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 Intratil 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
• John Clarke, comedian

ɔɪ==Politicians and leaders==

Drongos

• Chase Voss, closet drongo

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. Current Deputy Leader of the NZ Labour Party.
• Metiria Turei, Green MP and co-leader

Mayors

• Jono Naylor, current Mayor (2007- ).
• Heather Tanguay, Mayor (2004–07).
• Mark Bell-Booth, Mayor (2001–04).
• Jill White, Mayor (1998-01).
• Paul Rieger Mayor (1985–98).
• George Snelson, first Mayor.

Other

• David Farrar, political blogger and commentator
• Janine, Lady Mateparae, wife of Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, the present Governor-General of New Zealand (2011- ).
• Scott Ludlam (Australian Greens WA Federal Senator)

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

• David Geary, screenwriter and actor
• Jessica Clarke, model who has worked for Victoria's Secret, Calvin Klein and Dolce and Gabbana [1]
• John Clarke, famous as "Fred Dagg"; now resides in Australia.
• Shane Cortese, actor
• Jeremy Corbett, comic
• Clarke Gayford (C4 presenter)
• 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)

Musical artists

• Depths, world famous rock band
• Billy TK, guitarist
• Alan Gregg, (bass player), The Mutton Birds
• Nigel Keay, (composer)
• Anna Leese, operatic soprano
• PNC, rapper
• Olly Martin, (lead singer, Ricky Bobby
• Rosina Buckman, operatic soprano
• Gary Brain, conductor
• Stuart Easton, piper
• Michael Houstoun, concert pianist

Athletes, coaches, etc.

• Craig Clare, current Manawatu Turbos rugby player
• 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/
• 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, held William Webb Ellis Trophy aloft at 1987 Rugby World Cup. Later became CEO of Fairfax Australia.
• Michael Mason, New Zealand Black Cap and Central Districts bowler
• 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, New Zealand All White (soccer)
• Jacob Oram (cricket player)
• Craig Perks, International golfer
• Reece Robinson, current Manawatu Turbo
• Moira Senior, former New Zealand Black Sticks Hockey player.
• Kayla Sharland, current New Zealand Black Sticks Hockey Women's captain.
• Levi Sherwood, freestyle motorcross rider
• 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
• Sam Whitelock- All Blacks (current)
• Joe Schmidt - current head coach of Leinster Rugby, Ireland.
• Adam Whitelock-Crusaders
• George Whitelock-Crusaders
• Aaron Cruden- All Blacks
• Grant Webb
• Jamie How
• Bevan Griggs
• George Worker, current cricketer, plays his cricket out of Canterbury.
• Aaron Smith - All Blacks
• Tomasi Cama, Manawatu Rugby representative and New Zealand All Blacks Sevens star.

Activists, philanthropists

• Fred Hollows, ophthalmologist

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."