Famous New Zealander - New Zealander Celebrities

Whether you are a nature lover, thrill chaser, energetic adventurer or are a lover of the rich and the famous, New Zealand is the place for you. That is true! Agreed no place on Earth can rival New Zealand when it comes to its physical charms. But then, the country boasts of an incredible number of great men and women who stands as a testament to the country’s versatility and superlative talent. These internationally acclaimed New Zealanders inspired, radicalized, and changed the world with the ground-braking thought, actions, and accomplishments, thereby capturing the world’s imagination. From Edmund Hillary, one of the first men to conquer Mt. Everest to Katherine Mansfield, the short story pioneer and from Bruce McLaren, the legendary racecar driver to Richard Pearse, the trailblazing aviator, these Kiwis have stamped excellence in whatever enterprise they took to. Explore the timeline, trivia, and interesting facts on some famous New Zealanders in the biographies below.

Find out more about the greatest New Zealanders including Russell Crowe, Karl Urban, Keith Urban, Anna Paquin and Peter Jackson.

The Most Famous New Zealander

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Karl UrbanJune 7, 1972New ZealanderKarl Urban is a New Zealand actor, best known for his performance in ‘Star Trek’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series
Kalyn PongaMarch 30, 1998Australian, New ZealanderKalyn Ponga is an Australian professional rugby player
Dianna FuemanaNew ZealanderDianna Fuemana is a New Zealander-Niuean playwright, screenplay writer, stage actress and director
Anna PaquinJuly 24, 1982Canadian, New ZealanderAnna Paquin is a Kiwi film, theatre and television actress known for her roles in movies like ‘The Piano’, ‘Fly Away Home’, and ‘X-Men
Jonah LomuMay 12, 1975New ZealanderJonah Lomu was a New Zealand rugby player
Rob HallJanuary 14, 1961New ZealanderRob Hall was a legendary New Zealand mountaineer, who scaled Mt
Nancy WakeAugust 30, 1912French, British, New ZealanderNancy Grace Augusta Wake was a ‘Special Operations Executive’ agent of the British at the time of the ‘Second World War’
Sam WillsAugust 28, 1978New ZealanderSam Wills is a prop comic, mime and busker from New Zealand
Keith UrbanOctober 26, 1967Australian, American, New ZealanderKeith Urban is a Grammy Award winning country music singer and guitarist
Peter ThielOctober 11, 1967German, American, New ZealanderPeter Andreas Thiel is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, philanthropist, and the co-founder of PayPal
Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu was a New Zealand rugby player

New ZealanderMay 12, 1975576 views

Jean Batten

Jean Gardner Batten was a remarkable aviator from New Zealand

Nancy Wake

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake was a ‘Special Operations Executive’ agent of the British at the time of the ‘Second World War’

FrenchAugust 30, 1912397 views

Kate Sheppard

Kate Sheppard was a social activist and an important leader of the women’s suffrage movement in New Zealand

Fred Hollows

Fred Hollows was a renowned Australian ophthalmologist known for his efforts to provide quality health care for the under privileged

Fleur Adcock

Fleur Adcock is a New Zealand writer who has been one of the most influential poets in Britain for the past 30 years

Rachel Hunter

Rachel Hunter is a New Zealand supermodel and actress

Valerie Adams

Valerie Adams is a prominent shot putter from New Zealand who is a two-time Olympic champion

John Key

John Key is the current Prime Minister of New Zealand who has been in the office since 2008

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe is a New Zealand born film actor, producer and musician based in Australia and the U