Famous New Zealanders here's 3 for starters. Oscar winner, Nobel Prize winner and world famous explorer.
1. Sir Peter Jackson – Pukerua Bay
The mastermind behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sir Peter Jackson, was born in the beautiful Pukerua Bay in Porirua, a 30 minute drive from Wellington.
Sir Peter Jackson’s achievements are well known as the
winner of 3 academy awards, with his Lord of the Rings films in particular adored by fans all around the world. Sir Peter Jackson owes much to his hometown of Pukerua Bay as his first film, Bad Taste, was filmed there!
Pukerua Bay itself is a small coastal community with a population of under 2,000 people. Notable attractions include the Goat Track Walkway from which you can see Kapiti Island.
Porirua is also a great hidden gem with plenty to offer.
2. Sir Edmund Hillary – Auckland
With regards to global achievements, they don’t get much bigger than Sir Ed’s feat of being the
first person to conquer the summit of the mighty Mount Everest in 1953.
3. Sir Ernest Rutherford – Brightwater
The man considered to be the father of Nuclear Physics, Sir Ernest Rutherford, was born in Brightwater, 20 km southwest of
Nelson in the South Island.
Sir Ernest Rutherford had already won the coveted
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 before arguably his most noted achievement came along; research that led to the splitting of the atom. His contributions to science were almost immeasurable with countless numbers of streets, buildings and institutions named after him at home and abroad.