[1] She was one of five children, and her father was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, and from a "well-known medical dynasty" the Munros of Auchinbowie.
[2][5] McArthur attended Feilding Convent School and then Erskine College in Wellington, where she won the Society of the Sacred Heart's international prize for excellence, the St Madeleine Sophie award.
[7] A wanted "prominent trade unionist", Luis Figueroa, broke into the embassy seeking asylum, and John McArthur smuggled him to the residence in the back of his car.
[7] Figueroa was joined by his girlfriend, and the couple were sheltered by the McArthurs for ten days before being passed over to the Swedish ambassador.
[4] In the 2012 New Year Honours, McArthur was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts.