The Herald’s 10 greatest New Zealanders

The Herald has been going 150 years (happy birthday) and profiles the 10 greatest New Zealanders of the last 150 years, as they see it. They are:

• Wiremu Tamihana
• Ernest Rutherford
• Katherine Mansfield
• Michael Joseph Savage
• Edmund Hillary
• Wiremu Tamihana
• Kate Sheppard
• Apirana Ngata
• Jean Batten
• Whina Cooper
• Richie McCaw

Such choices are always subjective. I always regard Peter Fraser as the force behind Michael Joseph Savage, and that Fraser was in fact the more successful Labour Prime Minister.

With respect I don’t know how they can put Richie McCaw on the last. And I say that as someone who thinks he is great (and suspect he is hugely embarrassed at his inclusion). He is an amazing rugby player, and a great captain, but one of the 10 greatest New Zealanders of the last 150 years?

I can only presume the Herald were desperate to include someone whom younger New Zealanders had heard of and could identify with.