Academia •
Zena Daysh (1914–2011), influential in the human ecology movement, founder of the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council •
David Gauld (1942–present), president of the New Zealand Mathematical Society 1981–82 •
Leila Hurle (1901–1989), schoolteacher, schools inspector •
Michael Kelly (1949–present), Prince Philip Professor of Technology, University of Cambridge • Professor Emeritus
David Penny (1939–present), third New Zealander to be named a
National Academy of Sciences foreign associate •
Harry Skinner (1886–1978), soldier, ethnologist, university lecturer, museum curator and director, librarian; the H.D. Skinner Annex of the Otago Museum, was opened in August 2013, and named in honour of Skinner •
William Skinner (1857–1946), surveyor, historian, and ethnographer; founder of
Puke Ariki, co-founder of the
Polynesian Society •
Beatrice Tinsley (1941–1981), astronomer and cosmologist •
Neil Waters (1931–2018), inorganic chemist, academic administrator, served as vice-chancellor of
Massey University (1983–1995)
Arts Cartoon •
Maurice Bramley (1898–1975), cartoonist and commercial artist •
Keith Waite (1927–2014), editorial cartoonist, referred to as one of the 'greatest-ever social and political cartoonists' in Britain
Film •
Melanie Lynskey (1977–present), actress •
Anthony McCarten (1961–present), author, playwright and screenwriter •
John O'Shea (1920–2001), director, producer, writer and actor, produced the only three feature films that were made in New Zealand between 1940 and 1970 •
Jared Turner (1978–present), actor
Music •
Hayden Chisholm (1975–present), saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist •
Graeme Jefferies, musician •
Peter Jefferies, musician •
Midge Marsden (1945–present),
blues and
R&B guitarist, harmonica-player, and singer •
Wayne Mason (1949–present), musician •
Desna Sisarich (1946–present), pop singer, one of New Zealand's first woman singer/songwriters •
Matt Thomas (1973–present), musician •
Stan Walker (1990–present), Australian Idol winner
Photography •
Trent Keegan (1974–2008), photojournalist
Performing arts •
Stuart Hoar (1957–present), playwright, teacher, novelist, radio dramatist and librettist •
Brian McNeill (born 1939), playwright, actor, and director
Visual arts •
Fanny Arden (–1955), painter •
Barry Brickell (1935–2016), potter, writer, conservationist and founder of
Driving Creek Railway •
Dale Copeland (1943–present), collage and assemblage artist •
Joan Dukes (1903–1993), artist and illustrator •
Christine Hellyar (1947–present), artist who makes sculptures and installations •
Michael Smither (1939–present), painter and composer, set the record for the most expensive painting sold that was painted by a living New Zealand artist •
Francis Upritchard (1976–present), contemporary artist based in
London, she represented New Zealand at the
Venice Biennale Writing •
Helen Brown (1945–present), author and columnist •
John Guthrie (1905–1955), journalist and novelist •
Michele Leggott (1956–present), poet, academic •
Ian Middleton (1927–2007), novelist
Broadcasting •
Daisy Basham (1879–1963), radio personality •
Mark Crysell (1961–present), former
TVNZ Europe correspondent and current
Sunday reporter •
Patrick Gower (1976/1977–present), journalist and National Correspondent for
Newshub •
Jim Hickey (1949–present), weather presenter •
Derryn Hinch (1944–present), Australian media personality, politician, actor, journalist and author, best known for his work on Melbourne radio and television. He served as a Senator for
Victoria from 2016 to 2019. •
Marama Martin (1930–2017), television and radio broadcaster. She was the first person seen on colour television in New Zealand, and was the last person to appear on
NZBC TV •
Denzil Meuli (1926–2019), writer, former newspaper editor, Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland and a leading traditionalist Catholic in New Zealand •
John McBeth (1944–present), author and journalist •
Toni Street (1983–present), television presenter and sports commentator
Business •
Tim Besley (1927–present), engineer, businessman and former senior public servant •
Trish Gregory, fashion designer and businesswoman •
Newton King (1855–1927), auctioneer, merchant and businessman. One of the founders of the Crown Dairy Company. By 1897, it was New Zealand's second-largest dairy product company.
Charity •
Sir Frederic Truby King (1858–1938), founder of the
Plunket Society Defence •
Evelyn Brooke (1879–1962), civilian and military nurse, served during the First World War and was the only New Zealand nurse to receive the
Royal Red Cross and
Bar •
Tony Parr (1955–present), former Chief of the
Royal New Zealand Navy Rear Admiral •
Bert Wipiti (1922–1943), fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War, first Māori airman to leave New Zealand for active duty
Horticulture •
William Douglas Cook (1884–1967), founder of
Eastwoodhill Arboretum, now the national arboretum of New Zealand; one of the founders of
Pukeiti, a rhododendron garden
Law •
Peter Quilliam (1920–2004),
Chief Justice of the Cook Islands, judge of the
High Court of New Zealand •
John Edwards, UK
Information Commissioner Politics Activism •
Ruth Atkinson (1861–1927), president of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union (1910–1927), activist involved in the
Temperance movement and women's rights movement • Dame
Stella Casey (1924–2000), campaigner for social issues •
Te Huirangi Waikerepuru (1929–2020), Māori language activist and trade unionist, was active in the foundation and governance of Māori language radio and television
Local government •
Harry Barker (1898–1994),
Mayor of Gisborne for 27 years (1950–1977)
New Zealand Parliament •
Arthur Atkinson (1863–1935), MP for
City of Wellington (1899–1902), Wellington City Councillor (1909–1921) •
Bruce Beetham (1936–1997), leader of the
Social Credit Political League,
Mayor of Hamilton (1976 -1977), MP for
Rangitīkei (1978–1981) •
Cam Calder (1952–present), MP (2009–2014), president of the French New Zealand Business Council •
Ken Comber (1939–1998), MP for
Wellington Central (1972–1981) •
Frederic Carrington (1807–1901), politician and surveyor. He is regarded as the Father of New Plymouth •
Liz Craig (1967–present), MP (2017–2023) •
Harry Duynhoven (1955–present),
Mayor of New Plymouth (2010–2013), MP for
New Plymouth (1987–1990), New Plymouth councillor (2015–2025) •
Ida Gaskin (1919–2016),
Labour Party candidate for
New Plymouth,
Mastermind winner •
Roy Jack (1914–1977),
Speaker of the House of Representatives (1967–1972);
Minister of Justice (1972); MP for
Patea (1954–1963),
Waimarino (1963–1972),
Rangitīkei (1972–1977) •
Steven Joyce (1963–present), founder of
MediaWorks New Zealand, Member of Parliament (2008–2018), Cabinet Minister (2008–2017) •
Andrew Little (1965–present), leader of the
Labour Party (2014–2017), Member of Parliament (2011–2023), Cabinet Minister (2017–2023),
Mayor of Wellington (2025–present), •
Gervan McMillan (1904–1951), MP for
Dunedin West (1935–1943),
Dunedin City Councillor (1935 – 1941, 1944 – 1947, 1950 – 1951) •
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (1966/1967–present),
MP (2020–present), co-leader of the
Te Pāti Māori •
Maryan Street (1955–present), 29th president of the
Labour Party (1993–1995),
Minister of ACC (2007–2008),
Minister of Housing (2007–2008), MP (2005–2014), first openly gay female Member of Parliament •
Merv Wellington (1940–2003), MP for
Manurewa (1975–1978) and
Papakura (1978–1990)
Party politics •
Claude Weston (1879–1946), effectively the first president of the National Party (1936–1940)
Religion •
Emma Jane Richmond (1845–1921), community and religious worker, pioneer of
anthroposophy in New Zealand
Sports Athletics •
Michael Aish (1976–present), athlete
Cricket •
Gary Robertson, NZ Fast Bowler •
Stephen Robertson, NZ Cricketer •
Will Young (1992–present),
Black Caps batsman
Rugby •
Lachlan Boshier (1994–present), rugby union player •
Beauden Barrett (1991–present), rugby union player •
Jordie Barrett (1997–present), rugby union player •
Kane Barrett (1990–present), rugby union player •
Scott Barrett (1993–present), rugby union player •
Michaela Blyde (1995–present), rugby sevens player •
Shane Cleaver (1987–present), rugby union player •
Kendra Cocksedge (1988–present), rugby union player and cricketer •
Liam Coltman (1990–present), rugby union player •
Grant Fox (1962–present), rugby union player •
Scott Fuglistaller (1987–present), rugby union player •
Du'Plessis Kirifi (1997–present), rugby union player •
Deacon Manu (1979–present), rugby union player •
John Mitchell (1964–present), rugby union coach and former player •
Terry O'Sullivan (1936-1997), All Black 1960-1962 •
Leon Power (1986–present), rugby union player •
Ricky Riccitelli (1995–present), rugby union player •
Conrad Smith (1981–present), rugby union coach and former player •
Willie Talau (1976–present), rugby league footballer •
Paul Tito (1978–present), rugby union player •
Roger Urbahn (1934–1984), rugby union player •
Teihorangi Walden (1993–present), rugby union player •
Paul Williams (1985–present), rugby union referee
Soccer •
Frank van Hattum (1958–present), international football player •
Frank Albrechtsen (1932–2021), international football player
Surfing •
Paige Hareb (1990–present), professional surfer
Other •
Charles Armitage Brown (1787–1842), close friend of the
poet John Keats, as well as being a friend of
artist Joseph Severn,
Leigh Hunt,
Thomas Jefferson Hogg,
Walter Savage Landor and
Edward John Trelawny. He was the father of
Charles Brown, a pioneer and politician of New Plymouth. ==Sister cities==