Role models
Where can I find information about role models and how to choose one?
(Years 5-8)
Image: Dame Valerie Adams, of Auckland, DNZM, for services to athletics by Government House on The Governor-General of New Zealand. Public domain. Image cropped.
Entry last updated: 20/05/26
Introduction
A role model is a person that you look up to, respect, and want to be like. You get to choose your own role models based on the kind of person you want to be. This means you might choose someone because of their behaviour, their achievements, or other good qualities that inspire you. These people might have things in common with you, like where they live or their interests or dreams. Or they might be completely different. It's up to you to decide what you want to look for in a role model.
General websites
Role models can be people you know like family or friends, but you can be inspired by people that you haven't met.
Use these Many Answers entries to find out about some well-known people around the world:
There are many people who have done good or important things, both now and in history. These websites can help you discover them.
This website has information about lots of people who are well-known for different things, like acting, business, sport, and science. The selection of famous people might not have information on your chosen role model.
Look under Keys to Success and select Find my Role Model.
Choose the sort of person you want to learn about using the drop-down lists.
Or use the magnifying glass at the top right of the screen to search for a name or profession, like 'Aretha Franklin', or 'musician'.
Tips: Websites with .org or .net in the address can have useful info, but you need to check that it’s reliable. Check the About link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the organisation’s mission and values are.
This is an EPIC resource. EPIC is a collection of reliable databases covering lots of different topics. It’s put together especially for New Zealand school students.
Choose a level you want to explore. We recommend starting with Primary, but you can change your level later.
Scroll down the page and click on Biographies.
Tips: To use the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians. Your public library may have some EPIC databases too.
Ducksters is an educational website with information that is easy to read. It includes fun facts and activities.
Select the Biography button near the top of the page.
Use the headings to guide you to the type of person you are looking for, like world leaders, explorers, artists, or sports people.
Select a name to find their biography, like Mother Teresa.
Tips: Some sites have ads which tell us to buy something or ‘click here’. It’s best to ignore them and focus on what we’re looking for.
New Zealand websites
You might like to explore role models that are closer to home. These Many Answers entries are about well-known people in New Zealand:
You can also check out these sites to get ideas for Māori and New Zealand role models.
This site has some great examples of everyday role models in different types of careers. It's from the Tertiary Education Commission and aims to inspire young people to think about what jobs they want to do.
Look under Be a role model | Kia pai ō tauira.
Choose a story that interests you.
Tips: This site is for people signing up to be role models so a lot of information is aimed at adults.
This is an online booklet in te reo Māori from the New Zealand Ministry of Education. It has short stories of people from here and around the world, including Te Rauparaha, Malala Yousafzai, Usain Bolt and Jory Akuhata.
Tips: To make the booklet bigger, go to the three dots underneath and select 'Enter full screen'.
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
This website is part of Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, an excellent site for New Zealand topics. This site includes around 500 biographies that are in te reo Māori.
Enter a name into the search bar, like 'Edmund Hillary'.
Or enter an occupation like 'swimmer' or 'rugby player'.
Tips: Use this resource for biographies of people who are no longer alive.
This website has some short biographies of New Zealanders who have changed or impacted the world.
Find the Legends List on the left side of the page and choose a name, like Nancy Wake or Ernest Rutherford.
Or look under the Legends Index to search by what people are famous for, like Originators (inventors).
Tips: Websites that have .com or .co in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About link on the website. That can tell you what the company’s mission and values are.
Books
Here are a few suggestions for books about role models. Ask your school or local librarian to help you find others.
Not all heroes wear capes by Ben Brooks.
How to be extraordinary by Rashmi Sirdeshpande.
New Zealand hall of fame : 50 remarkable Kiwis by Maria Gill.
Māori role models : inspirational kōrero from inspirational Māori by Te Aorangi Harrington and Paora Tibble.
Go girl : a storybook of epic NZ women by Barbara Else.
Boy oh boy by Cliff Leek.
SCIS no: 1952342
Topics covered
Related content
Inventors/inventions (NZ)
Where can I find information about New Zealand inventors and their inventions?
Sir Apirana Ngata (1874–1950)
Where can I find information about Sir Apirana Ngata?
Famous people (NZ)
Where can I find information about famous people in New Zealand?
Charles Upham (1908–1994)
Where can I find information about Sir Charles Upham?
Jean Batten (1909–1982)
Where can I find information about Jean Batten?
Māori leaders and heroes
Where can I find information about Māori leaders and heroes?
Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–2008)
Where can I find information about Sir Edmund Hillary?
Explorers and exploration
Where can I find information about famous explorers and where they explored?
Inventors and inventions
Where can I find information about different inventors and what they invented?
Dame Whina Cooper (1895–1994)
Where can I find information about Dame Whina Cooper and the land march of 1975?
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Where can I find information about Nelson Mandela?
Sir Peter Blake (1948–2001)
Where can I find information about Sir Peter Blake?
Leadership
Where can I find information about leaders and leadership?
Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937)
Where can I find information about Ernest Rutherford?
Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022)
Where can I find information about Queen Elizabeth II?