List of Famous people born in Manawatū-Whanganui Region, New Zealand

Donna Haliday is a New Zealand badminton player. In 2008, she won the mixed doubles title at the Oceania Championships in New Caledonia with Henry Tam. She also completed her success by winning the women's and mixed team gold, and making the women's team competed at the 2008 Uber Cup finals in Jakarta. In 2010, she competed at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Leonard Charles Brown is a former mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, and former head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland "Super City", and was re-elected in 2013. Brown had previously been elected mayor of Manukau City in October 2007, the second time he ran for that office. Brown is married to Shirley Anne "Shan" Inglis, and has three daughters: Samantha, Olivia and Victoria. As Mayor of Auckland, Brown was a vocal advocate for the City Rail Link and helped pass the city's first Unitary Plan.

Peter James Cullinane, was the first Catholic bishop of Palmerston North. He was appointed as Bishop of Palmerston North by Pope John Paul II on 6 March 1980 and was consecrated on 23 April 1980. He established the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as his seat of operations. He retired on 22 February 2012.

Simon Paul van Velthooven is a New Zealand track racing cyclist and America's Cup sailor.

Jesse Sergent is a retired New Zealand racing cyclist who rode professionally between 2011 and 2016 for Team RadioShack, Trek Factory Racing and AG2R La Mondiale.