65 Notable alumni of
University of Waikato
Updated:
The University of Waikato is 1232nd in the world, 27th in Oceania, and 6th in New Zealand by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 65 notable alumni from the University of Waikato sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Jacinda Ardern
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Studied in 2001
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern GNZM is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was a member of Parliament (MP) as a list MP from 2008 to 2017 and for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023.
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Warren Gatland
- Occupations
- rugby union coachrugby union player
- Biography
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Warren David Gatland CBE is a New Zealand former rugby union player and the former head coach of the Wales national team.
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Manasseh Sogavare
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Manasseh Damukana Sogavare is a Solomon Islander politician who served as prime minister of Solomon Islands for a total of nine years from 2000–2001, 2006–2007, 2014–2017, and 2019–2024. Sogavare has served in the National Parliament representing East Choiseul since 1997. He also served as minister of finance from 1997–1998, 2017–2019, and 2024–2025.
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Jerry Mateparae
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Studied in 2008
- Occupations
- military personnelpolitician
- Biography
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Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah Mateparae GNZM QSO KStJ is a former New Zealand soldier who served as the 20th governor-general of New Zealand between 2011 and 2016, the second Māori person to hold the office, after Sir Paul Reeves. A former officer in the New Zealand Army, he was the Chief of the Defence Force from 2006 to 2011, and then served as the director of the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau for five months in 2011. Following his term as governor-general, Mateparae was the high commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2020.
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Stephen Donald
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Stephen Rex Donald is a retired New Zealand rugby union player who played for the NEC Green Rockets in the Japanese Top League. A first five-eighth or centre, he won 24 international caps for New Zealand. Nicknamed 'Beaver', he is best known for kicking the winning penalty in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.
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Todd Muller
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Todd Michael Muller is a New Zealand former politician who served as the Leader of the New Zealand National Party and the Leader of the Opposition from 22 May to 14 July 2020. Muller entered Parliament at the 2014 general election. He was elected as the MP for the Bay of Plenty electorate, which held until his retirement at the 2023 general election. In his second term, Muller became the leader of the National Party after successfully challenging then-leader Simon Bridges. However, his mental health suffered, including suffering panic attacks, and he resigned the leadership after 53 days.
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Joscha Bach
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- 1997-1998 studied computer science
- Occupations
- computer scientist
- Biography
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Joscha Bach is a German cognitive scientist, AI researcher, and philosopher known for his work on cognitive architectures, artificial intelligence, mental representation, emotion, social modeling, multi-agent systems, and philosophy of mind. His research aims to bridge cognitive science and AI by studying how human intelligence and consciousness can be modeled computationally.
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Marama Davidson
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Marama Mere-Ana Davidson is a New Zealand politician who has served as a co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand since 2018.
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Pete Bethune
- Occupations
- explorer
- Biography
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Captain Peter James Bethune is a New Zealand ship's captain with 500 ton master licence, published author, producer of The Operatives TV show, and public speaker. He is the founder of Earthrace Conservation. He works assisting countries in Asia, Central America and Africa with fisheries enforcement and anti-poaching. He is the holder of the world record for circumnavigating the globe in his powerboat Earthrace, a wavepiercing trimaran powered with biofuels.
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Emma Twigg
- Occupations
- rower
- Biography
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Emma Kimberley Twigg MNZM is a New Zealand rower. A single sculler, she was the 2014 world champion and won gold in her fourth Olympics in Tokyo in July 2021. Previous Olympic appearances were in 2008 (ninth place), 2012 (fourth place), and 2016 (fourth place). She has retired from rowing twice, first for master-level studies in Europe in 2015 and then after the 2016 Olympics, disappointed at having narrowly missed an Olympic medal for the second time. After two years off the water, she started training again in 2018 and won silver at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. Since her marriage in 2020, she has become an outspoken advocate for LGBT athletes. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Twigg won gold in the woman's single scull. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Twigg won Silver in the same event.
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Marilyn Waring
- Occupations
- women's rights activisteconomistuniversity teacherfarmerenvironmentalist
- Biography
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Dame Marilyn Joy Waring DNZM is a New Zealand public policy scholar, international development consultant, former politician, environmentalist, feminist and a principal founder of feminist economics.
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Shane Reti
- Occupations
- badminton playerpoliticianbadminton executive and administratorpolitical candidatephysician
- Biography
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Shane Raymond Reti QSM MP is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Minister of Universities and Minister of Statistics. He was first elected at the 2014 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Whangārei electorate. He is a member of the New Zealand National Party and served as its deputy leader from 10 November 2020 to 30 November 2021 including a period of five days as interim leader following the ousting of Judith Collins. He previously held the role of Minister of Health from 2023 to 2025.
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Rob Waddell
- Occupations
- rowerrugby union player
- Biography
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Robert Norman Waddell ONZM is a New Zealand Olympic Gold Medalist and double World Champion Single sculler rower, and America's Cup yachtsman. He is a triple New Zealand Supreme 'Halberg Awards' Sportsperson of the year winner, 1998 to 2000. He holds the fourth fastest 2000 metre indoor rowing machine time in the world, clocking a time of 5 mins 36.6 secs (5:36.6), which was the previous world record for 19 years before the time was improved by Joshua Dunkley-Smith. It has since been surpassed by Oliver Zeidler. He has also held the record for 5000m on the rowing machine with a time of 14min 58sec. This made him the first person to go below 15 min for this distance. He holds a black belt in judo. He played rugby union for Waikato. Waddell was Chef de Mission of the 2014 and 2018 New Zealand Commonwealth Games teams, and the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Mark Wilson
- Years
- 1966-.. (age 60)
- Occupations
- entrepreneurmanager
- Biography
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Mark Andrew Wilson is a New Zealand businessman, who was chief executive officer (CEO) of Aviva from 2013 to 2018.
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Annette King
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Dame Annette Faye King DNZM is a New Zealand former politician and diplomat. She served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011, and from 2014 until 1 March 2017. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth and Fifth Labour Governments, and was the MP for the Rongotai electorate in Wellington from 1996 to 2017.
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Nándor Tánczos
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Nándor Steven Tánczos is a New Zealand politician and activist. He is the mayor of Whakatāne since 2025.
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Wayne Smith
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Sir Wayne Ross Smith KNZM is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He has won three Rugby World Cups; he was an assistant coach with New Zealand's men's team, the All Blacks, who won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, and as head coach of the New Zealand women's team, the Black Ferns, won the 2021 World Cup, held in 2022.
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Louisa Wall
- Occupations
- rugby union playernetballerpolitician
- Biography
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Louisa Hareruia Wall is a New Zealand former double international sportswoman, former politician, and human rights advocate. She represented New Zealand in both netball as a Silver Fern from 1989 to 1992 and in rugby union as a member of the Black Ferns from 1995 to 2001, including as a member of the 1991 World Netball Championships runner-up team and 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup winning team.
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Hekia Parata
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Māori
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Patricia Hekia Parata is a former New Zealand public servant, diplomat, and politician.
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Te Ururoa Flavell
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Te Ururoa James William Ben Flavell, also known as Hemi Flavell, is a New Zealand politician.
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Stacey Waaka
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- 2014-2017 studied Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education
- Occupations
- rugby sevens playerrugby union player
- Biography
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Stacey Jamie Aroha Kirsten Waaka is a New Zealand rugby league player who plays at wing for New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW.
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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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Louise Upston
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Louise Claire Upston MP is a New Zealand politician. She was elected as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Taupō, representing the National Party, in the 2008 general election.
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Abdulla Jihad
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Abdulla Jihad is a Maldivian politician who served as vice president of the Maldives from 22 June 2016 to 17 November 2018. Prior to his appointment on 22 June 2016, he served as the minister of finance.
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Fletcher Tabuteau
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Fletcher Hoporona Tabuteau is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament. He was elected as a list MP for the New Zealand First party from 2014 to 2020 and was deputy leader of the party from 2018 to 2020.
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Willow-Jean Prime
- Years
- 1980s
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical candidate
- Biography
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Willow-Jean Prime is a New Zealand politician. She was first elected a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives at the 2017 general election as a list representative of the New Zealand Labour Party. She was elected as the Member of Parliament for Northland at the 2020 general election and was re-elected as a list MP in 2023.
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Theresa Gattung
- Occupations
- businesspersonchief executive officer
- Biography
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Dame Theresa Elizabeth Gattung DNZM is a New Zealand businessperson and the former chief executive of Telecom New Zealand (1993–2007).
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Derek Sikua
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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David Derek Sikua served as the prime minister of Solomon Islands from 20 December 2007 to 25 August 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.
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Tim Macindoe
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Timothy Harley Macindoe is a New Zealand politician who has served as the mayor of Hamilton since 2025. Macindoe was previously a Member of Parliament for the Hamilton West electorate from 2008 to 2020. He served as the Minister of Customs for the final six months of the Fifth National Government.
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Ally Wollaston
- Occupations
- sport cyclisttrack cyclist
- Biography
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Ally Wollaston is a New Zealand professional track racing cyclist and road cyclist riding for FDJ United–Suez. She was a double-medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is the first New Zealand rider to win two titles at the same track World Championships.
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Paul Hunt
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Paul Hunt is British-New Zealand human rights expert who specialises in economic, social and cultural rights. Between 2019–2024, he held the office of Chief Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.
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Wendy Larner
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 63)
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Studied in 1982-1983
- 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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Gerard J. Milburn
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- physicistuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Gerard James Milburn is an Australian theoretical quantum physicist notable for his work on quantum feedback control, quantum measurements, quantum information, open quantum systems, and Linear optical quantum computing (aka the Knill, Laflamme and Milburn scheme).
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Shaista Shameem
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- In 2019 graduated with Doctor of Juridical Science
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Shaista Shameem is a Fijian lawyer. She was the director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission from 2002 to 2007, and its director and chairperson from 2007 to 2009. A graduate of the University of the South Pacific, she holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Waikato and a Masters in Law from the University of Auckland. She also holds a Doctorate in Juridical Science.
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Paula Southgate
- Years
- 1960s
- Biography
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Paula Anne Southgate is a New Zealand politician. She has held several positions in local government since 2001. In October 2019 she was elected the Mayor of Hamilton and was re-elected in October 2022.
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Alyn Ware
- Occupations
- peace activistjurist
- Biography
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Alyn Ware (born 21 March 1962) is a New Zealand peace educator and campaigner in the areas of peace, non-violence, nuclear abolition, international law, women's rights, children's rights and the environment. He has served as the Global Coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament since it was founded in 2002.
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Hannah Osborne
- Occupations
- rower
- Biography
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Hannah Osborne is a New Zealand rower. A member of the national squad, she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In a surprise move, she was selected in the double scull alongside Brooke Donoghue, displacing the reigning twice world champion Olivia Loe. Osborne and Donoghue raced to a silver medal in Tokyo.
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Christopher Pugsley
- Occupations
- historian
- Biography
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Christopher John Pugsley ONZM is a New Zealand military historian. He is published as Chris Pugsley and Christopher Pugsley.
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Martin Gallagher
- Occupations
- teacherpolitician
- Biography
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Martin Owen Gallagher JP is a former New Zealand politician and was a member of Parliament representing the Hamilton West electorate from 1993 until 1996, as well as, from 1999 until 2008. A member of the Labour Party. He went on to serve as a Hamilton City Councillor for the West Ward as well as Deputy Mayor of Hamilton from 1988 to 1993, and again under Andrew King from 2016 to 2019.
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Mike Sosene-Feagai
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
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Mike Sosene-Feagai is a rugby union player who currently plays hooker for SU Agen. He was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, and now lives in the United States and plays internationally for the United States national rugby union team.
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Angie Warren-Clark
- Occupations
- political candidatebarristersolicitorpolitician
- Biography
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Angela Maree Warren-Clark is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.
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Howard Carmichael
- Occupations
- theoretical physicist
- Biography
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Howard John Carmichael is a British-born New Zealand theoretical physicist specialising in quantum optics and the theory of open quantum systems. He was the Dan Walls Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland and a principal investigator of the Dodd-Walls Centre. He is now Emeritus Professor. Carmichael has played a role in the development of the field of quantum optics and is particularly known for his Quantum Trajectory Theory (QTT) which offers a more detailed view of quantum behaviour by making predictions of single events happening to individual quantum systems. Carmichael works with experimental groups around the world to apply QTT to experiments on single quantum systems, including those contributing to the development of quantum computers. He is a Fellow of Optical Society of America, the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of New Zealand. He was awarded the Max Born Award in 2003, the Humboldt Research Award in 1997 and the Dan Walls Medal of the New Zealand Institute of Physics in 2017. In 2015, he was recognised as an Outstanding Referee by the American Physical Society.
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Annabelle White
- Born in
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New Zealand - Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Annabelle White is a New Zealand food writer and author of eleven cookbooks. She was a long time food columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and also wrote the Food Detective column. She is the former food editor for NZ House & Garden and in October 2011 joined the New Zealand Woman's Weekly as Food Editor. She also runs cooking classes and is a public speaker.
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Janine Krippner
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- In 2009 graduated with Master of Science in volcanology
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science in geology
- Occupations
- volcanologist
- Biography
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Janine Krippner is a physical volcanologist from New Zealand who uses remote sensing to study pyroclastic flows and is a popular science communicator.
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Julie Hardaker
- Years
- 1960-.. (age 66)
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Julie Hardaker was the Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand, from October 2010 to October 2016. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and became a partner and held senior management roles. She is involved in various community and business organisations at a governance level. As a political novice, she defeated former Mayor and experienced politician Bob Simcock in the 2010 New Zealand local government elections. Hardaker was re-elected in the 2013 election beating her main rival Ewan Wilson, with a majority of 2911 votes, becoming the first mayor of Hamilton in nearly two decades to survive their first term in office. She was returned to power with an increased majority, capturing 43.6% of the valid mayoral votes cast.
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Jessica Draskau-Petersson
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Master of Philosophy
- Occupations
- marathon runner
- Biography
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Jessica Draskau Petersson is a Danish long-distance runner. Her fastest marathon time was set at the 2015 Bank of America Chicago marathon, where she ran a time of 2:30:07. She competed in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Olympic Marathon in Rio She finished eighth in the marathon at the 2014 European Athletics Championships.
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Marston Conder
- Occupations
- mathematician
- Biography
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Marston Donald Edward Conder ONZM is a New Zealand mathematician, a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Auckland University, and the former co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. His main research interests are in combinatorial group theory, graph theory, and their connections with each other.
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Mita Ririnui
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mita Michael Ririnui is a former New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He was a member of parliament from 1999 to 2011.
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Zoe Stevenson
- Occupations
- rower
- Biography
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Zoe Stevenson is a New Zealand rower. She won gold in the women's double sculls with Fiona Bourke at the 2014 World Rowing Championships.
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Angus Macfarlane
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduated with Master of Social Science
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- psychologist
- Biography
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Angus Hikairo Macfarlane CNZM FRSNZ was a New Zealand academic and professor at the University of Canterbury.
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Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
- Occupations
- researchercuratorwriteruniversity teacherLGBTQ rights activist
- Biography
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Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku MNZM is a New Zealand academic specialising in Māori cultural issues and a lesbian activist. In 1972, she was famously denied a visa to visit the United States on the basis of her sexuality.
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Anjali Thakker
- Occupations
- ice hockey player
- Biography
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Anjali Dayalji Mulari is a New Zealand ice hockey forward and inline hockey player. She is a member of the New Zealand women's national ice hockey team, Auckland Steel Ice Hockey Team and the Hamilton Devils Inline Hockey Team. Her previous teams include CHL Aranda de Duero of the Spanish Senior Women's Liga Elite, Ris-Orangis in France and Köping in Sweden.
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Abigail Smith
- Occupations
- academicmarine scientist
- Biography
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Abigail Smith is a professor in marine sciences at Otago University in Dunedin.
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Judy McGregor
- Years
- 1948-.. (age 78)
- Occupations
- university teacherjuristjournalist
- Biography
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Dame Judith Helen McGregor DNZM is a New Zealand lawyer, journalist, public servant and academic. She is currently a full professor at Auckland University of Technology.
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Tony Parr
- Occupations
- naval officer
- Biography
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Rear Admiral Anthony Jonathan Parr, ONZM, MVO was the Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy from April 2009 to November 2012. He was succeeded by Rear Admiral Jack Steer.
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Ross Malcolm Jansen
- Biography
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Sir Ross Malcolm Jansen KBE JP was a New Zealand local-body politician. He served as mayor of Hamilton from 1977 to 1989. He was an expert in local government, held a variety of positions, was academically acknowledged, and received a number of honours.
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Linda Waimarie Nikora
- Years
- 20th Century
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduated with Master of Social Science
- Graduated with Bachelor of Social Science
- Occupations
- academicpsychologist
- Biography
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Linda Waimarie Nikora FRSNZ is a New Zealand psychology academic. She is Māori, of Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngāi Tūhoe descent. She is currently professor of Indigenous Studies and co-director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga at the University of Auckland, having moved in 2017 from the University of Waikato where she had been a professor of psychology and the founding Director of the Maori & Psychology Research Unit in the School of Psychology.
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Kathleen Wong Mei Yin
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kathleen Wong Mei Yin is a political activist promoting unity and harmony in Perak, Malaysia. Previously, she served as an Economic and Political Officer for the Australian High Commission in Malaysia. She acts as a liaison for the Australian and Malaysian government. She is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a major component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
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Camille Buscomb
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Camille French is a New Zealand long-distance runner.
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Elizabeth McKinley
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
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Elizabeth Ann McKinley ONZM is a New Zealand academic and as of 2019 is a full professor at the University of Melbourne.
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Mere Berryman
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- In 2001 graduated with Master of Education
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
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Mere Anne Berryman ONZM is a New Zealand kaupapa Māori academic. She is Māori, of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Whare descent and as of 2019 is a full professor at the University of Waikato.
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Priscilla M. Wehi
- Occupations
- biologistresearcherecologist
- Biography
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Priscilla M. Wehi is a New Zealand ethnobiologist and conservation biologist. As at July 2021 she is an associate professor at the University of Otago and on the first of that month officially undertook the role of director of Te Pūnaha Matatini, a centre of research excellence in complex systems and data analytics. During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Te Pūnaha Matatini scientists have developed mathematical models of the spread of the virus across the country that influence the New Zealand government's response to the outbreak. In 2021 Wehi was awarded the Hill Tinsley Medal.
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Jill Hooks
- Enrolled in the University of Waikato
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
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Jillian Jeanette Hooks CNZM is a New Zealand accountancy academic. She was a professor at Massey University and published a number of books and papers on accounting and financial reporting. In December 2024, Hooks was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to accountancy and education.
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Pareaute Nathan
- Occupations
- teacherweaver
- Biography
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Pareaute Polly Nathan QSM is a New Zealand Māori educator and weaver. In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, for services to Māori and education.
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Jane Gilbert
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- researcher
- Biography
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Dr. Jane Gilbert is an educationalist in New Zealand. She was the Chief Researcher of New Zealand Council for Educational Research. From 2014, Jane was appointed as a professor of education at Auckland University of Technology.
