# List of people from Christchurch

This is a list of notable people who were either born in Christchurch, New Zealand, or who spent a significant part of their lives living in the region.

## Contents

* A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
* References

## A

* Hugh Acland (1874–1956), surgeon
* Jim Anderton (1938–2018), Labour politician and deputy prime minister (1999–2002)
* Harry Ayres (1912–1987), mountaineer, guide, and gardener
* Ernest Andrews (1873–1961), longstanding mayor of Christchurch
* Marcus Armstrong (born 2000), motor racing driver
* Vajin Armstrong (born 1980), ultra-distance runner

## B

* Petra Bagust, (born 1972), Television news presenter
* Simon Barnett (born 1967), public figure and co-host of morning radio show
* Blanche Baughan (1870–1958), poet, writer and penal reformer
* Peter Beaven (1925–2012), architect and heritage lobbyist
* Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), poet and social activist
* John Blumsky (1928–2013), journalist and broadcaster
* Shane Bond (born 1975), player and coach of the national cricket team
* John Britten (1950–1995) New Zealand mechanical engineer who designed a world-record-setting motorcycle with innovative features and materials
* Kathleen Browne (1905–2007), artist
* Gerry Brownlee (born 1956), National Party MP for Ilam electorate
* Vicki Buck (born 1955/56), first female mayor of Christchurch and activist

## C

* Dolce Ann Cabot (1862–1943), journalist, newspaper editor, feminist and teacher
* Tonie Carroll (born 1976), rugby league player, played for both New Zealand and Australia
* Kahurangi Carter (born 1983 or 1984), politician
* Dan Carter (born 1982), plays rugby for Canterbury Crusaders and the All Blacks, highest test-match point scorer
* Nathan Cohen (born 1986), world and Olympic champion rower
* Brendan Cole (born 1976), ballroom dancer and television personality
* Ray Columbus (1942–2016), singer-songwriter of Ray Columbus & the Invaders
* John Cracroft Wilson ("Nabob" Wilson, 1808–1881), farmer of Cashmere and independent parliamentarian

## D

* Lianne Dalziel (born 1960), mayor of Christchurch, former Labour Party MP for Christchurch Central and Christchurch East electorates
* John Deans (1820–1854), pioneer farmer
* Sharon Shobha Devi Lingham (1956–2010), broadcaster
* David de Lautour (born 1982), actor and musician
* Christopher Doig (1948–2011), opera singer
* Axel Downard-Wilke (born 1966), transport planner and Wikipedian
* Brooke Duff (born 1991), Christchurch-born singer/songwriter
* Andrew Duncan (1834–1880), mayor of Christchurch and provincial councillor

## E

* Lincoln Arthur Winstone Efford (1907–1962), pacifist, social reformer and adult educationalist

## F

* Eileen Fairbairn (1893–1981), geographer, climber, teacher
* Daniel Faitaua (born c.1976), Television news reporter, currently working for TVNZ

## G

* Jon Gadsby (1953–2015), actor and comedian
* James Gapes (1822–1899), mayor of Christchurch and flautist
* Jo Giles (1950–2011), former sports representative and television personality
* A. K. Grant (1941–2000), writer, historian and humorist
* Charles Gray (1853–1918), independent parliamentarian and mayor of Christchurch
* Jeffrey Grice (born 1954), classical pianist
* John Grimes (1842–1915), first Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch
* Jason Gunn (born 1968), broadcaster and entertainer

## H

* Sir Richard Hadlee (born 1951), international cricketer
* John Hall (1824–1907), independent politician, 12th prime minister of New Zealand and mayor of Christchurch
* Sir William Hamilton, (1899–1978) Fairlie-born inventor of the jetboat, whose company, Hamilton Jet, was based in Christchurch from 1948
* Joel Hayward (born 1964), academic, writer and poet
* Graham Henry (born 1946), rugby union coach, head coach of the All Blacks
* Tom Hern (born 1984), actor
* Hera Hjartardóttir (born 1983), Iceland-born singer/songwriter
* Fred Hobbs (1841–1920), mayor of Christchurch and drainage activist
* M. H. Holcroft (1902–1993), essayist and novelist

## J

* Barry Jones (1941–2016), ninth Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch
* Churchill Julius (1847–1938), second Anglican bishop of Christchurch and first archbishop of New Zealand

## K

* Phil Keoghan (born 1967), television host of The Amazing Race
* John Key, (born 1961), former National Party MP and prime minister
* Nathan King singer/songwriter with the rock band Zed
* John Kennard, rally co-driver

## L

* Ladi6 (born 1982) Christchurch-born singer/songwriter
* Charles Luney (1905–2006), famous New Zealand builder and company director
* Christopher Luxon, (born 1970), National Party MP and prime minister (2023–present)

## M

* Justice Peter Mahon QC, (1923–1986), the New Zealand High Court judge who led the Commission of Inquiry into the 1979 crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 into Mount Erebus.
* Margaret Mahy (1936–2012), writer for children and young adults
* George Manning (1887–1976), politician and mayor of Christchurch
* Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), crime writer and theatre director
* Richie McCaw (born 1980), captain of the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks
* Gary McCormick (born 1951), poet, radio and television personality, and co-host of morning radio show
* Scott McLaughlin (born 1993), 2x V8 Supercars Champion, Current NTT IndyCar Series driver
* David McPhail, (1945–2021), actor and comedian
* Bernice Mene (born 1975), former Silver Ferns netball captain
* Max Merritt (born 1941), singer-songwriter and guitarist
* Juliet Mitchell (born 1940), professor and psychoanalyst
* Anika Moa (born 1980), singer-songwriter
* Elizabeth Moody (1939–2010), actor and director
* Garry Moore (born 1951), 44th mayor of Christchurch
* Stacey Morrison (born c.1974), television and radio host
* Benjamin Mountfort (1825–1898), dominant local architect
* Charles Mountfort (1854–1941), surveyor
* Anjali Mulari (born 1993), Christchurch-born international ice and inline hockey player

## O

* John Ollivier (1812–1893), politician and auctioneer
* Denis O'Rourke (born 1946) politician and former City councillor
* Daisy Osborn (1888–1957), artist

## P

* Frederick Page (1905–1983), music professor, pianist and critic
* Robert Page (1897–1957), pacifist and industrial chemist
* Bob Parker (born 1953), mayor of Christchurch during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes
* Sophie Pascoe (born 1993), Paralympic champion awarded nine gold medals
* Mike Pero (born 1960), businessman and entrepreneur

## R

* Bic Runga (born 1976), singer-songwriter
* Boh Runga (born 1969/1970), lead singer and guitarist in New Zealand rock band Stellar
* Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), Nobel Prize winning physicist, completed a BA, BSc and MA at the then Canterbury College

## S

* Robertson Stewart (1913–2007), industrialist and exporter
* Ben Stokes (born 1991), English cricketer

## T

* Lilia Tarawa, former member of Gloriavale Christian Community, author, speaker, entrepreneur
* Pana Hema Taylor (born 1989), television actor
* Gary Thain (1948–1975), rock bassist (Keef Hartley Band, Uriah Heep)
* Mildred Annie Trent (1883–1942), cook, tearooms manager and community worker

## W

* Miho Wada, jazz flautist and founder of Miho's Jazz Orchestra
* Nicky Wagner (born 1953), National Party MP for Christchurch Central and educationist
* R. C. S. Walters (1888–1980), civil engineer, hydrogeologist
* Deane Waretini (born 1946), singer-songwriter
* Hayley Westenra (born 1987), classical singer, songwriter and UNICEF ambassador
* Elsie Maud White (1889–1978), miniaturist
* Brooke Williams (born 1984), television actress
* Colin Wilson (born 1949), comic book artist
* William Wilson ("Cabbage" Wilson, 1819–1897), first mayor of Christchurch
* Wizard of New Zealand (born 1932), public speaker, comedian and iconic local figure
* Megan Woods (born 1973), Labour Party MP for Wigram electorate