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Famous New Zealanders

Some famous New Zealanders are:

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Opera Singer

Sir Ernest Rutherford Split The Atom

Sir Edmond Hillary First to climb Mount Everest, With Tenzing Norgay

John Walker Runner

Peter Snell Runner

Dick Tayler Runner

Jane Campion Film Director (The Piano)

Sam Neil Actor (Jurassic Park)

Neil Finn Crowded House, Split Enz

Tim Finn Split Enz

Jonah Lomu Rugby All Black

Temuera Morrison Actor

Bruce McLaren Founder of the McLaren Formula 1 team and Le Mans winner 1966
August 30, 1937 - June 2, 1970

Denny Hulme(OBE)
Denny Hulme -Biography.
Denis (Denny) Hulme is New Zealand’s
only Formula One World Champion.
Google Search.
Video of Denny's career.
Formula 1 World Champion 1967

Denny Hulme's dislike of celebrity and preference for anonymity made him the most low key of champions.
He hated fame, had no trace of vanity and found social functions an agony.
His nickname 'The Bear' was a reference to both his rugged features and a gruff nature that would erupt when he was provoked.
Yet he was also a sensitive man unable to express his feelings, except in a racing car, in which he was an accomplished if unspectacular driver. He eventually died behind the wheel, a quarter of a century after he became champion.

Chris Amon Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner 1966

Susan Devoy Squash

Erin Baker Athlete

Allison Roe Athlete

Rod Dixon Athlete

James K Baxter Writer

Peter Blake Winner of 1995 America's Cup!

Lucy Lawless Actress - Xena, Warrior Princess

Richard Pearse Inventor and pioneer in Aviation

Charles Upham Awarded Victoria Cross twice

Phar Lap New Zealand Racehorse

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa	Opera Singer
Sir Ernest Rutherford	Split The Atom
Sir Edmond Hillary	First to climb Mount Everest, With Tenzing Norgay
John Walker	Runner
Peter Snell	Runner
Dick Tayler	Runner
Jane Campion	Film Director (The Piano)
Sam Neil	Actor (Jurassic Park)
Neil Finn	Crowded House, Split Enz
Tim Finn	Split Enz
Jonah Lomu	Rugby All Black
Temuera Morrison	Actor
Bruce McLaren	Founder of the McLaren Formula 1 team and Le Mans winner 1966 August 30, 1937 - June 2, 1970
Denny Hulme(OBE) Denny Hulme -Biography. Denis (Denny) Hulme is New Zealand’s only Formula One World Champion. Google Search. Video of Denny's career.	Formula 1 World Champion 1967 Denny Hulme's dislike of celebrity and preference for anonymity made him the most low key of champions. He hated fame, had no trace of vanity and found social functions an agony. His nickname 'The Bear' was a reference to both his rugged features and a gruff nature that would erupt when he was provoked. Yet he was also a sensitive man unable to express his feelings, except in a racing car, in which he was an accomplished if unspectacular driver. He eventually died behind the wheel, a quarter of a century after he became champion.
Chris Amon	Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner 1966
Susan Devoy	Squash
Erin Baker	Athlete
Allison Roe	Athlete
Rod Dixon	Athlete
James K Baxter	Writer
Peter Blake	Winner of 1995 America's Cup!
Lucy Lawless	Actress - Xena, Warrior Princess
Richard Pearse	Inventor and pioneer in Aviation
Charles Upham	Awarded Victoria Cross twice
Phar Lap	New Zealand Racehorse

Ernest Rutherford, known as the father of nuclear physics, graduated from Canterbury University College. he was then addmitted to Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge in 1895 as a research student. When at the McGill University in Montreal, Rutherford discovered Radioactivity. Back at Cavendish in 1932, researchers under his guidence developed the Proton Accelerator which split the atom. Ernest Rutherford was awarded The Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1908.

Brief New Zealand History

Some New Zealand History:

800: Probably around the year 800, the first polynesian explorers came to New Zealand.

1792: The William and Ann Whaling ship, came to Doubtless Bay, New Zealand. This is the first recorded visit of a whaling ship to NZ.

1861: October. The first Cobb & Co coach ran.

1863: November 13. The first issue of the New Zealand Herald.

1875: The Union Steam Ship Co of NZ started business on July 1.

1881: 24 Febuary. The cable car era started in Dunedin.

1911: Vivian Walsh. Using a Howard Wright biplane which he flew in NZ. Febuary 5th.

1936: Jean Batten in her Percival Gull (Plane) flew from Australia to New Zealand in 10 hours 30 Minutes, she was the first woman to fly the Tasman. this flight was a continuation of her solo flight from England to Austrailia, she set a record of 5 days 21 hours 3 minutes, she arrived at Darwin on October 11th. This was a new solo womans record from England to New Zealand.

1957: First transmission of sound & picture from station ZL1XXR at Sedden Memorial Technical College.

1840: The Treaty Of Waitangi was signed on the 6th of Febuary.

1769: James Cook sighted Poverty bay on the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand. James Cook from the ship Endeavour first made contact with Maoris, he described them as of a brave, noble, open and benevolent disposition.

1917: The famous Maori Battalion was formed October 1917.

Another Maori Battalion was formed for World War 2. 17,000 Maoris enlisted and fought with distinction during the war.

1985: July 10. The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was blown up at Marsden Wharf in Auckland.

These are names used that also mean New Zealand: Aotearoa, Godzone, Land of the Long White Cloud.

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