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Heroes and Superheroes

Kate Sheppard and Apirana Ngata are real heroes in comparison to fictional superhero characters. Explore bravery and achievements in war, peace, sport, science and community includes child, animal and humanitarian super heroes. SCIS no. 1838545

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Meet some incredible conservation heroes!

Infomation and photos of six animal activists from all around the world.

Canterbury heroes

Canterbury heroes

Men and women whose achievements are remembered with pride and pleasure.

New Zealand and the Victoria Cross

List of information sources on New Zealand's Victoria Cross winners

Reluctant hero

Documentary covering the presentation of the Victoria Cross to Corporal Willie Apiata.

Timaru's heroes

Timaru's heroes

Statues in Timaru commemorate several New Zealand heroes with local connections. Bob Fitzsimmons was a world champion boxer; athletics star Jack Lovelock won Olympic gold and broke the world record...

Farm dog hero

Lily the farm dog saves sheep from fire.

Heroes of Crete

Film clip in which New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser honours the men of the 2nd New Zealand Division who took part in the Crete campaign, May-June 1941.

Humanitarian hero

Humanitarian hero

Sir Edmund Hillary’s humanitarian work in Nepal.

Hero eye doctor

Hero eye doctor

Professor Fred Hollows saved the sight of thousands of underprivileged people.

Unsung heroes

Caitlin Smith speaks to parents of children with disabilities.

Hero stories of New Zealand

Short heroic stories from 1935.

Fireman Sam and Captain America

Fireman Sam and Captain America

Heroes and Villains Day at Central Library Peterborough. Saturday 25 June 2016. File Reference: 2016-06-25-IMG_2137 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries

Batman Arkham Knight

Batman Arkham Knight

Review of the video game Batman Arkham Knight.

Skankenstein

Martial arts, levitating heroes and mysterious asteroids all feature in this animated mini-epic. The superhero stylings meld well with this keyboard-driven Kora track, which has been sweetened with...

Geek girl superhero

Founder of Australian Tech Girl Superhero encourages girls to join IT workforce.

Lapwing

Lapwing and Mousegirl join camp to take on evil Dr Curem.

Phantom

The very first costumed superhero.

Popeye

Popeye the Sailor Man gained superhuman strength eating spinach.

Supergirl and Mount Taranaki

Supergirl and Mount Taranaki

Inkjet print of original Graham Kirk painting "Supergirl and Mount Taranaki". It depicts Supergirl, the female counterpart to Superman, crouched in a lush green landscape with Mount Taranaki in the...

Taranga

In 1982 Robyn Kahukiwa, of Ngati Porou, Te Aitangaa-Hauiti, Ngati Konohi and Te Whanui-o-Ruataupare descent, was awarded a Maori and South Pacific Arts Council grant to undertake a series of painti...

Māori Heroes

A set featuring Māori heroes over the ages.

The story of John Pohe

The story of John Pohe

The story of John Pohe, Maori fighter pilot and war hero who was part of the Great Escape is now the subject of a graphic novel for children.

Von Tempsky's ghost

Von Tempsky's ghost

Mike King presents the story of Gustavus Von Tempsky: swashbuckling colonial soldier of fortune, "flamboyant folk hero" and "our first pin up boy". The Prussian-born artist, self-promoter, romantic...

Māori leaders and heroes

Māori leaders and heroes

There are many past and present Māori leaders and Māori heroes whose achievements and special qualities make them stand out.

Get involved in the conversation

Get involved in the conversation

This woolly hero medal was made on the anniversary of the 4thof September 2010 earthquake.

Charles Upham

The title page of the biography of Charles Upham, Mark of the lion, portrayed him, not as a soldier where he achieved his fame, but at home on his farm in New Zealand. The implication was that Upha...

Bravery awards system

Bravery awards system in New Zealand.

Real life superpowers

How far are we from real-life superpowers?

Fun facts about superheroes.

Unappreciated animal heroes

Celebrating the roles of some undervalued animals in children’s literature.

Fantastic characters

Lesson plan on analysing and creating superheroes and villains.

Malala Yousafzai

Featuring Malala Yousafzai, the girl who got shot for standing up for women’s rights.

The hero project

Searching for universal characteristics of heroes in mythology.

Marvel superheroes

Introduction to the heroes, teams and bad guys of Marvel.

New Zealand gallantry and bravery awards

Eight gallantry and bravery awards instituted in New Zealand in 1999.

World humanitarian day

The need for more humanitarian heroes.

Real life heroes

Videos of Real Life Heroes and their contributions to society.

Heroes from children’s literature

Fun kid heroes from children’s books over time.

What is a hero?

Explore ideas related to heroism.

Directory of stories

Hero stories from different walks of life.

Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu

Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu

Ngarimu joined the army in February 1940. He soon became second lieutenant and platoon leader in the Māori Battalion.

Local heroes

Kate Sheppard and Kristine Bartlett are the two heroes in this image. Kate Sheppard led the fight for women’s suffrage in New Zealand. As a result the Electoral Act 1893 was passed in both houses o...

Heroes of the Dardanelles

Heroes of the Dardanelles

The Dardanelles is an English name for a narrow strait of water between Asian Turkey and European Turkey. In March 1915 during World War 1, British and French forces (the Allies) launched an attack...

Superman returns

Superman returns

Superman is about to enter a cinema to watch a film called ‘Superman Returns.’ The family outside does not think this is a good use of his time and that he should be helping people in Afghanistan, ...

Charles Hazlitt Upham

Charles Hazlitt Upham

Charles Upham joined the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force soon after World War 2 began. He was one of only three people to have been awarded the Victoria Cross twice for bravery.

Māori Heroes

These resources cover mythical Maori heroes like Maui, and Kupe, famous warriors like Willie Apiata and Hōne Heke, historical figures like Princess Te Puea and Apirana Ngata, Maori All Blacks, musi...

Leaders and People

Leaders and People

Sir Peter Blake, Mao Zedong and Nelson Mandela led people in very different ways. Explore what makes a leader famous and the many areas of leadership, including New Zealand, science, politics, spor...

Women in Aotearoa

Women in Aotearoa

Women have made their mark in Aotearoa through sports, the boardroom, politics and also as academics, writers, leaders and artists. Research how feminist movements fought for voting rights, equal p...

Who’s who in detective comic land.

Pele the fire goddess

An animated video of the legend Pele the Fire Goddess – a Pacific Legend and hero.

NZ local hero of the year

The award recognises the contribution of Kiwis who selflessly work to make their local communities a better place.

Britannica School

Find more information on this topic on Britannica School Epic. School login maybe required.

Best superhero books for kids

The books on this list created by Common-Sense Media are packed with action, adventure, fantasy, and world-saving heroes.

Dav Pilkey at home

Activities and fun from comic creator and author Dav Pilkey. Get creative with some of your favourite characters like Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

War animals and the purple poppy

Ceasar the bulldog became the first New Zealand animal to be awarded a Blue Cross medal for his service and bravery during the First World War.

Search for information on a range of subjects including heroes, superheroes and comic creators such as Stan Lee.

Search for information on a range of subjects including famous heroes from the past and present.

Marvel characters

Heroes and villains from the house of Marvel.

What makes a hero?

What trials unite not only Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins but many of literature's most interesting heroes?

A humorous play about some superheroes and their meeting with a hideous alien and a ravenous, eight-legged Octoclod. [Six characters]

Huria Matenga, hero of Whakatu

The year is 1863 and a ship, the Delaware, is in trouble in a great storm off the coast of Nelson. Huria Matenga and her whanau live close by and hear the sailors cries.

Hero is a gripping account of how fifteen-year-old Caine Spick saved the life of a small boy caught in an ocean rip - an act for which he received the New Zealand Bravery Medal.

Kiwis in the face of tragedy - from Christchurch to White Island to Southland.