| ARDERN | Jacinda ___, former New Zealand PM (6) |
| BOTICA | Frano ___, former New Zealand and Croatia rugby union player (6) |
| BROOKE | Zinzan ___ former New Zealand rugby player who played for the All Blacks and Auckland Blues |
| FORBES | George William ?, New Zealand prime minister from 1930-35 (6) |
| MASSEY | New Zealand Prime Minister who had a university named after him (6) |
| INTHEBAG | It's _ ___ ___: former New Zealand game show (2,3,3) |
| LOMU | Jonah ___, former New Zealand rugby player (4) |
| HADLEE | Former New Zealand cricketer got 50 with some ease, ultimately (6) |
| NELSEN | Ryan ...... . former New Zealand and Blackburn Rovers defender (6) |
| JOHN | Former New Zealand Prime Minister, ... Key |
| BILL | Sir... English, former New Zealand prime minister (4) |
| MIKEMOORE | Former New Zealand Prime Minister who died in 2020 (4,5) |
| ORAM | Jacob ___, former New Zealand Test cricketer who hit 101 against England at Lord's in 2008 (4) |
| LAIDLAW | Clark _ former New Zealand sevens coach, appointed head coach of the Hurricanes in 2023 (7) |
| ROBERTSON | Scott ___, former New Zealand rugby union coach and player nicknamed 'Razor' (9) |
| CLARKE | Jacinda Ardern's partner (6,7) |
| RICHIE | Former New Zealand and Crusaders flanker; first All Black to 100 caps (6) |
| NATHAN | Former New Zealand batsman who scored the fastest double century in Test cricket against England in Christchurch in 2002 |
| JACINDA | New Zealand PM Ardern |
| KIRK | The most recent New Zealand PM to die in office (4) |
