a New Zealand film director, screenwriter and artist.
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Āpirana Ngata
- Occupations
- historianjuristlawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand statesman. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have served in parliament in the mid-20th century, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language. His legacy is one of the most prominent of any New Zealand leader in the 20th century, and is commemorated by his depiction on the fifty-dollar note.
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Ruby Tui
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 2010 studied media studies
- Occupations
- rugby sevens playerrugby union player
- Biography
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Ruby Malae Tui is a New Zealand rugby union player. She competed internationally when the national rugby sevens team won the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics tournament. She won a gold medal in rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She was a member of the Black Ferns team that won the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
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Roy Kerr
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Studied in 1951-1954
- Occupations
- mathematicianphysicistbridge playeruniversity teacher
- Biography
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Roy Patrick Kerr CNZM FRS FRSNZ is a New Zealand mathematician who discovered the Kerr geometry, an exact solution to the Einstein field equation of general relativity. His solution models the gravitational field outside an uncharged rotating massive object, including a rotating black hole. His solution to Einstein's equations predicted spinning black holes before they were discovered.
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Anote Tong
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Anote Tong is an I-Kiribati environmental activist and former politician for the Pillars of Truth party with half Chinese heritage, who served as the fourth president of Kiribati, from 2003 to 2016. He won the election in July 2003 with a slim plurality of votes cast (47.4%) against his older brother, Harry Tong (43.5%) and the private lawyer Banuera Berina (9.1%). The elections were contested by the opposition, due to allegations of electoral fraud but the High Court of Tarawa had confirmed that there was no fraud. He was re-elected on 17 October 2007 for a second term (64%). In 2012, Tong was reelected for a third term, although with a significantly smaller percentage than in the previous two elections.
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Margaret Mahy
- Occupations
- screenwriternovelistwriterlibrarianchildren's writer
- Biography
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Margaret Mahy ONZ was a New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. Many of her story plots have strong supernatural elements but her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growing up. She wrote more than 100 picture books, 40 novels and 20 collections of short stories. At her death she was one of thirty writers to win the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her "lasting contribution to children's literature".
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Don Brash
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Donald Thomas Brash is a New Zealand former politician who was Leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party from October 2003 to November 2006, and leader of the ACT New Zealand party for seven months from April to November 2011.
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Teddy Tahu Rhodes
- Occupations
- opera singer
- Biography
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Teddy Tahu Rhodes is a New Zealand-born operatic baritone based in Australia. He has performed at opera houses in New Zealand, Australia, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, New York City and throughout Europe. Apart from many appearances in the standard repertoire, he has sung leading roles in Australian and world premieres. His recordings range from Baroque oratorios, operas, Lieder cycles to nursery rhymes and musical theatre. His album The Voice won the Fine Arts Award at the 2004 ARIA Music Awards.
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Feleti Teo
- Years
- 1962-.. (age 64)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Feleti Penitala Teo is a Tuvaluan politician and lawyer who is serving as the 14th prime minister of Tuvalu since 2024. He was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election, with his previous role being the executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
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Nicola Willis
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Nicola Valentine Willis is a New Zealand politician who has been deputy leader of the National Party since 2021. She is also the Minister of Finance, the Minister for Social Investment, the Minister for Economic Growth, and was also the Minister for the Public Services in the Sixth National Government.
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Michael Cullen
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 1967 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Sir Michael John Cullen KNZM was a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1981 to 2009, the Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1996 to 2008 and a senior minister in the Fifth Labour Government from 1999 to 2008, serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Attorney-General.
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Alan Gibbs
- Occupations
- art collector
- Biography
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Alan Timothy Gibbs is a New Zealand-born businessman, entrepreneur and former public servant.
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Andrea Hewitt
- Occupations
- triathlete
- Biography
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Andrea Hansen MNZM is a New Zealand triathlete who placed third at the 2009 ITU Triathlon World Championships and competed at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics.
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Bill Rowling
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG PC was a New Zealand politician who was the 30th prime minister of New Zealand from 1974 to 1975. He held office as the leader of the Labour Party.
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Stuart Nash
- Years
- 1967-.. (age 59)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Stuart Alexander Nash is a New Zealand politician and lawyer. He was a member of the House of Representatives for Labour Party from 2008 to 2011, and was re-elected in 2014 election as a representative of Napier electorate. In October 2017 when Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand, Nash entered Labour Cabinet, with a portfolios of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries. In the second Ardern term Nash was handed the Economic Development, Tourism, Forestry, and Small Business portfolios. In early April 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting the 2023 election.
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Megan Woods
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 1997 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Megan Cherie Woods is a New Zealand Labour Party politician who served as a Cabinet Minister in the Sixth Labour Government and has served as Member of Parliament for Wigram since 2011.
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Peter Dunne
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Peter Francis Dunne CNZM is a New Zealand retired politician.
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David Shearer
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 1986 graduated with Master of Science
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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David James Shearer MBE is a New Zealand United Nations worker and politician. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for the Labour Party from 2009 to 2016, serving as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2013.
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Ken Henry
- Years
- 1957-.. (age 69)
- Occupations
- economistcivil servantbusiness executive
- Biography
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Kenneth Ross Henry AC is an Australian economist and public servant who served as the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury from 2001 to 2011.
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Rita Angus
- Occupations
- printmakerpainter
- Biography
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Henrietta Catherine Angus, known as Rita Cook early in her career, was a New Zealand painter who, alongside Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston, is regarded as one of the leading figures in twentieth-century New Zealand art. She worked primarily in oil and watercolour, and became known for her portraits and landscapes.
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Adam Whitelock
- Occupations
- rugby sevens playerrugby union player
- Biography
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Adam Whitelock is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a midfield back or wing. He previously played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, Canterbury in the ITM Cup. and Bayonne in the Top 14. Whitelock also played for the All Blacks Sevens team.
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Amy Adams
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Amy Juliet Adams is a New Zealand lawyer and former politician. Since 2022 she has been chancellor of the University of Canterbury.
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David Teece
- Occupations
- university teachereconomist
- Biography
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David John Teece CNZM is a New Zealand-born US-based organizational economist, Professor emeritus in Global Business and director of the Tusher Center for the Management of Intellectual Capital at the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and as of 2024, Distinguished Scholar of Strategy and Innovation at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.
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Toni Street
- Occupations
- television presenter
- Biography
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Toni Street is a New Zealand television presenter and sports commentator. She is best known for co-hosting the New Zealand current affairs programme Seven Sharp alongside Mike Hosking, as well as presenting morning shows and sports reporting for One News.
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Nick Smith
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- engineerpolitician
- Biography
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Nicolas Rex Smith is a New Zealand politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the National Party from 1990 to 2021. He served as a Cabinet minister, holding various posts including Minister for Building and Housing, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change Issues, and Minister of Local Government. For a brief time between October and November 2003 he was the deputy leader of the National Party, then in opposition under Don Brash.
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Phil Pringle
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Philip Andrew Pringle OAM is a New Zealand-born Australian Christian evangelist. Pringle arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, from Christchurch in 1980 with his wife Chris. He is the senior pastor of C3 Church Sydney (formerly known as Christian City Church), which was started in a surf club in Dee Why before moving to a large, rented warehouse after an initial attempt at planting a church in the Sydney suburb of Roseville. He is the founder of C3 Church Global, a church planting movement. He is also the founder and president of Oxford Falls Grammar School, Sydney.
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Bob Parker
- Occupations
- politiciantelevision producer
- Biography
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Sir Robert John Parker KNZM is a former New Zealand broadcaster and politician. He served as Mayor of Christchurch from 2007 to 2013.
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Joel Hayward
- Occupations
- historianpoetuniversity teacherwriter
- Biography
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Joel Hayward FRHistS FRSA is a New Zealand-born British scholar, academic and writer. He has been listed in the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims. He has been the Dean of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, the Chair of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as Director of the Institute for International and Civil Security at Khalifa University, and the Chief Executive of the Cambridge Muslim College in the United Kingdom. He is now the Dean of the Sycamore Leadership Academy, based in Istanbul. He is also a member of the management board of the Association of British Muslims, which he serves as Director of Leadership and Academic Affairs. He was tutor to Prince William of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne.
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Ruth Richardson
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Ruth Margaret Richardson CNZM is a retired New Zealand politician of the National Party who served as Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993. Her 1991 budget, which she dubbed the "Mother of all Budgets", formed the catalyst for her party's economic reforms known in the media as "Ruthanasia".
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Jordan Luck
- Occupations
- musician
- Biography
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Jordan William Hunter Luck MNZM is the former lead singer and songwriter of the New Zealand rock band the Exponents. He was born in Vanderhoof in the province of British Columbia, Canada. His family moved to Tokarahi (near Oamaru) and later moved to Geraldine where he grew up. He attended University of Canterbury and College House. He is now in a band called The Jordan Luck Band.
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Rodney Hide
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rodney Philip Hide QSO is a former New Zealand politician of the ACT New Zealand party. Hide was a Member of Parliament for ACT from 1996 until 2011, was ACT's leader between 2004 and 2011, and represented the Epsom constituency from 2005 to 2011. In the Fifth National Government, Hide was Minister of Local Government, Associate Minister of Commerce and Minister of Regulatory Reform until 2011.
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Lianne Dalziel
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Lianne Audrey Dalziel CNZM is a New Zealand politician and former mayor of Christchurch. Prior to this position, she was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 23 years, serving as Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister of Food Safety and Associate Minister of Justice in the Fifth Labour Government. She resigned from Cabinet on 20 February 2004 after apparently lying about a leak of documents to the media, but was reinstated as a minister following Labour's return to office after the 2005 election. She resigned from Parliament effective 11 October 2013 to contest the Christchurch mayoral election. The incumbent, Bob Parker, decided not to stand again. She was widely regarded as the favourite and won with a wide margin to become the 46th mayor of Christchurch.
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Yamani Hafez Musa
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Yamani Hafez bin Musa is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Finance II in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sipitang from May 2018 to November 2022 and Chairman of FELCRA Berhad from July 2020 to September 2021. He is a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He previously was a member and the State Youth Chief of the United Malays National Organisation of Sabah (Sabah UMNO), a branch of a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), formerly a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party of Sabah (Sabah BERSATU), a branch of a component of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and formerly a member of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), a component of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
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Rob Fyfe
- Occupations
- engineer
- Biography
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Robert Ian Fyfe CNZM is a New Zealand businessman and a former chief executive officer (CEO) of New Zealand national airline Air New Zealand.
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Feleti Sevele
- Years
- 1944-.. (age 82)
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- diplomateconomistpolitician
- Biography
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Feleti Vakaʻuta Sevele, Lord Sevele of Vailahi is a Tongan politician who served as the prime minister of Tonga from 30 March 2006 to 22 December 2010.
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Ginny Andersen
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 2004 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Virginia Ruby Andersen is a New Zealand politician. She has been a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party since the 2017 New Zealand general election.
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Petra Bagust
- Occupations
- television presenter
- Biography
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Petra Bagust is a New Zealand television presenter, radio host, podcaster and media chaplain, perhaps best known for her role as co-presenter of TVNZ's morning show Breakfast.
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Braydon Ennor
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Braydon Maurice Ennor is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a wing and centre for Canterbury in the Bunnings NPC and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
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Annea Lockwood
- Occupations
- music educatorcomposer
- Biography
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Annea Lockwood is a New Zealand-born American composer and academic musician. She taught electronic music at Vassar College. Her range is vast and often includes microtonal, electro-acoustic soundscapes and vocal music, as well as recordings of natural found sounds. She has also recorded Fluxus-inspired pieces involving burning or drowning pianos.
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David McPhail
- Occupations
- screenwritertelevision actorcomedianactortelevision producer
- Biography
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David Alexander McPhail ONZM QSM was a New Zealand comedic actor and writer whose television career spanned four decades. McPhail first won fame on sketch comedy show A Week of It, partly thanks to his impressions of New Zealand prime minister Robert Muldoon. He went on to appear in multiple series of sketch show McPhail and Gadsby, and hit comedy Letter to Blanchy. All three shows featured his longtime friend Jon Gadsby.
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Nathan Cohen
- Occupations
- rower
- Biography
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Nathan Phillip Cohen MNZM is a New Zealand rower. He is a two-time world champion, and won a gold medal in the Olympics. In 2006, rowing a single scull, he won a gold medal at the World University Games. In doing so, he became the first New Zealander to win a gold medal at the World University Games in any sport. Cohen and his rowing partner, Joseph Sullivan, won back-to-back gold medals in the men's double sculls at both the 2010 and 2011 World Rowing Championships. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he and his partner won the gold medal in the men's double sculls, after breaking the Olympic best time in the heats. In 2013, Cohen was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rowing.
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Bruce Murray
- Occupations
- historiancricketer
- Biography
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Bruce Alexander Grenfell Murray QSO was a Test cricketer for New Zealand who played 13 Tests as a right-handed opening batsman between 1968 and 1971. He was a school principal in the Wellington area from 1981 to 2002, and the author of several geography textbooks. After retiring from teaching, he was a cricket administrator in Wellington and a historian.
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Glenn Wilson
- Occupations
- punditpsychologistwriter
- Biography
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Glenn Daniel Wilson is a psychologist best known for his work on attitude and personality measurement, sexual attraction, deviation and dysfunction, partner compatibility, and psychology applied to performing arts. He is a fellow of the British Psychological Society and makes frequent media appearances as a psychology expert, especially in TV news and documentaries.
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Brian Boyd
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Studied in 1970-1974
- Occupations
- scholar of Englishliterary scholarliterary criticuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Brian David Boyd is a professor of literature known primarily as an expert on the life and works of author Vladimir Nabokov and on literature and evolution. He is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
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Jan Tinetti
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Master of Education
- Occupations
- political candidatehead teacherpolitician
- Biography
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Janette Rose Tinetti is a New Zealand politician and a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.
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Gemma New
- Occupations
- conductor
- Biography
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Gemma Elizabeth New ONZM is a New Zealand-born conductor. She is currently principal conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
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Wira Gardiner
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Sir Harawira Tiri Gardiner KNZM was a New Zealand soldier, public servant, and writer. He was Māori, of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatōhea, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui descent.
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Duro Olowu
- Born in
-
Nigeria - Occupations
- curatorfashion designer
- Biography
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Duro Olowu is a Nigerian-born British fashion designer. He is best known for his innovative combinations of patterns and textiles that draw inspiration from his international background.
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Soe Tjen Marching
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- In 1997 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- poetwritercomposeruniversity teacherpolitical activist
- Biography
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Soe Tjen Marching is a writer, academician, activist, and a composer of avant-garde music from Indonesia. In 1998, she won the national competition for Indonesian Contemporary Composers held by the German Embassy. Her compositions have been played in New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan. Her work has been released on the CD Asia Piano Avantgarde - Indonesia, played by pianist Steffen Schleiermacher. In 2010, her work has been selected as one of the two best compositions in the International Competition for avant-garde composers held in Singapore. In her musical career, she has been mainly an autodidact.
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Pansy Wong
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Pansy Yu Fong Wong is a New Zealand former politician.
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Tipene O'Regan
- Occupations
- kaumātuabusinesspersonactivisteducatoracademic
- Biography
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Sir Stephen Gerard "Tipene" O'Regan ONZ CRSNZ is a New Zealand academic, company director and former chairman of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board.
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Miriama Kamo
- Occupations
- television presenter
- Biography
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Miriama Jennet Kamo is a New Zealand journalist, children's author and television presenter. She currently presents TVNZ's Māori current affairs programme Marae and presented the current affairs programme Sunday between 2002 and 2024, when the show was cancelled.
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Elsie Locke
- Occupations
- historianpeace activistnovelistwriter
- Biography
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Elsie Violet Locke was a New Zealand communist writer, historian, and leading activist in the feminism and peace movements. Probably best known for her children's literature, The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature said that she "made a remarkable contribution to New Zealand society", for which the University of Canterbury awarded her an honorary D.Litt. in 1987. She was married to Jack Locke, a leading member of the Communist Party.
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Keith Locke
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Keith James Locke MNZM was a New Zealand activist and politician. He was a Green Party Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2011.
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Roger Sutton
- Years
- 1964-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- engineer
- Biography
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Roger Sutton is a business leader in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was chief executive of power lines company Orion New Zealand Limited from 2003 until 13 June 2011, when he commenced as CEO of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. He resigned in 2014 after being found guilty of serious misconduct by the State Services Commission.
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Michael Kerrisk
- Occupations
- software maintainerauthorengineerprogrammer
- Biography
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Michael Kerrisk is a technical author, programmer and, since 2004, maintainer of the Linux man-pages project, succeeding Andries Brouwer. He was born in 1961 in New Zealand and lives in Munich, Germany.
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Owen Marshall
- Years
- 1941-.. (age 85)
- Occupations
- novelist
- Biography
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Owen Marshall Jones CNZM, who writes under the pen name Owen Marshall, is a New Zealand short story writer and novelist.
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Duncan Webb
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Duncan Alexander Webb is a New Zealand politician, lawyer and academic. He was a law professor at the University of Canterbury from 2000 to 2008, then became a partner at law firm Lane Neave. He was elected as a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Christchurch Central, representing the Labour Party, in the 2017 general election.
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Shane Cotton
- Occupations
- painterartist
- Biography
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Shane William Cotton ONZM is a New Zealand painter whose work explores biculturalism, colonialism, cultural identity, Māori spirituality, and life and death.
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Gaylene Preston
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directordirectorfilm producer
- Biography
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Dame Gaylene Mary Preston DNZM is a New Zealand filmmaker with a particular interest in documentary films.
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Derek Quigley
- Occupations
- farmerlawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Derek Francis Quigley QSO is a New Zealand former politician. He was a prominent member of the National Party during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and was known for his support of free-market economics and trade liberalisation. Quigley left the National Party after clashing with its leadership, and later co-founded the ACT New Zealand party.
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Aaron Gilmore
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Aaron Wayne Gilmore is a New Zealand former politician and member of the New Zealand National Party. He was a list MP from the 2008 election until the 2011 election and again from February to May 2013.
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Lloyd Morrison
- Years
- 1957-2012 (aged 55)
- Occupations
- bankerinvestment bankerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Hugh Richmond Lloyd Morrison CNZM was a Wellington, New Zealand-based investment banker and entrepreneur. He founded H.R.L. Morrison & Co in 1988, and Morrison & Co launched the infrastructure company Infratil in 1994.
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Allan Hubbard
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Allan James Hubbard QSO was a New Zealand businessman who lived in Timaru in the South Island of New Zealand, and was the founder of South Canterbury Finance, New Zealand's largest locally owned finance company. In 2006, the New Zealand Listener described Hubbard as the most powerful businessman in the South Island.
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Nicky Wagner
- Occupations
- businesspersonpolitician
- Biography
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Nicola Joanne Wagner is a former New Zealand politician. After a career in teaching and business, she was a National Party member of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2005 to 2020, when she retired.
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David Moxon
- Occupations
- Anglican priest
- Biography
-
Sir David John Moxon KNZM GCStJ is a New Zealand Anglican bishop. He was until June 2017, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. He was previously the Bishop of Waikato in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, the archbishop of the New Zealand dioceses and one of the three primates of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
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Denis Glover
- Occupations
- poeteditorwriter
- Biography
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Denis James Matthews Glover DSC was a New Zealand poet and publisher. Born in Dunedin, he attended the University of Canterbury where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, and subsequently lectured. He worked as a reporter and editor for a time, and in 1937 founded the Caxton Press, which published the works of many well-known New Zealand writers of the day (including Glover's own poetry). After a period of service in World War II, he and his friend Charles Brasch founded the literary magazine Landfall, which Caxton began publishing in 1947.
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Gavin Bishop
- Occupations
- children's writer
- Biography
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Gavin John Bishop ONZM is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.
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Clayton Cosgrove
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Clayton James Cosgrove is a former New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party.
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William Young
- Occupations
- lawyerjudge
- Biography
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Sir William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young KNZM KC is a New Zealand judge and a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong.
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Rosemary Banks
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 75)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Rosemary Banks is a New Zealand diplomat who serves as the Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States. She first held that position from 2018 to 2022 and was appointed to a second term in 2024. She is the first woman to hold the position.
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Tracy Phillips
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- high jumperpolice officer
- Biography
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Tracy Joy Phillips MNZM is a former New Zealand high jumper and police officer. She competed for New Zealand at two Commonwealth Games, in 1990 and 1994, winning a bronze medal in the high jump in 1990. Phillips joined the New Zealand Police in 1990, rising to the rank of inspector. She is noted for her advocacy for LGBTIQ+-friendly policies within the police, and for her support of the relationship between the New Zealand Police and the LGBTIQ+ community. Since leaving the New Zealand Police in 2019, Phillips has worked as the inspectorate general manager for the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and since 2020 she has been a principal investigator at Maritime New Zealand.
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William Alexander Sutton
- Occupations
- painter
- Biography
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William Alexander Sutton CBE was a New Zealand portrait and landscape artist.
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Jim Allen
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Diploma of Fine Arts
- Occupations
- visual artist
- Biography
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William Robert "Jim" Allen MNZM was a New Zealand visual artist. In 2015, he was named an Arts Foundation Icon by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, an honour limited to 20 living people. Allen turned 100 years old in July 2022, and the occasion was marked by the Auckland Art Gallery with an exhibition of his works.
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Charles Moihi Te Arawaka Bennett
- Occupations
- diplomatmilitary leader
- Biography
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Sir Charles Moihi Te Arawaka Bennett DSO PMN was a New Zealand broadcaster, military leader, public servant, and high commissioner to the Federation of Malaya (1959–1963). Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Whakaue iwi.
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Michael Myers
- Occupations
- lawyerjudge
- Biography
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Sir Michael Myers GCMG KC, also known as Mickey Myers, was the sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand from 1929 to 1946 and served occasionally as Administrator of New Zealand from 1930 to 1941. He was the first Jew to hold this position. He sat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1936.
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Wendy Larner
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 63)
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- 1988-1990 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- university teachergeographersocial scientist
- Biography
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Wendy Larner FAcSS FLSW FRSNZ FNZGS is a New Zealand social scientist who has focussed on the interdisciplinary areas of globalisation, governance and gender. She has been Vice-Chancellor and President of Cardiff University since September 2023.
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Hugh Wilson
- Occupations
- botanistacademicconservationist
- Biography
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Hugh Dale Wilson is a New Zealand botanist. He has written and illustrated a number of books about New Zealand plants, and manages Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula.
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Brianne West
- Years
- 1980s
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Brianne West is a New Zealand environmentalist, entrepreneur and the founder of plastic-free drinks brand Incrediballs and Ethique, the world's first zero-waste beauty brand. In 2016 she was named a "Global Thinker" by Foreign Policy magazine and in 2019 the EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
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Margaret Austin
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- school teacherpolitician
- Biography
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Margaret Elizabeth Austin CNZM CRSNZ is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing first the Labour Party and then briefly United New Zealand.
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Vicki Buck
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 71)
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- 1972-1975 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in political science
- 1976-1977 graduated with Master of Arts in political science
- Occupations
- local politicianmayor
- Biography
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Vicki Susan Buck is a New Zealand politician. She was Mayor of Christchurch for nine years from 1989 to 1998. Prior to being Mayor, Buck was a city councillor for the Pegasus ward, having been elected as the youngest city councillor in New Zealand at the age of 19. She retired after three mayoral terms, having been very popular.
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Liz Calder
- Occupations
- publisher
- Biography
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Elisabeth Nicole Calder CBE is an English publisher and book editor.
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Hubert Chanson
- Occupations
- engineercivil engineer
- Biography
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Hubert Chanson is a professional engineer and academic in hydraulic engineering and environmental fluid mechanics. Since 1990 he has worked at the University of Queensland.
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Michael Allardice
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Michael Allardice is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.
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George Julius
- Occupations
- inventor
- Biography
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Sir George Alfred Julius was an English-born New Zealand inventor and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Julius Poole & Gibson Pty Ltd and Automatic Totalisators Ltd, and invented the world's first automatic totalisator.
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Kevin E. Trenberth
- Occupations
- scientistclimatologistmeteorologist
- Biography
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Kevin Edward Trenberth CNZM is a New Zealand-American climate scientist who worked in the Climate Analysis Section at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research. He was a lead author of the 1995, 2001 and 2007 IPCC assessment reports. He also played major roles in the World Climate Research Programme, for example in its Tropical Oceans Global Atmosphere program (TOGA), the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) program, and the Global Energy and Water Exchanges project.
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Kate Wilkinson
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Catherine Joan Wilkinson is a New Zealand farmer and politician. She was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the National Party from 2005 until her retirement in 2014. From 2008 until January 2013, she was a member of cabinet, holding the portfolios of Labour (from which she resigned over the Pike River Mine disaster), Conservation, Food Safety, and Associate Immigration, before being removed from cabinet by Prime Minister John Key.
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Jenny Harper
- Occupations
- academicexhibition curator
- Biography
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Jenny Gwynndd Harper MNZM is a New Zealand academic and museum professional. She was most recently the director of Christchurch Art Gallery.
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Norman Hardie
- Occupations
- mountaineer
- Biography
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Norman David Hardie QSO was a New Zealand climber who was one of the climbers on the 1955 British Kangchenjunga expedition who first reached the summit of the 8,586-metre (28,169 ft) mountain, the third-highest mountain in the world.
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Tracey McLellan
- Enrolled in the University of Canterbury
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Tracey Lee McLellan is a New Zealand politician. From 2020 to 2023, she was a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. In 2024, she re-entered parliament after the resignation of fellow Labour List MP Rino Tirikatene.
