This is a list of notable people who were either born in Christchurch, New Zealand, or who spent a significant part of their lives living in the region.
A Hugh Acland (1874–1956), surgeon Jim Anderton (1938–2018), Labour politician and deputy prime minister (1999–2002) Harry Ayres (1912–1987), mountaineer, guide, and gardener Ernest Andrews (1873–1961), longstanding mayor of Christchurch Marcus Armstrong (born 2000), motor racing driver Vajin Armstrong (born 1980), ultra-distance runner
B Petra Bagust, (born 1972), Television news presenter Simon Barnett (born 1967), public figure and co-host of morning radio show Blanche Baughan (1870–1958), poet, writer and penal reformer Peter Beaven (1925–2012), architect and heritage lobbyist Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), poet and social activist John Blumsky (1928–2013), journalist and broadcaster Shane Bond (born 1975), player and coach of the national cricket team John Britten (1950–1995) New Zealand mechanical engineer who designed a world-record-setting motorcycle with innovative features and materials Kathleen Browne (1905–2007), artist Gerry Brownlee (born 1956), National Party MP for Ilam electorate Vicki Buck (born 1955/56), first female mayor of Christchurch and activist
C
Dolce Ann Cabot (1862–1943), journalist, newspaper editor, feminist and teacher Tonie Carroll (born 1976), rugby league player, played for both New Zealand and Australia Kahurangi Carter (born 1983 or 1984), politician Dan Carter (born 1982), plays rugby for Canterbury Crusaders and the All Blacks, highest test-match point scorer Nathan Cohen (born 1986), world and Olympic champion rower Brendan Cole (born 1976), ballroom dancer and television personality Ray Columbus (1942–2016), singer-songwriter of Ray Columbus & the Invaders John Cracroft Wilson ("Nabob" Wilson, 1808–1881), farmer of Cashmere and independent parliamentarian
D Lianne Dalziel (born 1960), mayor of Christchurch, former Labour Party MP for Christchurch Central and Christchurch East electorates John Deans (1820–1854), pioneer farmer Sharon Shobha Devi Lingham (1956–2010), broadcaster David de Lautour (born 1982), actor and musician Christopher Doig (1948–2011), opera singer Axel Downard-Wilke (born 1966), transport planner and Wikipedian Brooke Duff (born 1991), Christchurch-born singer/songwriter Andrew Duncan (1834–1880), mayor of Christchurch and provincial councillor
E Lincoln Arthur Winstone Efford (1907–1962), pacifist, social reformer and adult educationalist
F Eileen Fairbairn (1893–1981), geographer, climber, teacher Daniel Faitaua (born c.1976), Television news reporter, currently working for TVNZ
G Jon Gadsby (1953–2015), actor and comedian James Gapes (1822–1899), mayor of Christchurch and flautist Jo Giles (1950–2011), former sports representative and television personality A. K. Grant (1941–2000), writer, historian and humorist Charles Gray (1853–1918), independent parliamentarian and mayor of Christchurch Jeffrey Grice (born 1954), classical pianist John Grimes (1842–1915), first Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch Jason Gunn (born 1968), broadcaster and entertainer
H Sir Richard Hadlee (born 1951), international cricketer John Hall (1824–1907), independent politician, 12th prime minister of New Zealand and mayor of Christchurch Sir William Hamilton, (1899–1978) Fairlie-born inventor of the jetboat, whose company, Hamilton Jet, was based in Christchurch from 1948 Joel Hayward (born 1964), academic, writer and poet Graham Henry (born 1946), rugby union coach, head coach of the All Blacks Tom Hern (born 1984), actor Hera Hjartardóttir (born 1983), Iceland-born singer/songwriter Fred Hobbs (1841–1920), mayor of Christchurch and drainage activist M. H. Holcroft (1902–1993), essayist and novelist
J Barry Jones (1941–2016), ninth Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch Churchill Julius (1847–1938), second Anglican bishop of Christchurch and first archbishop of New Zealand
K Phil Keoghan (born 1967), television host of The Amazing Race John Key, (born 1961), former National Party MP and prime minister Nathan King singer/songwriter with the rock band Zed John Kennard, rally co-driver
L Ladi6 (born 1982) Christchurch-born singer/songwriter Charles Luney (1905–2006), famous New Zealand builder and company director Christopher Luxon, (born 1970), National Party MP and prime minister (2023–present)
M Justice Peter Mahon QC, (1923–1986), the New Zealand High Court judge who led the Commission of Inquiry into the 1979 crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 into Mount Erebus. Margaret Mahy (1936–2012), writer for children and young adults George Manning (1887–1976), politician and mayor of Christchurch Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), crime writer and theatre director Richie McCaw (born 1980), captain of the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks Gary McCormick (born 1951), poet, radio and television personality, and co-host of morning radio show Scott McLaughlin (born 1993), 2x V8 Supercars Champion, Current NTT IndyCar Series driver David McPhail, (1945–2021), actor and comedian Bernice Mene (born 1975), former Silver Ferns netball captain Max Merritt (born 1941), singer-songwriter and guitarist Juliet Mitchell (born 1940), professor and psychoanalyst Anika Moa (born 1980), singer-songwriter Elizabeth Moody (1939–2010), actor and director Garry Moore (born 1951), 44th mayor of Christchurch Stacey Morrison (born c.1974), television and radio host Benjamin Mountfort (1825–1898), dominant local architect Charles Mountfort (1854–1941), surveyor Anjali Mulari (born 1993), Christchurch-born international ice and inline hockey player
O John Ollivier (1812–1893), politician and auctioneer Denis O'Rourke (born 1946) politician and former City councillor Daisy Osborn (1888–1957), artist
P Frederick Page (1905–1983), music professor, pianist and critic Robert Page (1897–1957), pacifist and industrial chemist Bob Parker (born 1953), mayor of Christchurch during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes Sophie Pascoe (born 1993), Paralympic champion awarded nine gold medals Mike Pero (born 1960), businessman and entrepreneur
R Bic Runga (born 1976), singer-songwriter Boh Runga (born 1969/1970), lead singer and guitarist in New Zealand rock band Stellar Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), Nobel Prize winning physicist, completed a BA, BSc and MA at the then Canterbury College
S Robertson Stewart (1913–2007), industrialist and exporter Ben Stokes (born 1991), English cricketer
T Lilia Tarawa, former member of Gloriavale Christian Community, author, speaker, entrepreneur Pana Hema Taylor (born 1989), television actor Gary Thain (1948–1975), rock bassist (Keef Hartley Band, Uriah Heep) Mildred Annie Trent (1883–1942), cook, tearooms manager and community worker
W Miho Wada, jazz flautist and founder of Miho's Jazz Orchestra Nicky Wagner (born 1953), National Party MP for Christchurch Central and educationist R. C. S. Walters (1888–1980), civil engineer, hydrogeologist Deane Waretini (born 1946), singer-songwriter Hayley Westenra (born 1987), classical singer, songwriter and UNICEF ambassador Elsie Maud White (1889–1978), miniaturist Brooke Williams (born 1984), television actress Colin Wilson (born 1949), comic book artist William Wilson ("Cabbage" Wilson, 1819–1897), first mayor of Christchurch Wizard of New Zealand (born 1932), public speaker, comedian and iconic local figure Megan Woods (born 1973), Labour Party MP for Wigram electorate
References