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1856–1859?–1912Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi; Anglican clergyman, missionary
Hōne Tana Pāpāhia was born probably sometime between 1856 and 1859 at Ōrongotea, on the north-west shoreline of the Hokianga Harbour. His father was Wiremu Tana Pāpāhia; his mother's name is not known. Pāpāhia was baptised Hōne Wēpiha (John Webster) after an early nineteenth century European...
Story: Pāpāhia, Hone Tana
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?–1875Ngāpuhi tohunga, war leader, prophet
Papahurihia, also known as Te Atua Wera, was a renowned Ngāpuhi tohunga. He belonged to both Te Hikutū and Ngāti Hau hapū. The date of his birth is unknown; in 1866 he was said to be about 50 years of age, but he was about 78 at his death, according to one obituary.
His descent is traced...
Story: Papahurihia, Penetana
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1873–1930Tūhourangi woman of mana, guide, ethnographer
Margaret Pattison Thom, who was later widely known as Mākereti (or Maggie) Papakura, was born at Matatā, in the Bay of Plenty, on 20 October 1873. Her father was an Englishman, William Arthur Thom, a storekeeper who later worked in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Rotorua, and then at Wairoa...
Story: Papakura, Mākereti
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1873–1939Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Pikiao woman of mana
Katherine Te Rongokahira Asher was born on 21 November 1873 at Tauranga. Her father was David Asher, eldest son of Jewish immigrants Hannah Keesing and her husband, Asher Asher, a trader. Her mother was Katerina Te Atirau, who was of very high rank amongst Te Arawa and Mataatua; she was the...
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1832–1838?–1917Ngāi Tahu leader, pilot, farmer, politician
Tame Haereroa Parata was born on Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait, probably between 1832 and 1838. His father, Captain Trapp, known as Kāpane Terapu, was an American whaler from Massachusetts. His mother was Koroteke, a woman of aristocratic descent of Ngāti Huirapa, a hapū of Ngāi Tahu, and of...
Story: Parata, Tame Haereroa
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?–1906Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa leader, farmer, politician
Wiremu Te Kākākura Parata was born on Kāpiti Island, probably in the mid 1830s. He grew up during a time of unprecedented and irreversible social change, of which he himself was a product. His mother, Metapere Waipunāhau, was the daughter of Te Rangihīroa, younger brother of Te Pēhi Kupe, the...
Story: Parata, Wiremu Te Kākākura
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fl. 1822–1845Ngati Tama leader
Born in the Ngāti Tama stronghold of Poutama, North Taranaki, early in the nineteenth century, Paremata was the eldest son of Ngāti Tama fighting chief Te Taku, and Kauhoe of Ngāti Hinetuhi, a hapū of Ngāti Mutunga. His paternal grandfather was Whangataki II and he could trace his lineage back...
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1882–1942Methodist minister, editor, writer, political and social reformer
Percy Reginald Paris was born on 22 June 1882 at Dunedin, New Zealand, the son of Eleanor Margaret Pocock and her husband, William Paris, a hairdresser. At the age of 16 Percy was converted to Methodism and attended the Dunedin Methodist Central Mission. He entered Prince Albert College,...
Story: Paris, Percy Reginald
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1880–1977Teacher, technical college principal
George John Park was born at Waitaki, Otago, on 12 September 1880, the son of Scottish parents George Park, a draper, and his wife, Christina Dallas. He was educated at Waimate District High School, where he was dux in 1897. Embarking on a teaching career, he was a pupil-teacher at Waimate...
Story: Park, George John
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1857–1946Geologist, director of school of mines, university professor, writer
James Park was born at Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 2 July 1857, the second son of James Park, a journeyman mason, and his wife, Mary Snowie. After finishing school James studied geology, mathematics, mineralogy and mining at the Royal School of Mines, South Kensington, London, from...
Story: Park, James
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1892–1975Soldier, military aviator and leader, company representative, local politician
In February 1947, at the New Zealand Society’s annual London dinner, Lord Tedder (head of the Royal Air Force) said of Keith Park: ‘If ever any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I don’t believe it is realized how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgment and his skill,...
Story: Park, Keith Rodney
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1895–1980Military leader and administrator
Born at Dunedin on 18 February 1895, Ronald Stuart Park was the son of Samuel Morgan Park, a clerk, and his wife, Annie Penelope Maxwell. He was educated at Otago Boys’ High School from 1908 to 1913, where he excelled at both rugby and cricket – sports he would continue to play competitively...
Story: Park, Ronald Stuart
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1809–1898Carpenter, politician
According to family information Charles Parker was born at Newent, Gloucestershire, England, on 4 March 1809, and was baptised on 2 July at Cheltenham. He was the son of Sarah Potter and her husband, Edmund Parker, a carpenter. Charles followed his father's calling. Probably in 1836 or 1837 he...
Story: Parker, Charles
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1847–1937Organist, choirmaster, conductor
Robert Parker is a pre-eminent example of the professionally trained English musician whose high standards, enterprise and skills were fully recognised and developed in the New Zealand environment. He was revered by many as the touchstone of musical excellence in Wellington for almost 60 years...
Story: Parker, Robert
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1850–1897Biologist, university professor, museum curator
Thomas Jeffery Parker (who was known as Jeffery) was born in London, England, on 17 October 1850, the eldest son of Elizabeth Jeffery and her husband, William Kitchen Parker, a medical practitioner and noted zoologist and naturalist. He was educated at Clarendon House School in London and at...
Story: Parker, Thomas Jeffery
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1914–1986Ngāti Porou; adult educationalist, broadcaster, university lecturer, community leader
William (Wiremu) Leonard Parker was born at Mākarika station near Waipiro Bay, on the East Coast, on 4 February 1914, the son of Ngāti Porou parents William Leonard Parker, a farmer, and his wife, Te Oharepe Ruta (Ruth) Collier. Bill was educated at Hiruharama Native School and attended Te Aute...
Story: Parker, William Leonard
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1889–1949Manslayer
Alice May Parkinson's conviction and imprisonment for manslaughter became a cause célèbre in New Zealand in the years before 1920. Born on 29 December 1889 at Hampden (Tikokino) in Hawke's Bay, she was one of at least 12 children of Isabella Rosina Beazley and her husband, George Parkinson, a...
Story: Parkinson, Alice May
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1896–1979Military leader
Graham Beresford Parkinson, known as Ike, was born in Mount Cook, Wellington, on 5 November 1896. He was the son of Henry Ainslie Parkinson, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Ethel Constance Young. Ike attended Greytown School and Newtown District High School and completed his education with two...
Story: Parkinson, Graham Beresford
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1810–1890Carpenter, farmer, labour reformer
Samuel Duncan Parnell, a carpenter and joiner by trade, initiated the eight hour working day in Wellington. He is said to have been born in London, England, on 19 February 1810, the son of Joan Duncan and her husband, James Parnell, gentleman. Parnell's interest in a shorter working day dated...
Story: Parnell, Samuel Duncan
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?–1887Ngāpuhi and Te Roroa leader
Parore Te Āwha, of the hapū Te Kuihi, was born at Mangakāhia, probably sometime in the 1790s. Through his father, Toretumua Te Āwha, he was descended from the high chief Toa of Te Roroa, kin of Ngāti Whātua, whose grandson Taramainuku adopted the hapū name Te Kuihi, and from the renowned...
Story: Parore Te Āwha