Who was the first person to invent the pavlova?

The origin of the pavlova, a meringue-based dessert, is often attributed to both Australia and New Zealand, with both countries claiming to have invented it. The dessert is named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. The first documented recipe appeared in a New Zealand cookbook in 1926, suggesting it may have originated there. However, the debate over its true origins remains a point of national pride for both countries.