The North Island, South Island and Stewart Island were originally named New Ulster, New Munster and New Leinster respectively
Sir Tristram, born in Co Kildare, was a champion broodmare sire (45 group one winners, including 3 Melbourne Cup winners) and lived in Cambridge Stud
Mary Gallagher, of whom the song ‘Mary from Dungloe’ was written, emigrated to NZ from Co Donegal and is buried in Gisborne cemetery
Robert Hannah, born in Co Antrim, founded ‘Hannah’s Shoes’. He built and lived in Antrim House, in Wellington, now the headquarters of the NZ Historic Places Trust
Thomas Bracken, born in Co Monaghan, wrote the words of the national anthem ‘God Defend New Zealand’
Johnny Martin, born in Co Derry, was a goldminer and entrepreneur who developed the area of Martinborough
Joseph McMullen Dargaville, born in Co Cork, developed the town of Dargaville as part of his kauri timber and gum business
Robert Wellwood, born in Co Kilkenny, was the first Mayor of Hastings
Thomas Russell, born in Cork, was the founder of Bank of New Zealand in 1861
Thomas Croke, born in Cork and after whom the GAA Croke Park is named, was Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland from 1870-1874
Patrick Moran, born in Co Wicklow, was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin 1869-1895
Henry Blundell, born in Dublin, began publishing the Wellington Evening Post (now the Dominion Post) in 1865
Dave Gallaher, captain of the 1905 Original All Blacks, was born in Co Donegal
Three of NZs Prime Ministers were born in Ireland – Daniel Pollen (Dublin), John Balance (Antrim) and William Massey (Derry)
New Zealand’s most colourful goldminer, Biddy of the Buller, was born in Dublin
Lt. Governor William Hobson, who signed the Treaty of Waitangi on behalf of the Crown, was born in Waterford, the home of Waterford Crystal.
The Duke of Wellington, after whom New Zealand’s capital city is named, was born in Dublin, Ireland’s capital.
James Joyce, the author of Ulysses, the novel of the 20th century, had a sister, who was a nun who lived in New Zealand for many years until her death in 1942.
