Famous New Zealander Intellectuals & Academics

Vote for Your Favourite New Zealander Intellectuals & Academics

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 1 
John Money
(Psychologist Known for His Research into Sexual Identity and Biology of Gender)
John Money
5
Birthdate: July 8, 1921
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Morrinsville, New Zealand
Died: July 7, 2006

John Money was a New Zealand sexologist, psychologist, and author. He is best remembered for his research into biology of gender and sexual identity. He is credited with coining the terms sexual orientation, gender role, and gender identity. John Money was also criticized for endorsing conversion therapy among other unethical practices. His books have been translated into numerous languages.

 2 
Pamela Stephenson
(New Zealander Actress)
Pamela Stephenson
12
Birthdate: December 4, 1949
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand

Pamela Stephenson is a New Zealand-born writer, psychologist, and performer. Stephenson is best known as a comedienne who achieved immense popularity during the 1980s when she appeared in comedy films and shows like History of the World, Part I and Not the Nine O'Clock News. As a writer, Pamela Stephenson has been contributing to publications like Psychologies and The Guardian.  

 3 
Cindy Kiro
(22nd Governor-General of New Zealand)
Cindy Kiro
1
Birthdate: 1958 AD
Birthplace: Whangārei, New Zealand

Cindy Kiro is a New Zealand public health advocate, administrator, and academic. She is serving as the current Governor-General of New Zealand; she is the first Māori woman to hold the office. Cindy Kiro's services to education and child wellbeing have earned her prestigious awards in the New Zealand Royal Honours System.

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 4 
James Flynn
(Intelligence researcher known for Flynn effect)
James Flynn
0
Birthdate: April 28, 1934
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: December 11, 2020

James Flynn was an intelligence researcher from New Zealand. He is remembered for his documentation of the continued increase of IQ scores of humans, which is currently being referred to as the Flynn effect. James Flynn is also remembered for his association with the University of Otago where he served as an Emeritus Professor in the Psychology and Politics departments.

 5 
Michael King
(Historian & Biographer)
Michael King
2
Birthdate: December 15, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Wellington
Died: March 30, 2004

Michael King was a New Zealand biographer, historian, and author. He is remembered for writing a book titled Penguin History of New Zealand, which became a best-seller and the most famous New Zealand book in the year 2004. A much-respected writer, King won several literary awards, such as the Feltex television writers' award and Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement.

 6 
Ronald Syme
(Historian)
Ronald Syme
0
Birthdate: March 11, 1903
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Eltham, New Zealand
Died: September 4, 1989

Ronald Syme was a New Zealand-born classicist and historian. Considered the greatest exponent of Roman Empire's history since Edward Gibbon, Syme is also regarded as the most brilliant historian of ancient Rome since 19th century. Syme is best remembered for his 1939 work The Roman Revolution, a controversial analysis of political life in Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar.

 7 
Te Rangi Hīroa
(New Zealand Doctor, Military Leader, Health Administrator, Politician, Anthropologist and Museum Director)
Te Rangi Hīroa
2
Birthdate: 1877
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Urenui, Taranaki, New Zealand
Died: December 1, 1951

Te Rangi Hīroa was a New Zealand health administrator, doctor, military leader, anthropologist, politician, and museum director. An important member of Ngāti Mutunga, Te Rangi Hīroa played a major role in recruiting a Māori volunteer contingent during the First World War. In 1935, he was honored with the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

 8 
Raymond Firth
(New Zealand Ethnologist Known for His Research on the Maori and Other Peoples of Oceania and Southeast Asia)
Raymond Firth
2
Birthdate: March 25, 1901
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: February 22, 2002

Raymond Firth was a New Zealand ethnologist who is credited with creating a form of British economic anthropology. He also served at the London School of Economics as a Professor of Anthropology and his ethnographic work is greatly respected. Over the course of his illustrious career, Raymond Firth was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Viking Fund Medal.

 9 
Dame Anne Salmond
(New Zealand Anthropologist Best Known for Her Writings on New Zealand History, Her Study of Maori Culture)
Dame Anne Salmond
2
Birthdate: November 16, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand

Dame Anne Salmond is a New Zealand environmentalist, anthropologist, and writer. She is best known for her books about Māori life and history. In 2004, she was honored with the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement under the non-fiction category. 

 10 
Nicholas Agar
(New Zealand Professor)
Nicholas Agar
1
Birthdate: 1965 AD
Birthplace: New Zealand

Nicholas Agar is a New Zealand professor who has been teaching ethics at the prestigious Victoria University of Wellington since 1996. Over the years, Nicholas Agar has also written several books on human enhancement and technological change.

 11 
Mike Morwood
(Archaeologist)
Mike Morwood
1
Birthdate: October 27, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: July 23, 2013

Mike Morwood was a New Zealand archaeologist best remembered for discovering Homo floresiensis. His discovery earned him the prestigious Rhys Jones Medal, which was bestowed upon him by the Australian Archaeological Association in 2012.

 12 
Evelyn Stokes
(Geographer)
Evelyn Stokes
0
Birthdate: December 5, 1936
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tauranga, New Zealand
Died: August 15, 2005

Evelyn Stokes was a New Zealand professor who taught geography at the prestigious University of Waikato. She is best remembered for her work that aimed at helping the Māori and women. Evelyn Stokes also published extensively on Māori land issues and on New Zealand historical geography.

 13 
Lydia Wevers
(Literary historian whose research focussed on New Zealand literature and print culture, as well as Australian literature)
Lydia Wevers
0
Birthdate: March 19, 1950
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hengelo, Netherlands
Died: September 4, 2021

Lydia Wevers was a New Zealand literary critic, literary historian, book reviewer, and editor. Apart from reviewing books, Wevers also reviewed a number of newspapers, magazines, and literary journals. For her services to literature, Lydia Wevers was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit during the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours.