John Craig Venter 

(October 14, 1946 – April 29, 2026) 

He is known for having led one of the first draft sequences of the human genome and led the first team to transfect a cell with a synthetic chromosome.

On this day in 1830 the so-called ‘Girls‘ War’ was fought between northern and southern Ngāpuhi hapū at Kororāreka (Russell).

Up to 100 people were killed or wounded in the fighting, after which the northern alliance took control of the important settlement.

The conflict had its roots in inter-hapū rivalry and competition for European trade. It was sparked by a fight among some young high-born women, including wives of a European whaler, W.D. Brind. A minor incident led to an exchange of threats between hapū. Events took a violent turn when a woman was accidentally shot.

Jesse Louis Jackson
(October 8, 1941 – February 17, 2026)
American civil rights activist, politician, and ordained Baptist minister.

Catherine Anne O’Hara
(March 4, 1954 – January 30, 2026)
Canadian and American actress, comedian, and screenwriter

Beetlejuice 1988
Home Alone 1990
etc

Scott Raymond Adams 

(June 8, 1957 – January 13, 2026) 

Creator of the Dilbert comic strip

Grant Bernard Batty 

(31 August 1951 – 16 January 2026) 

New Zealand rugby union footballer. Batty played domestically for Wellington and Bay of Plenty. Nicknamed “Batts”, he was also known as “Twinkle Toes” or “Pocket Rocket” for his small size, explosive acceleration, and fearless combative approach. His rugby career was cut short by a knee injury, leading to his retirement in 1977 at age 25.

Sir Timothy Richard Shadbolt KNZM JP 

(19 February 1947 – 8 January 2026) 

Mayor of Waitemata City from 1983 to 1989
Mayor of Invercargill from 1993 to 1995 and 1998 to 2022