List of people from Palmerston North

The following is a list of notable people who were born or lived in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and people who spent significant periods of their lives living in the Manawatu region.

See Category:People from Palmerston North

Businesspeople

• Lloyd Morrison, founder & CEO of Infratil Limited
• Morton W. Coutts, brewer, developed continuous fermentation method.
• Joseph Nathan, founder of Glaxo

Creative artists

• Joy Cowley, children’s author
• Brian Boyd, World expert on Nabokov
• Paul Dibble, sculptor
• Andrew Drummond, sculptor
• Janet Frame, author
• Pat Hanly, artist
• Judy Bailey, former newsreader, deemed "Mother of the Nation"
• Murray Ball, cartoonist
• Tom Scott, cartoonist
• Olaf Wiig, photojournalist

Politicians and leaders

Members of Parliament for Palmerston North, Manawatu and Rangitikei

• Trevor de Cleene, Labour MP (1981–90).
• Iain Lees-Galloway, current Labour MP for Palmerston North (2008- )
• Steve Maharey, Labour MP for Palmerston North (1990-2008) and now retired from Parliament. Current Vice-Chancellor of Massey University (2008- ).
• Jimmy Nash, former Mayor and MP for Palmerston (North).
• Simon Power, National MP; grew up in Palmerston North, former MP for Rangitikei (1999-2011). Now retired from Parliament.
• William Blair Tennent, former Mayor and National MP, represented Palmerston North (1949–54).
• Joe Walding, Labour MP (1967–75; 1978–81)
• Jill White, Labour MP for Manawatu; elected Mayor of Palmerston North (1998-2001); current councillor on Horizons Regional Council.

other MPs: other electorates and List

• Ashraf Choudhary, Labour list MP; now retired.
• Jacqui Dean, National MP; grew up in Palmerston North. Current MP for Waitaki.
• Lynne Pillay, Labour MP; now retired from Parliament.
• Grant Robertson, Labour MP; born in Palmerston North. Current MP for Wellington Central.
• Metiria Turei, Green MP and co-leader

Mayors

• Jono Naylor, mayor (2007–14).
• Heather Tanguay, mayor (2004–07).
• Mark Bell-Booth, mayor (2001–04).
• Jill White, mayor (1998-2001).
• Paul Rieger mayor (1985–98).
• Brian Elwood mayor (1971–85)
• George Snelson, (1877–1879, 1883–1884, 1889–1892, 1901), first mayor. Snelson is regarded as the founding father of Palmerston North.

Other

• David Farrar, political blogger and commentator
• Scott Ludlam (Australian Greens WA Federal Senator)

Actors, performers, models, broadcasters, television presenters/hosts

• David Geary, screenwriter and actor
• John Clarke, famous as "Fred Dagg"; now resides in Australia.
• Shane Cortese, actor
• Jeremy Corbett, comic
• Hamish McKay (TV3 (New Zealand) Sports Presenter)
• Simon Ferry, actor
• Nick Gibb, comic
• Rachel Crofts (Miss Manawatu - 2006 & Miss Earth NZ - 2008)
• Claire Kirby (Miss Manawatu - 2007 & Miss Earth NZ - 2007)

• Alison Quigan(Actor, Director and Playwright)

Musical artists

• Billy TK, guitarist
• Alan Gregg, (bass player), The Mutton Birds
• Nigel Keay, (composer)
• Anna Leese, operatic soprano
• Alan Loveday, violinist
• PNC, rapper
• Rosina Buckman, operatic soprano
• Gary Brain, conductor
• Stuart Easton, piper
• Michael Houstoun, concert pianist
• Benny Tipene, singer-songwriter and musician

Sportspeople

• Craig Clare, former Manawatu Turbos rugby player, now at Bay of Plenty
• Christian Cullen, former All Black rugby player
• Mark Donaldson, Former All Black rugby player
• Jason Eaton, former All Black rugby player; now plays rugby out of Taranaki
• Jason Emery, Manawatu Turbo and Highlander
• Kris Gemmell, International triathlete
• Brendon Hartley, F1 test driver
• Jake Gleeson, Footballer playing for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer
• David Kirk - former All Black, captain of the winning team at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Later became CEO of Fairfax Australia.
• Michael Mason - former New Zealand Black Cap and Central Districts bowler
• Nehe Milner-Skudder - All Black, Hurricane and Turbo
• Charles John Monro - founder of rugby union in New Zealand, lived for a time in an area now part of Palmerston North
• Emily Naylor - current New Zealand Black Sticks player.
• Steven Old - former New Zealand All White (soccer)
• Jacob Oram - former cricket player
• Farah Palmer - former New Zealand Black Fern
• Craig Perks - International golfer
• Reece Robinson - former Manawatu Turbo
• Moira Senior - former New Zealand Black Sticks Hockey player.
• Kayla Whitelock - New Zealand Black Sticks Hockey Women's.
• Levi Sherwood
• Craig Spearman - former Black Cap, cricket player
• James Tamou - current Australian Kangaroo, has previously represented New Zealand Maori, switched allegiance to New South Wales and became eligible to play for Australia)
• Ross Taylor - current New Zealand Black Caps captain and Central Districts batsman (cricket)
• Dion Waller - former rugby player.
• Tim Wilkinson - professional golfer
• Selica Winiata - Black Fern, NZ Women's Sevens and Manawatu Cyclone (Current)
• Sam Whitelock - All Black (current)
• Joe Schmidt - former head coach of Leinster Rugby, current head coach of Ireland national rugby union team.
• Adam Whitelock - Crusader
• George Whitelock - Crusader
• Aaron Cruden - All Black, plays Super Rugby for the Chiefs.
• Grant Webb
• Jamie How
• Bevan Griggs
• George Worker - Blackcap, Central Districts Stag (current).
• Aaron Smith - All Black (current)
• Tomasi Cama - Manawatu Rugby representative and New Zealand All Blacks Sevens star.
• Adam Milne - current Black Cap cricketer
• Ricky Thorby - Rugby League player, currently without an NRL club.
• Jade Te Rure - Rugby union player, currently playing for Edinburgh.
• Jono Lester - Professional racing driver in Super GT (Japan).

Activists, philanthropists

• Fred Hollows, ophthalmologist

Academics and scientists

• Guy Dodson (1937–2012), biochemist who specialised in protein crystallography

Others

• Madge Allsop (fictional). Played by Emily Perry and others, she starred as Dame Edna Everidge's (played by Barry Humphries) sidekick for 14 episodes of the Dame Edna Experience (1987-1989). In reference to Madge's drab appearance and demeanor, Humphries would often deride her by simply telling the audience "she's from Palmerston North."^[1]

References