Sir Joseph James Kinsey (1852 – 5 May 1936) was a businessman, collector, and philanthropist from Christchurch, New Zealand.

He was deeply connected to the Antarctic expeditions of Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) and Captain Robert Falcon Scott (1868–1912).

Kinsey was born in Plumstead near London in 1852; at the time, his home town belonged to Kent.

[9] He was awarded the Scott Medal by the Royal Geography Society in 1914,[10] and in the 1919 New Year Honours,[11] Kinsey was knighted for his contributions to the Antarctic expeditions.

[13] His body was brought to Wellington, where he was cremated at Karori and his ashes interred at the adjoining cemetery.