65 Notable alumni of University of Waikato
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Waikato is ranked #665 in the world and #6 in New Zealand by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 65 notable alumni from University of Waikato sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Waikato won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Kathleen Wong Mei Yin
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Kathleen Wong Mei Yin is a political activist promoting unity and harmony in Perak, Malaysia. Previously, she served as an Economic and Political Officer for the Australian High Commission in Malaysia. She acts as a liaison for the Australian and Malaysian government. She is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a major component party of the Barisan Nasional...
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2. Camille Buscomb
1990-. (aged 36)
athletics competitor
Camille French is a New Zealand long-distance runner.
3. Elizabeth McKinley
academic
Elizabeth Ann McKinley ONZM is a New Zealand academic and as of 2019 is a full professor at the University of Melbourne.
4. Mere Berryman
academic
Mere Anne Berryman ONZM is a New Zealand kaupapa Māori academic. She is Māori, of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Whare descent and as of 2019 is a full professor at the University of Waikato.
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5. Jill Hooks
academic
Jillian Jeanette Hooks CNZM is a New Zealand accountancy academic. She was a professor at Massey University and published a number of books and papers on accounting and financial reporting. In December 2024, Hooks was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to accountancy and education.
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6. Pareaute Nathan
teacher
weaver
Pareaute Polly Nathan QSM is a New Zealand Māori educator and weaver. In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, for services to Māori and education.
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7. Jane Gilbert
1955-. (aged 71)
researcher
Dr. Jane Gilbert is an educationalist in New Zealand. She was the Chief Researcher of New Zealand Council for Educational Research. From 2014, Jane was appointed as a professor of education at Auckland University of Technology.
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8. Anjali Thakker
1993-. (aged 33)
ice hockey player
Anjali Dayalji Mulari is a New Zealand ice hockey forward and inline hockey player. She is a member of the New Zealand women's national ice hockey team, Auckland Steel Ice Hockey Team and the Hamilton Devils Inline Hockey Team. Her previous teams include CHL Aranda de Duero of the Spanish Senior Women's Liga Elite, Ris-Orangis in France and Köping in...
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9. Abigail Smith
academic
marine scientist
Abigail Smith is a professor in marine sciences at Otago University in Dunedin.
10. Angus Macfarlane
psychologist
Angus Hikairo Macfarlane CNZM FRSNZ was a New Zealand academic and professor at the University of Canterbury.
11. Zoe Stevenson
1991-. (aged 35)
rower
Zoe Stevenson is a New Zealand rower. She won gold in the women's double sculls with Fiona Bourke at the 2014 World Rowing Championships.
12. Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
1949-. (aged 77)
researcher
curator
writer
university teacher
LGBTQ rights activist
Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku MNZM is a New Zealand academic specialising in Māori cultural issues and a lesbian activist. In 1972, she was famously denied a visa to visit the United States on the basis of her sexuality.
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13. Judy McGregor
1948-. (aged 78)
university teacher
jurist
journalist
Dame Judith Helen McGregor DNZM is a New Zealand lawyer, journalist, public servant and academic. She is currently a full professor at Auckland University of Technology.
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14. Tony Parr
1955-. (aged 71)
naval officer
Rear Admiral Anthony Jonathan Parr, ONZM, MVO was the Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy from April 2009 to November 2012. He was succeeded by Rear Admiral Jack Steer.
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15. Ross Malcolm Jansen
1932-2010 (aged 78)
Sir Ross Malcolm Jansen KBE JP was a New Zealand local-body politician. He served as mayor of Hamilton from 1977 to 1989. He was an expert in local government, held a variety of positions, was academically acknowledged, and received a number of honours.
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16. Linda Waimarie Nikora
academic
psychologist
Linda Waimarie Nikora FRSNZ is a New Zealand psychology academic. She is Māori, of Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngāi Tūhoe descent. She is currently professor of Indigenous Studies and co-director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga at the University of Auckland, having moved in 2017 from the University of Waikato where she had been a professor of psychology and...
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17. Gerard J. Milburn
1958-. (aged 68)
physicist
university teacher
Gerard James Milburn is an Australian theoretical quantum physicist notable for his work on quantum feedback control, quantum measurements, quantum information, open quantum systems, and Linear optical quantum computing (aka the Knill, Laflamme and Milburn scheme).
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18. Paula Southgate
Paula Anne Southgate is a New Zealand politician. She has held several positions in local government since 2001. In October 2019 she was elected the Mayor of Hamilton and was re-elected in October 2022.
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19. Alyn Ware
1962-. (aged 64)
peace activist
jurist
Alyn Ware (born 21 March 1962) is a New Zealand peace educator and campaigner in the areas of peace, non-violence, nuclear abolition, international law, women's rights, children's rights and the environment. He has served as the Global Coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament since it was founded in 2002.
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20. Hannah Osborne
1994-. (aged 32)
rower
Hannah Osborne is a New Zealand rower. A member of the national squad, she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In a surprise move, she was selected in the double scull alongside Brooke Donoghue, displacing the reigning twice world champion Olivia Loe. Osborne and Donoghue raced to a silver medal in Tokyo.
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21. Christopher Pugsley
1947-. (aged 79)
historian
Christopher John Pugsley ONZM is a New Zealand military historian. He is published as Chris Pugsley and Christopher Pugsley.
22. Martin Gallagher
1952-. (aged 74)
teacher
politician
Martin Owen Gallagher JP is a former New Zealand politician and was a member of Parliament representing the Hamilton West electorate from 1993 until 1996, as well as, from 1999 until 2008. A member of the Labour Party. He went on to serve as a Hamilton City Councillor for the West Ward as well as Deputy Mayor of Hamilton from...
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23. Mike Sosene-Feagai
1993-. (aged 33)
rugby union player
Mike Sosene-Feagai is a rugby union player who currently plays hooker for SU Agen. He was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, and now lives in the United States and plays internationally for the United States national rugby union team.
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24. Angie Warren-Clark
1971-. (aged 55)
political candidate
barrister
solicitor
politician
Angela Maree Warren-Clark is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.
25. Marston Conder
1955-. (aged 71)
mathematician
Marston Donald Edward Conder ONZM is a New Zealand mathematician, a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Auckland University, and the former co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. His main research interests are in combinatorial group theory, graph theory, and their connections with each other.
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26. Howard Carmichael
1950-. (aged 76)
theoretical physicist
Howard John Carmichael is a British-born New Zealand theoretical physicist specialising in quantum optics and the theory of open quantum systems. He was the Dan Walls Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland and a principal investigator of the Dodd-Walls Centre. He is now Emeritus Professor. Carmichael has played a role in the development of the field of quantum...
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27. Mita Ririnui
politician
Mita Michael Ririnui is a former New Zealand politician and a member of the Labour Party. He was a member of parliament from 1999 to 2011.
28. Annabelle White
journalist
Annabelle White is a New Zealand food writer and author of eleven cookbooks. She was a long time food columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and also wrote the Food Detective column. She is the former food editor for NZ House & Garden and in October 2011 joined the New Zealand Woman's Weekly as Food Editor. She also runs cooking classes...
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29. Janine Krippner
volcanologist
Janine Krippner is a physical volcanologist from New Zealand who uses remote sensing to study pyroclastic flows and is a popular science communicator.
30. Julie Hardaker
1960-. (aged 66)
lawyer
Julie Hardaker was the Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand, from October 2010 to October 2016. Born in New Zealand, she was self-employed in Australia in the 1980s. After graduating from the University of Waikato, she joined the Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Chapman and became a partner and held senior management roles. She is involved in various community and business...
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31. Jessica Draskau-Petersson
1977-. (aged 49)
marathon runner
Jessica Draskau Petersson is a Danish long-distance runner. Her fastest marathon time was set at the 2015 Bank of America Chicago marathon, where she ran a time of 2:30:07. She competed in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Olympic Marathon in Rio She finished eighth in the marathon at the 2014 European Athletics Championships.
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32. Ally Wollaston
2001-. (aged 25)
sport cyclist
track cyclist
Ally Wollaston is a New Zealand professional track racing cyclist and road cyclist riding for FDJ United–Suez. She was a double-medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is the first New Zealand rider to win two titles at the same track World Championships.
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33. Paul Hunt
writer
Paul Hunt is British-New Zealand human rights expert who specialises in economic, social and cultural rights. Between 2019–2024, he held the office of Chief Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.
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34. Wendy Larner
1963-. (aged 63)
university teacher
geographer
social scientist
Wendy Larner FAcSS FLSW FRSNZ FNZGS is a New Zealand social scientist who has focussed on the interdisciplinary areas of globalisation, governance and gender. She has been Vice-Chancellor and President of Cardiff University since September 2023.
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35. Stacey Waaka
1995-. (aged 31)
rugby sevens player
rugby union player
Stacey Jamie Aroha Kirsten Waaka is a New Zealand rugby league player who plays at wing for New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW.
36. Nathan Cohen
1986-. (aged 40)
rower
Nathan Phillip Cohen MNZM is a New Zealand rower. He is a two-time world champion, and won a gold medal in the Olympics. In 2006, rowing a single scull, he won a gold medal at the World University Games. In doing so, he became the first New Zealander to win a gold medal at the World University Games in any...
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37. Louise Upston
1971-. (aged 55)
politician
political candidate
Louise Claire Upston MP is a New Zealand politician. She was elected as a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Taupō, representing the National Party, in the 2008 general election.
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38. Fletcher Tabuteau
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Fletcher Hoporona Tabuteau is a New Zealand politician and former Member of Parliament. He was elected as a list MP for the New Zealand First party from 2014 to 2020 and was deputy leader of the party from 2018 to 2020.
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39. Willow-Jean Prime
politician
political candidate
Willow-Jean Prime is a New Zealand politician. She was first elected a Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives at the 2017 general election as a list representative of the New Zealand Labour Party. She was elected as the Member of Parliament for Northland at the 2020 general election and was re-elected as a list MP in 2023.
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40. Theresa Gattung
1962-. (aged 64)
businessperson
chief executive officer
Dame Theresa Elizabeth Gattung DNZM is a New Zealand businessperson and the former chief executive of Telecom New Zealand (1993–2007).
41. Emma Twigg
1987-. (aged 39)
rower
Emma Kimberley Twigg MNZM is a New Zealand rower. A single sculler, she was the 2014 world champion and won gold in her fourth Olympics in Tokyo in July 2021. Previous Olympic appearances were in 2008 (ninth place), 2012 (fourth place), and 2016 (fourth place). She has retired from rowing twice, first for master-level studies in Europe in 2015 and...
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42. Rob Waddell
1975-. (aged 51)
rower
rugby union player
Robert Norman Waddell ONZM is a New Zealand Olympic Gold Medalist and double World Champion Single sculler rower, and America's Cup yachtsman. He is a triple New Zealand Supreme 'Halberg Awards' Sportsperson of the year winner, 1998 to 2000. He holds the fourth fastest 2000 metre indoor rowing machine time in the world, clocking a time of 5 mins 36.6...
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43. Marilyn Waring
1952-. (aged 74)
women's rights activist
economist
university teacher
farmer
environmentalist
Dame Marilyn Joy Waring DNZM is a New Zealand public policy scholar, international development consultant, former politician, environmentalist, feminist and a principal founder of feminist economics.
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44. Mark Wilson
1966-. (aged 60)
entrepreneur
manager
Mark Andrew Wilson is a New Zealand businessman, who was chief executive officer (CEO) of Aviva from 2013 to 2018.
45. Annette King
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
Dame Annette Faye King DNZM is a New Zealand former politician and diplomat. She served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011, and from 2014 until 1 March 2017. She was a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth and Fifth Labour Governments, and was the MP for the Rongotai...
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46. Nándor Tánczos
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Nándor Steven Tánczos is a New Zealand politician and activist. He is the mayor of Whakatāne since 2025.
47. Derek Sikua
1959-. (aged 67)
politician
David Derek Sikua served as the prime minister of Solomon Islands from 20 December 2007 to 25 August 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.
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48. Wayne Smith
1957-. (aged 69)
rugby union player
Sir Wayne Ross Smith KNZM is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He has won three Rugby World Cups; he was an assistant coach with New Zealand's men's team, the All Blacks, who won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, and as head coach of the New Zealand women's team, the Black Ferns, won the 2021 World...
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49. Tim Macindoe
politician
Timothy Harley Macindoe is a New Zealand politician who has served as the mayor of Hamilton since 2025. Macindoe was previously a Member of Parliament for the Hamilton West electorate from 2008 to 2020. He served as the Minister of Customs for the final six months of the Fifth National Government.
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50. Louisa Wall
1972-. (aged 54)
rugby union player
netballer
politician
Louisa Hareruia Wall is a New Zealand former double international sportswoman, former politician, and human rights advocate. She represented New Zealand in both netball as a Silver Fern from 1989 to 1992 and in rugby union as a member of the Black Ferns from 1995 to 2001, including as a member of the 1991 World Netball Championships runner-up team and...
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51. Hekia Parata
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Patricia Hekia Parata is a former New Zealand public servant, diplomat, and politician.
52. Shane Reti
1963-. (aged 63)
badminton player
politician
badminton executive and administrator
political candidate
physician
Shane Raymond Reti QSM MP is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and a Cabinet Minister with the roles of Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Minister of Universities and Minister of Statistics. He was first elected at the 2014 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP)...
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53. Te Ururoa Flavell
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Te Ururoa James William Ben Flavell, also known as Hemi Flavell, is a New Zealand politician.
54. Manasseh Sogavare
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Manasseh Damukana Sogavare is a Solomon Islander politician who served as prime minister of Solomon Islands for a total of nine years from 2000–2001, 2006–2007, 2014–2017, and 2019–2024. Sogavare has served in the National Parliament representing East Choiseul since 1997. He also served as minister of finance from 1997–1998, 2017–2019, and 2024–2025.
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55. Jerry Mateparae
1954-. (aged 72)
military personnel
politician
Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah Mateparae GNZM QSO KStJ is a former New Zealand soldier who served as the 20th governor-general of New Zealand between 2011 and 2016, the second Māori person to hold the office, after Sir Paul Reeves. A former officer in the New Zealand Army, he was the Chief of the Defence Force from 2006 to 2011, and...
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56. Stephen Donald
1983-. (aged 43)
rugby union player
Stephen Rex Donald is a retired New Zealand rugby union player who played for the NEC Green Rockets in the Japanese Top League. A first five-eighth or centre, he won 24 international caps for New Zealand. Nicknamed 'Beaver', he is best known for kicking the winning penalty in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.
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57. Todd Muller
1968-. (aged 58)
politician
Todd Michael Muller is a New Zealand former politician who served as the Leader of the New Zealand National Party and the Leader of the Opposition from 22 May to 14 July 2020. Muller entered Parliament at the 2014 general election. He was elected as the MP for the Bay of Plenty electorate, which held until his retirement at the...
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58. Joscha Bach
1973-. (aged 53)
computer scientist
Joscha Bach is a German cognitive scientist, AI researcher, and philosopher known for his work on cognitive architectures, artificial intelligence, mental representation, emotion, social modeling, multi-agent systems, and philosophy of mind. His research aims to bridge cognitive science and AI by studying how human intelligence and consciousness can be modeled computationally.
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59. Marama Davidson
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
political candidate
Marama Mere-Ana Davidson is a New Zealand politician who has served as a co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand since 2018.
60. Pete Bethune
1965-. (aged 61)
explorer
Captain Peter James Bethune is a New Zealand ship's captain with 500 ton master licence, published author, producer of The Operatives TV show, and public speaker. He is the founder of Earthrace Conservation. He works assisting countries in Asia, Central America and Africa with fisheries enforcement and anti-poaching. He is the holder of the world record for circumnavigating the globe...
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61. Jacinda Ardern
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern GNZM is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was a member of Parliament (MP) as a list MP from 2008 to 2017 and for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023.
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62. Warren Gatland
1963-. (aged 63)
rugby union coach
rugby union player
Warren David Gatland CBE is a New Zealand former rugby union player and the former head coach of the Wales national team.
63. Priscilla M. Wehi
biologist
researcher
ecologist
Priscilla M. Wehi is a New Zealand ethnobiologist and conservation biologist. As at July 2021 she is an associate professor at the University of Otago and on the first of that month officially undertook the role of director of Te Pūnaha Matatini, a centre of research excellence in complex systems and data analytics. During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand...
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64. Abdulla Jihad
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Abdulla Jihad is a Maldivian politician who served as vice president of the Maldives from 22 June 2016 to 17 November 2018. Prior to his appointment on 22 June 2016, he served as the minister of finance.
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65. Shaista Shameem
lawyer
Shaista Shameem is a Fijian lawyer. She was the director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission from 2002 to 2007, and its director and chairperson from 2007 to 2009. A graduate of the University of the South Pacific, she holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Waikato and a Masters in Law from the University of Auckland. She...
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