From an island in the Pacific with a population of just over five million, we Kiwis tend to do pretty well on the world stage.
Our one-of-a-kind culture, environment and attitude have created some of the all-time great Kiwis who not just influenced our country but the world, from academic milestones to athletic feats.
Here is our take on the top 10 most influential New Zealanders.
Lorde
Is it a bit early to put Lorde on this list? Maybe, but even at the age of 28, it would be hard to discredit her musical achievements.
You could already make a case that Lorde is the most successful Kiwi musician ever, she was the youngest artist to have a number-one single and the youngest person to win a Grammy at the age of 17 and was on Forbes’s list of most influential teenagers in 2013 and 2014.
AJ Hackett
Another athlete and pioneer, AJ Hackett gained international fame after popularising bungy jumping from the Eiffel Tower and founded the first commercial bungy jumping experience.
Sir Peter Blake
One of the great yachtsmen of his time, Sir Peter Blake won every significant bluewater race on the planet including winning and defending the America’s Cup and broke the record for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation of the world.
After retiring from racing he became one of the great environmentalists.
Jean Batten
Another great Kiwi woman and even more great aviator, Batten made several record-breaking flights including the first solo flight from England to New Zealand in 1936.
Charles Upham
Arguably New Zealand’s most famous soldier. Upham is only one of three people ever to win the Victoria Cross twice for his actions in Crete in 1941 and Egypt in 1942.
He was the only person to achieve this feat as a combat soldier.
Sir Āpirana Ngata
The 1st member on this list for being on NZ currency, Ngata was described as the foremost Maori politician and one of the most prominent NZ politicians of the 20th century, he is best known for his work in promoting and protecting Maori culture and language.
Dame Whina Cooper
Another great woman and the first civil rights activist on the list, Dame Whina Cooper worked for many years for the rights of her people, particularly Maori women.
Cooper is best known for leading the 1975 Maori land march from Te Hapua to Wellington over a distance of 1,100km at the age of 79.
Sir Edmund Hillary
Ol Ed, the second person on this list to be on New Zealand currency. Sir Edmund Hillary alongside Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Everest, gaining international recognition and becoming one of the most influential Kiwis.
Kate Sheppard
You also cannot have a list of influential greats without Kate Sheppard, arguably one of the most influential women in the 19th century.
Sheppard was the most prominent member of the New Zealand suffragette movement which allowed New Zealand to be the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893.
Ernest Rutherford
Often described as “the father of nuclear physics” Ernest Rutherford is usually the star when talking about great New Zealanders and rightly so, he was the first person to split the atom and was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
Not only described as one of the most influential Kiwis but he may have a case of one the most influential people ever.
Main Image Credit: Campervan New Zealand
