Charles Halstead was born in Auckland on 11 September 1913. His father, Regement Dines Halstead, was company manager of the NZ Union Shipping Company, and his mother was Ivy Davies, née MacNab. He went to school at Timaru Boys' High School, and then to Otago Medical School. He held junior posts in Dunedin and Timaru. Then he came to England and was demonstrator of anatomy at Cambridge in 1939 and surgeon at Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End. From 1941 to 1945 he served in the NZRAMC, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was surgeon to Guadalcanal Hospital. He returned to surgical practice at Timaru Hospital. His practice included delivering over 3000 babies, as well as general surgery. He continued in general practice after retirement and until his death. He was medical officer to the Jockey Club, Rugby Union and Hunt in South Canterbury, and worked hard to establish Bidwell Trust Hospital. He was much respected for his competence and dedication, and for the help he gave to his juniors. His hobbies included tennis, squash, billiards, snooker, golf and reading. He died on 23 May 1992, survived by his wife, Joyce May Patrick, whom he married on 23 January 1942, and their two sons, Charles and David, and daughter Patricia, who became a nurse.