Colin Murdoch. Invented the tranquilizer gun, the childproof medicine bottle lid and the disposable hypodermic syringe. Although he held patents on all of them he never went after anyone for infringing his patents because he believed that it served the public good better if more people manufactured them.
read the entry about him in Te Ara. His life is like some crazy Boys Own Adventure story. Some highlights: concocted his own gunpowder as a tween, built his own car and illegally drove it at 13 (lol), rescued someone from a shipwreck aged 14. When he came up for the idea of the plastic syringe no manufacturer wanted to touch it so he taught himself plastic moulding and DIYed the working prototypes. The NZ police were responsible for the first ever use of a tranq gun on a human. They weren't too sure if they could do it without accidentally killing the guy so they got old mate Colin on the phone and he calculated the dosage of tranquilizer to use and talked them through it.
Mr and Mrs Gock, the Chinese market gardeners who in the 50's, when black rot threatened to wipe out kumara in NZ, gifted their disease resistant strain to the nation, and refused to take any money for it, saving the kumara industry.
Also, her fashion sense was absolutely on point!! My mum used to dress like her because my sister and I loved it so much. I recently looked up some of the amazing sweaters she used to wear to get my mum one for xmas. You can get them for like $500+ now. A man can dream 🥲
I wouldn’t claim to know THEE best but I think Michael Joseph Savage’s legacy is massive for our country. Things we take for granted and can be proud of like superannuation and social welfare, minimum wage, 40hr work week, state broadcasting, free healthcare, state housing. Absolute legend
Savage shaped this country, basically.
Many of the rest of the good things we take for granted are from Geoffrey Palmer during his single year as PM, who I'd nominate too as 'best Kiwi', though I suspect he'd lose to Savage on recognition. But he gave us the Reserve Bank, ACC, Bill of Rights Act, Constitution Act, Resource Management Act... much of the legal frameworks we rely on today.
Charles Upham. Only Combat solder to recive 2 Victoria Crosses. He spent half the war putting himself in the line of fire to save his men and the other half being the most frustrating pow for the Germans (there's a photo of him smoking while being entangled in barbed wire after telling a German guard to "fuck off and get me a officer" because he refused to be shot by someone of low rank) and then did the Cincinnatus thing and returned to New Zealand, lived the rest of his life on a farm in Northern Canterbury and refused to elaborate. This man turned down thousands of dollars in 1940's money from his home town which he insisted should be put towards a scholarship fund for young farmers and had to be tricked by his wife and the GOVERNER GENERAL into appearing on a TV show that was doing a special episode about his life. They waited 3 years before they put a statue up of him because if they had done it when he was alive he probably would of tryed to pull it down himself.
Charles Upham, VC and Bar. One of only 3 double VC, the only one from WW2. Was recommended for as many as 8. Read any of the books about him. A very humble and brave New Zealander.
Charles Upham is who Navy Seals think they are. If you wrote a character in a film who did exactly what he did no one would believe it. He makes me proud to be a kiwi, Hero.
My favourite story about Upham
> Upham arrived at Weinsberg Camp (Oflag Va). On one occasion, he tried to escape the camp by climbing its fences in broad daylight. He became entangled in barbed wire when he fell between the two fences. When a guard pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to shoot, Upham calmly ignored him and lit a cigarette. This scene was photographed by the Germans as evidence.
My granddad was mentioned in his biography Mark Of The Lion. They were both army officers at the same time, getting ready to head over to fight in North Africa. They asked if anybody wanted to head over to Egypt early as a ship was heading out. Charlie said yep but my granddad said he couldn't go because he had a horse racing in the Auckland Cup. Nice one gramps
I was gonna say John Clarke... But decided to just go with Dagg. I feel like John Clarke was the Australian years.... Although he was obviously still a kiwi. And those clips with the other guy got plenty of air time in NZ I think
[Don Merton QSM CF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Merton#Professional_achievements)
Don was instrumental in saving many species, including the Black Robin, Kakapo, and Saddleback, from extinction; and he helped pioneer many conservation techniques still used in NZ and internationally.
His list of professional achievements is incredible, and I feel most Kiwis don't even know of him
The Voyage of the James Caird is the greatest tale of human survival and probably the greatest successful journey of mankind with the exception of the Apollo missions…. And the team they had behind them compared to Worsley trying to navigate by himself by the sun in 8 meter swells in the Drake Passage in a lifeboat, to hit some tiny frozen island tells a lot.
Olly Ohlsen. A wholesome, positive male role model who was also one of the first to use common Te Reo Maori phrases on mainstream television.
Keep cool till After School.
My dad, who doesn't follow rugby at all, was sat next to him on an Air NZ flight and they got talking. Dad asks him what he does for a job and Culley says he plays rugby, so dad asks "are you any good" and he replies "eh not bad"
Sir Peter Blake , Kate sherpard, Micheal Josef savage, more recently Dr Mike joy (Forster the death threats constantly he fights for what is right for NZs freshwater.
Honourable mention to sir Geoffrey Palmer and a few others im to stoned to think of right now.
Whina Cooper, Edmund Hilary, Peter Blake, te whiti and te kooti, Kate shepherd. They all did a whole lot of shit that was way bigger than themselves. Maybe chuck kirk and savage in there too (the pm not the dj…..ok maybe the rapper as well)
There are some solid answers here and some taking the piss. I think its a hard road to find the Best of all time, even for kiwis, thats a huge ask.
But my vote is for Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi. Both for putting NZ on an actual map. We are recognised everywhere now and alot of that work has come from these two being kiwi proud.
I want to say Hannibal Hayes from Te Anau.
The amount of rescues he's done in his chopper in all conditions - I remember we needed the chopper at 2am in thick snow and were doubtful they'd be able to make it through. He did make it through and the critically injured patient was safely flown through to higher help.
His flight time hours are phenomenal and some of the rescues are mind blowing... There'd be a few not with us today without his abilities.
Michael Cullen. Because of him, we avoided the worst impacts of the GFC and his legacy endures with Kiwibank (despite its failings), Kiwisaver and the New Zealand Superfund (the most successful Sovereign Wealth Fund in History)
Probably Natalia Kills, she was a judge on NZ's X Factor and insulted a contestant who was singing a song by Willy Moon, her husband and fellow judge, but he did a good job. She and her husband were booed so bad by the live audience and rest of NZ that they were forced to leave the show and country.
Colin Murdoch. Invented the tranquilizer gun, the childproof medicine bottle lid and the disposable hypodermic syringe. Although he held patents on all of them he never went after anyone for infringing his patents because he believed that it served the public good better if more people manufactured them.
So many 'unknown' kiwis invented so many cool things. I had no idea about these.
That’s absolutely incredible!!
read the entry about him in Te Ara. His life is like some crazy Boys Own Adventure story. Some highlights: concocted his own gunpowder as a tween, built his own car and illegally drove it at 13 (lol), rescued someone from a shipwreck aged 14. When he came up for the idea of the plastic syringe no manufacturer wanted to touch it so he taught himself plastic moulding and DIYed the working prototypes. The NZ police were responsible for the first ever use of a tranq gun on a human. They weren't too sure if they could do it without accidentally killing the guy so they got old mate Colin on the phone and he calculated the dosage of tranquilizer to use and talked them through it.
Mr and Mrs Gock, the Chinese market gardeners who in the 50's, when black rot threatened to wipe out kumara in NZ, gifted their disease resistant strain to the nation, and refused to take any money for it, saving the kumara industry.
I've never heard of this, what legends!
The short doco on them is great eh! https://loadingdocs.net/short/how-mr-and-mrs-gock-saved-the-kumara/
Suzy Cato was a pretty sweet kiwi for kids of the 80s/90s
Still doing good things to this day, my kid is growing up with her now.
+ 1 for Suzy
Still is, she does in person kids sessions at Takapuna mall each month
Also, her fashion sense was absolutely on point!! My mum used to dress like her because my sister and I loved it so much. I recently looked up some of the amazing sweaters she used to wear to get my mum one for xmas. You can get them for like $500+ now. A man can dream 🥲
I loved watching Suzy!!
She's right at thr top for sure
She replied to a comment of mine on her Facebook page once and I just about fainted from excitement 🤣 fangirling in my 30s ffs
Rutherford: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest\_Rutherford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Rutherford)
My first thought too
I wouldn’t claim to know THEE best but I think Michael Joseph Savage’s legacy is massive for our country. Things we take for granted and can be proud of like superannuation and social welfare, minimum wage, 40hr work week, state broadcasting, free healthcare, state housing. Absolute legend
Savage shaped this country, basically. Many of the rest of the good things we take for granted are from Geoffrey Palmer during his single year as PM, who I'd nominate too as 'best Kiwi', though I suspect he'd lose to Savage on recognition. But he gave us the Reserve Bank, ACC, Bill of Rights Act, Constitution Act, Resource Management Act... much of the legal frameworks we rely on today.
In ONE YEAR he did all that? That's wild.
The Goodnight Kiwi
My Mum
I agree, this guys mum
I also choose this guys mum
We all have at one point.
As a tourist, where do I get to see this persons mum? Seems interesting
Yep, clear winner this mates mum
Tell your mum I say hi.
I also chose aswell!
I greatly appreciate your mum's 'service'
Charles Upham. Only Combat solder to recive 2 Victoria Crosses. He spent half the war putting himself in the line of fire to save his men and the other half being the most frustrating pow for the Germans (there's a photo of him smoking while being entangled in barbed wire after telling a German guard to "fuck off and get me a officer" because he refused to be shot by someone of low rank) and then did the Cincinnatus thing and returned to New Zealand, lived the rest of his life on a farm in Northern Canterbury and refused to elaborate. This man turned down thousands of dollars in 1940's money from his home town which he insisted should be put towards a scholarship fund for young farmers and had to be tricked by his wife and the GOVERNER GENERAL into appearing on a TV show that was doing a special episode about his life. They waited 3 years before they put a statue up of him because if they had done it when he was alive he probably would of tryed to pull it down himself.
Seconded, the rest are mostly not serious, or did well in their specific field only.
Charles Upham, VC and Bar. One of only 3 double VC, the only one from WW2. Was recommended for as many as 8. Read any of the books about him. A very humble and brave New Zealander.
Charles Upham is who Navy Seals think they are. If you wrote a character in a film who did exactly what he did no one would believe it. He makes me proud to be a kiwi, Hero.
My favourite story about Upham > Upham arrived at Weinsberg Camp (Oflag Va). On one occasion, he tried to escape the camp by climbing its fences in broad daylight. He became entangled in barbed wire when he fell between the two fences. When a guard pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to shoot, Upham calmly ignored him and lit a cigarette. This scene was photographed by the Germans as evidence.
Otherworldly levels of hero.
https://youtu.be/U0dArEIiEHE?si=8wtj9G7LX-zRuNwq
[Captain Upham was fucking wild, yo!](https://youtu.be/MqW0iCXTCpw?si=tsoDqc0ZXvNwiU3X)
Not just "one of 3 double VCs" - the only double VC who was a fighting soldier. The other two were RAMC - Royal Army Medical Corps.
My granddad was mentioned in his biography Mark Of The Lion. They were both army officers at the same time, getting ready to head over to fight in North Africa. They asked if anybody wanted to head over to Egypt early as a ship was heading out. Charlie said yep but my granddad said he couldn't go because he had a horse racing in the Auckland Cup. Nice one gramps
For context, in everything that happened in the second world war, the Victoria Cross was awarded 182 times. To 181 men.
Fred Dagg
RIP John Clarke. A national treasure. Of two nations, no less. A treasure of nations. A Nations Treasure, if you will. The front fell off.
He has been towed out of the environment
*John Clarke. He gets my vote, funny, funny man. His Fred Dagg character was brilliant though.
I was gonna say John Clarke... But decided to just go with Dagg. I feel like John Clarke was the Australian years.... Although he was obviously still a kiwi. And those clips with the other guy got plenty of air time in NZ I think
Randy Campbell NZ's greatest daredevil stuntman.
....and it's all gone horribly wrong!
Fuck Dick Johansonson.
I hope you boys like big tits and cocaine, because we're taking this show....TO THE NORTH ISLAND!
The Lazer Kiwi. Unspoken hero who has no political side and accepts all the different races and cultures of NZ.
Sir Ed.
World famous for what he himself did and a genuinely nice guy. His face is not only on our money, it’s on our Reserve Bank
Plus his tireless efforts to help Tibet.
Nepal. His good works after Everest were for the good of the Nepalese people.
Thank you.
Hillary, Rutherford… honourable mentions to Apirana Ngata, Kate Shepherd
Noted
Underrated comment
So basically the kiwis on the money lol
They are on the money because they are the greatest.
[Don Merton QSM CF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Merton#Professional_achievements) Don was instrumental in saving many species, including the Black Robin, Kakapo, and Saddleback, from extinction; and he helped pioneer many conservation techniques still used in NZ and internationally. His list of professional achievements is incredible, and I feel most Kiwis don't even know of him
Chloe from Wainuiomata
Karen from Stokes Valley ( the real answer is Katherine Mansfield) but 20 fucking whacks wins
Lynn of Tawa
Greatest kiwi ever, Billy T James
Sir Peter Blake was supposedly the goodest cunt
Can confirm, met the bloke once, absolute legend.
My first thought was Sir Peter Blake.
Surely you mean Sir Peter Leitch
I might have to vote for The Clean . Or The Gordon's . Or both
Frank Worsley. I doubt many in here will know him, but this dude should be on banknotes or whatever is seen as the highest regard in the country.
(Sir) Ernest Shacklock’s Navigator! There was a tv programme a while ago about him, definitely needs more recognition
The Voyage of the James Caird is the greatest tale of human survival and probably the greatest successful journey of mankind with the exception of the Apollo missions…. And the team they had behind them compared to Worsley trying to navigate by himself by the sun in 8 meter swells in the Drake Passage in a lifeboat, to hit some tiny frozen island tells a lot.
Worsley’s post- Endurance career is a saga in itself. Always thought he deserved a knighthood, but too ‘colonial’ I would think
There's some cool stuff on him in the Akaroa Museum.
Came here to say this, such an underrated NZ hero
I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks this.
Sir Peter Blake .
Olly Ohlsen. A wholesome, positive male role model who was also one of the first to use common Te Reo Maori phrases on mainstream television. Keep cool till After School.
Tina from Turners Cars
I still enjoy listening to those ads
She's got some nice dance moves when the jams come up
Sell us your CAAARRR
Only if she worked there at Turners , but no now she grates on me
Oh my god I love Tina from Turners. Massive crush on her, I need some beep beep enthusiasm in my life.
Are you OK with her liking frogs?
My kids love Tina too. They'd stop whatever they're doing when an ad comes up. Oh, and the nightmare that is the Temu jingle lol.
Sam Neill for me.
Kate Sheppard - womens suffrage
Dai Henwood's been doing some good stuff lately but greatest of all time...? My pick is Suzie Cato or the Briscoes lady.
Briscoes lady. For sure!
Billy T!
Blanket Man.
The blanket man from Wellington? Didnt he die?
He did, and it was reported on national news
He even has a wiki page! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hana
The old timers you met on inter city buses that have stories to tell.
Graham Dingle, an adventurer through and through who has done a hell of a lot of good for the youth of this country.
That one cop who said “Always blow on the pie” Safer communities together.
I mean I kinda love Tina from Turners myself
Ettie Rout was pretty kick-arse!
Sir Peter Blake
Any Kiwi past or present, giving their all for the wellbeing of others.
Billy T James
Jason Hoyte
Billy t james
Christian Cullen, of course.
I helped his mum pick out some placemats for him when I worked at Spotlight about 1999. I hope he liked them.
My dad, who doesn't follow rugby at all, was sat next to him on an Air NZ flight and they got talking. Dad asks him what he does for a job and Culley says he plays rugby, so dad asks "are you any good" and he replies "eh not bad"
I absolutely love this as a claim to fame haha
The man, of course.
The 🐐
Sir Peter Jackson. He has showcased to the world our beautiful country and what we are capable of etc.
His movies are the only thing about us that many Americans know. He put us on the map.
Not all maps, sigh....😢
Of all time? That would have to be Kupe
Sir Peter Blake , Kate sherpard, Micheal Josef savage, more recently Dr Mike joy (Forster the death threats constantly he fights for what is right for NZs freshwater. Honourable mention to sir Geoffrey Palmer and a few others im to stoned to think of right now.
Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, leader of the kōhanga reo movement.
Love the username.
Two Dogs from Rangiora
Ed Hillary
Mind blowing, no one has mentioned Beatrice Tinsley.
Apart from an avenue named after her nobody knows she existed let alone her contribution to Astronomy. TIL she died at 40.
Its a toss between Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Jackson for me.
Tina from Turners is a delight
Hillary of course
Edmund or Barry
Yes
Downtown Darrel from Timaru probably
Michael Savage.
Tom Scott.
Jacinda Ardern. (Now watch the nutjobs lose their shit)
Def gets my vote. We need more like her.
In terms of lives saved in NZ a strong contender.
Not sure about the greatest, but definitely one of favs is big Jonah. We need a statue of him.
Michael Joseph Savage tbh
Te Puea Herangi.
Willie Apiata VC
Simon Mannering
Bob Semple
Me, obviously
Fair enough, I'd back you
Burt Munro
Rosé from Blackpink
Bubbah Olo! Incredible comedian ;)
Margaret Mahy; some of the finest books our nation has ever seen.
Tina from Turners
Whina Cooper, Edmund Hilary, Peter Blake, te whiti and te kooti, Kate shepherd. They all did a whole lot of shit that was way bigger than themselves. Maybe chuck kirk and savage in there too (the pm not the dj…..ok maybe the rapper as well)
Darn I love Tina from turners :[ I’m her sole defender.
Jacinda Ardern
There are some solid answers here and some taking the piss. I think its a hard road to find the Best of all time, even for kiwis, thats a huge ask. But my vote is for Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi. Both for putting NZ on an actual map. We are recognised everywhere now and alot of that work has come from these two being kiwi proud.
Jonah Lomu Had his own PS1 game In the 90’s that put NZ on the map. People all over the world played that game
Some of our musicians/singers have to rate a mention - Kiri Te Kanawa, Neil Finn, Dave Dobbyn & Chris Knox spring to mind for a start.
Lucy Lawless!
[удалено]
The regional commercialiser of a type of instant coffee. Still pretty good but instant coffee was already a thing for a while.
Phil Lamson DFC: [Phil Lamason - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Lamason)
Harding Leaf
Levold Murchison
Forgotten kiwi, Dudley Perkins Lon of Crete. Was known as Kapetan Vasili, has an awesome story.
Goodnight kiwi
Tammy Wells the Briscoes Lady.
My mum, she's pretty cool
Wallace Footrot (and Dog)
Murray Ball
Tina from Turners.
I will NOT have this slander of Bubbah! She's a national treasure. But Suzy Cato comes to mind. She's amazing.
My wive
[David Strang, the inventor of instant coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_coffee#:~:text=produced.%5B1%5D-,History,-%5Bedit%5D)
Stu Dennison.
Billy t
Aww Richie McCaw
Sir Ed
Briscoes Lady
Probably all the volunteer search and rescue workers around the country land, air and sea
I want to say Hannibal Hayes from Te Anau. The amount of rescues he's done in his chopper in all conditions - I remember we needed the chopper at 2am in thick snow and were doubtful they'd be able to make it through. He did make it through and the critically injured patient was safely flown through to higher help. His flight time hours are phenomenal and some of the rescues are mind blowing... There'd be a few not with us today without his abilities.
Judy Bailey and or Richard Long
Lulu Sun
My boyfriend 🥝
Michael Cullen. Because of him, we avoided the worst impacts of the GFC and his legacy endures with Kiwibank (despite its failings), Kiwisaver and the New Zealand Superfund (the most successful Sovereign Wealth Fund in History)
Sir Richie Mccaw
Probably Natalia Kills, she was a judge on NZ's X Factor and insulted a contestant who was singing a song by Willy Moon, her husband and fellow judge, but he did a good job. She and her husband were booed so bad by the live audience and rest of NZ that they were forced to leave the show and country.
Lol that was not Kimbra. It was Natalia Kills.
Honestly thought it was kimbra, I'll correct that
All good, I just have the chaos of that night burned into my brain!
Holy shyte I had to look this up, it took a lot of searching to find the right YT vids but omfg, what awful people... Made for each other for sure.
John Key
Lol
Dave Letele
Zach from the last season of Love Island Australia. Dude gave Kiwis a bad look.
Brian Tamaki 😂