Today’s birthdays:

Rongowhakaata (Rongo) Pere Halbert, New Zealand Maori tribal leader/ interpreter/historian/genealogist (18941973); Ethel Marion Gould, New Zealand politician (18951992); A.R.D. (Rex) Fairburn, New Zealand poet (190457); Sir Henry Wigley, New Zealand pilot/entrepreneur (191380); John Darwin Maling, New Zealand serviceman (19152009); Miroslav Smisek, New Zealand potter (19252013); Whatumoana Paki, Maori royal elder (19272011); Judith Viorst, US author (1931); David Jason, English actor (1940); Graham Nash, English singersongwriter (1942); Brent Spiner, US actor (1949); Christie Brinkley, US model (1954); Brian Tamaki, New Zealand evangelical leader (1958); Stephen McGann, British actor (1963); Shakira, Colombian singer (1977); Adam Christopher, New Zealand novelist (1978); Gemma Arterton, English actress (1986).