Walter Fricker

Walter Fricker was born in Somerset, England and came to New Zealand in 1863. He introduced the world’s first airmail postage stamp when he launched a pigeongram service between Great Barrier Island and Auckland in 1897.

R.A.K. Mason

Most critics regard R.A.K. Mason as New Zealand’s first authentic poet with a poetic intensity attributed in part, to his extraordinary youth. He was only 19 when he published his first collection of poems and most of his ‘Collected Poems’ were written before he turned 25.

Sarah Sophia Stothard

Sarah known as Sophia was born in London and had significant teaching experience before coming to New Zealand in 1860 with the Church Mission Society.

Kate Emma Clark

Kate Clark was born in Suffolk, England. Her education included the study of art and later she earned a living doing research for writers, often in the British Museum.

Kevin Tod Smith

Kevin Smith was a New Zealand actor and musician. Best known as Ares, the Greek God of War in the television series Hercules. The Legendary Journeys and Zena: Warrior princess as well as Young Hercules.

Edmond De Montalk

de Montalk was born in Paris to a Polish émigré of noble descent who arrived in France after the 1830 revolt against Russia. He was educated at the University of Paris in literature, married and had two children before his wife died.

Tibbs, James William

James Tibbs was an educator who for nearly thirty years was headmaster of Auckland Grammar School. The school still has the reputation of one of New Zealand’s best secondary schools. Although Australian born, Tibbs was educated in England gaining an M.A. at Oxford in 1883. After graduation James and his wife moved to Tasmania where James was a mathematics teacher before emigrating to New Zealand in 1885 to teach at Auckland Grammar.

Robertson, Carrick Hay

Carrick Hey Robertson was graduated in medicine from the University of London in 1902. From 1907 to 1912 Robertson was medical superintendent at Waihi Hospital. He then moved to Auckland where he set up in private practice and was appointed an honorary surgeon to Auckland Hospital

Purchas, (Dr) Arthur Guyon

Arthur Purchas was a British qualified medical doctor. He volunteered as a medical missionary after hearing of Bishop Selwyn’s Australasian work for the Church. He was initially medical officer at St Johns theological college, becoming a priest following his ordination in 1853.

Moore-Jones, Horace

Horace Moore-Jones was the painter of one the most famous ANZAC images, “The Man with the Donkey”. Although the painting and its subject have been the subject of historical debate, the image of an unarmed soldier carrying a wounded ‘digger’ on his donkey (the animal that carried Christ) has become an iconic image of sacrifice and valour from the unsuccessful ANZAC campaign at Gallipoli.

Minhinnick, (Sir) Gordon Edward George

The name ‘Minhinnick’ was for a generation of New Zealanders synonymous with a style of cartoon that was simultaneously both pointed and subtle while delivering a strong metaphorical poke to the subject, delivered without rancor or rudeness.

McCarthy, Winston John

Winston McCarthy was ‘the Voice of New Zealand Rugby’. He was born in Wellington on 10 March 1908. He was given the task of broadcasting the matches that were played by the Kiwis (the New Zealand Expeditionary rugby team of 1945-46).

Goldie, Charles Frederick

Goldie was one of New Zealand’s most famed artist whose portraits of Maori are for many often the most frequently remembered representation of New Zealand’s tangata whenua (original inhabitants). Goldie trained as an artist in New Zealand and Australia, won prizes for his early work and then travelled to France to advance his studies.

Fenton, Francis Dart

Chief Judge of the Native Land Court; District Court Judge at Auckland; founder and president of the Auckland choral society; Chairman of the Dominion Board (which led to the formation of the Domain Cricket Ground) and viticulturist.

Eady, Lewis Robert

Lewis Eady was an Auckland music dealer. He was active in various music and choral organisations. A very competent double bass player and pianist, Lewis Eady was also one of the early Auckland motorists (from about 1905 onwards) and reportedly, a crack recreational shooter.

Thomas Allen Curnow (ONZ) (CBE)

Thomas Curnow as a celebrated New Zealand poet, notable perhaps in New Zealand society that has had a traditional suspicion of intellectuals and those of a creative inclination. Thomas Curnow’s intellectual abilities were recognizable from his achievements during his training at St John’s College in preparation for his ordination. Despite graduating as the top student of his cohort he eventually decided not to enter the Church.

Chitty, Ernest

Ernest Chitty was the first blind New Zealand University. He subsequently had a distinguished and remarkable career in both the academic and theological world. He was never ordained as a priest, possibly due to Archbishop Averill views although there was no canon law or precedent obstacle to his ordination. Chitty entered the Methodist Prince Albert College in February 1900, passing his matriculation exam after two years. He attended Auckland University College, graduating BA in 1906 – the first blind graduate in New Zealand.

Thomson Wilson Leys

Thomson Wilson Leys was born in England in 1850 and arrived with his family in New Zealand in 1863. Apprenticed as a compositor to learn the printing trade on the Daily Southern Cross newspaper, he later transferred to the reporting staff and in 1870 was appointed sub-editor.