List of Famous people born in Palmerston North, New Zealand

John Morrison Clarke was a New Zealand-born comedian, writer and satirist who lived and worked in Australia from the late 1970s. He was a highly regarded actor and writer whose work appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in both radio and television and also in print.

Samuel Lawrence Whitelock is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a lock for the Crusaders in Super Rugby in New Zealand. Whitelock has captained the Crusaders and All Blacks in five international games, having earned selection for New Zealand through playing in the Mitre 10 Cup for Canterbury.

Brendon Hartley is a New Zealand professional racing driver who is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Aaron Luke Smith is a rugby union player who plays for New Zealand, the All Blacks, in international rugby. He plays at scrum-half in the team and is the most-capped scrum-half to ever play for New Zealand.

Warren Joseph Cole was a New Zealand rower who won an Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Scott Ludlam is a New Zealand born Australian former politician. A member of the Australian Greens, he was a senator in the Australian Senate from July 2008 to July 2017, and served as Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. Ludlam represented the state of Western Australia and resigned when it was found that he had been ineligible to sit in the Senate due to holding dual citizenship of New Zealand and Australia.

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

Grant Major is an Art director from New Zealand who is most famous for his work on The Lord of the Rings films. He won an Oscar for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Kerrin Harrison is a New Zealand badminton player. Along with Glenn Stewart he won a bronze medal in the badminton men's doubles at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.