Authors

Jonathan Adams

is a researcher in the Department of Historical Studies (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and senior editor at the Society for Danish Language and Literature (Copenhagen, Denmark). Originally from Dorset, UK, he lives with his family in the countryside near Copenhagen.

Burak Akbay

is a prominent illustrator and designer of children’s books who lives in Istanbul, Turkey. From his origins in creating comic fanzines, he now illustrates books full-time and loves comics, graphic novels and film noir.

Lara Albanese

was a pioneering physicist and educator who authorde of over 20 books about science for children, focusing on the cosmos. She was professor of physics at the Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy. Lara passed away in late 2020.

Website: https://test.oratia.co.nz/

Diego Albuquerque

is an editor and screenwriter who works in television and film in Rio de Janeiro. He became Brazil’s youngest published author when the first edition of his book Branquinho, O Dognauta was released in 1982.

Wallace Badham

compiled the handwritten and bound histories he entitled The Iron-Bound Coast after his retirement. Raised in Karekare, he retained a deep affection for the area and its history until his death in 2001.

Martin Bailey

is a well-known illustrator who has created numerous children’s books over a long career. He recently founded Black Chook Books, a publisher of pre-school books. After being based for many years in Muriwai, to the west of Auckland, Martin now lives in Gisborne.

Website: https://www.martinbailey.co.nz

Nicoletta Benella

is an illustrator, graphic designer and artisan originally from north-eastern Italy, where she worked for many years as a senior visual designer for the fashion house Benetton. She lives with her family in Hatfields Beach, Auckland.

Lorraine Berridge McLeod

came from a farming background, was a teacher, principal lecturer at AUT, dean of early childhood education in Auckland and then
associate professor of education in the United Arab Emirates. A long-time colleague of Sir Toby Curtis, she co-authored Toby Curtis — Unfinished Business:Ki Hea Āpōpō with him. Lorraine lives in Urenui, Taranaki.

Jill Bevan-Brown

is a former lecturer in Inclusive Education at Massey University in Palmerston North. She retired in 2014 to care for her husband Winston, who has advanced Lewy Body Dementia, the subject of her first picture book for children. They have 12 grandchildren, and live in Palmerston North.

Hona Black

(Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a lecturer at Te Pūtahi a Toi: School of Māori Knowledge at Massey University in Palmerston North. He has worked as the Senior Māori Adviser on Massey’s Wellington campus, and been Head of Te Reo Māori at Hato Pāora College in Feilding.

Trish Bowles

is a freelance artist using watercolour and pencils who balances her work between commissioned paintings and panels and her main love, illustrating children’s books. She has more than 30 children’s books to her name. Trish lives in Christchurch.

Elīna Brasliņa

is an award-winning illustrator who has almost 20 books to her name, mostly for children and young adults. She has translated numerous Latvian books into English. Also a printmaker and film production designer, she lives in Riga, Latvia.

Website: http://www.elinabraslina.com

Steve Braunias

is a journalist, editor, reviewer and publisher. He is a staff writer for the New Zealand Herald and literary editor for current affairs website Newsroom. The author of 12 books, Steve has won more than 40 national awards for writing. He lives in Herne Bay, Auckland.

Ross Calman

(Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Kāi Tahu) is a well-known author and editor; his works include the revised Reed Book of Māori Mythology and Reed Book of Māori Exploration, along with several Māori–English dictionaries. Ross lives in Wellington with his wife and two children. (Photo courtesy Auckland Libraries)

Sandra Carrod

Rosie Colligan

is a Wellington-based illustrator and graphic artist who has a Bachelor of Design majoring in illustration from Massey University. She illustrates for clients in New Zealand and internationally, and formerly worked at Weta Digital.

Rauhina Cooper

R.D. (Ron) Crosby

is a Blenheim-based lawyer who was a partner in the law firm Gascoigne Wicks, specialising in resource management and tribal claims in the South Island. Now working as a barrister and author, Ron was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2011. His other works include Gilbert Mair: Te Kooti’s Nemesis and NZSAS: The First Fifty Years.

Website: https://www.roncrosby.co.nz/

Sir Toby Curtis

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Curtis

Bob Darroch

has written and illustrated numerous children’s books over a 30-year career, including his bestselling Little Kiwi series. He previously worked in advertising and as a cartoonist. Bob lives in Temuka, South Canterbury.

Paola Della Valle

completed her doctorate in English at the Universita degli Studi di Torino in 2007, specialising in Maori literature. Teacher, researcher and promoter of writing and cinema, she lives in Turin, Italy.

Peter Dowling

is the publisher of Oratia Books. Brought up in Christchurch and resident in Auckland, he has authored and revised a number of books on place names, international business and culture, including the updated edition of A.W. Reed’s Place Names of New Zealand in 2010.

Melanie Drewery

(Ngāti Māhanga) is the author of more than 20 children’s books including several books in the Nanny Mihi series and the award-winning Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi. She takes inspiration from Aotearoa’s beach and bush. Melanie works as a writer and potter from her home in Māpua, Nelson.

Website: https://www.read-nz.org/writer/drewery-melanie

Tessa Duder

is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated children’s authors, and has written more than 40 books in genres from junior fiction to adult history. Among her best-known works are the Alex quartet and her biography of Margaret Mahy. She received the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement – Fiction in 2020. A keen sailor and advocate for children’s writing, she lives in Auckland.

Website: http://www.tessaduder.co.nz/

Tracy Duncan

is an author, illustrator and teacher who grew up on the Coromandel Peninsula but now lives in Upper Mouter, Nelson. She has illustrated and written a wide range of children’s books, including works in Melanie Drewery’s Nanny Mihi series.

Website: https://www.read-nz.org/writer/duncan-tracy

Brian Easton

is an eminent economist and statistician who is well known for his long-running columns in the Listener and Pundit. He has written extensively on many aspects of New Zealand’s economy, history and society, and is an honorary fellow or adjunct professor at six New Zealand universities. Brian lives in Wellington.

Website: https://www.pundit.co.nz/blogs/brian-easton

Gordon Ell

was a writer and publisher with a life-long interest in New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. He wrote more than 30 books for adults and children, and founded and managed the Bush Press. Gordon passed away in April 2021.

Sarah Ell

is an editor, writer and journalist who is the author of ten books. She has a Masters of Creative Writing from Auckland University and an innate love of New Zealand history and the environment. She lives with her family on Auckland’s North Shore.

Bronwyn Elsmore

is a recognised authority on Māori religions and early spiritual interaction with Christianity. Formerly a senior lecturer in religious studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, she is the author of works including Mana from Heaven and Te Kohititanga Marama. She lives in Auckland.

Website: http://www.flaxroots.com/

Stacy Eyles

(Ngāti Porou) is an art director, artist, and award-winning illustrator based in Wellington. He produces work in many different media, ranging from canvas and murals to clothing and television.

Jeff Evans

is a writer and photographer who works for clients in New Zealand and overseas. An authority on Māori canoes, Jeff is the author of numerous books, most recently Reawakened. He lives in Auckland.

Stephanie Huriana Fong

(Te Rarawa) is a registered translator of te reo Māori who also appears on Māori Television and in other media. She has translated several other books, including Rona Moon (Oratia Books, 2020). Stephanie lives with her whānau in Te Atatū, Auckland.

Steve Forbes

is a freelance writer who has a background in local journalism, and is also well known as a guitarist in bands including The Kingites. He lives with his family in New Lynn, Auckland.

Clive Fugill

(Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui) has the Master Carver at the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute for over 20 years. He has undertaken carving on numerous meeting houses, completed works around the world and trained many of this country’s leading workers in whakairo (wood carving).

Stefano Fusi

is a Florence provincial councillor and former mayor of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, who has written a number of books on the Chianti region, past and present. Married to a New Zealander, he compiled the book To the Gateways of Florence: New Zealand Forces in Tuscany 1944.

Len Gale

spent a lifetime committed to arts and crafts, the revival of local artforms, and social activism. Noted as a worker in bone, greenstone, metal and woodhe was the author of four books: Greenstone Carving, Wood Carving, Creative Metal and Technology Basics. Len passed away in Auckland in 2016 at the age of 89

Bradford Haami

(Ngāti Awa) is an established author, producer/director, scriptwriter and historian who has written extensively about Maori history and culture. His books include the bestselling True Red and the award-winning Ka Mau Te Wehi. After many years living with his family in West Auckland, Brad has now returned to his hometown of Whakatane.

Rongowhakaata Halbert

(1894–1973) was an authority on East Coast genealogy and history, and renowned for his command of te reo Maori. He was a member of many eminent boards, and adviser on Maori issues and language to bodies including the Maori Land Court, the Polynesian Society and the Department of Education.

Website: https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4h4/halbert-rongowhakaata-pere

Mary Harris

was Clerk of the House of Representatives of New Zealand from 2007 until her retirement in 2015. She was the first woman to be appointed to this role, following a distinguished state sector career. Mary edited the fourth edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand with current Clerk, David Wilson.

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Winifred_Harris

Paul Harrison

is the author or co-author of 11 published works on New Zealand aviation, with an emphasis on military aviation. Paul spent 35 years in the RNZAF, and was its unofficial historian. He has been editor of the RNZRSA Review and Aerolegacy, and a correspondent for Aviation News. He lives with his family in Paraparaumu.Wilson.

Sir Bob Harvey

is a well-known politician, civic leader and writer who was formerly mayor of Waitakere City. A prolific author, Bob is well known for books on Auckland’s West Coast (including Untamed Coast and Rolling Thunder), film and art. He edited Wallace Badham’s memoir The Iron-Bound Coast.

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Harvey_(mayor)

Vanessa Hatley-Owen

is a teacher support and mother of three who was shortlisted for the Storylines Joy Cowley Picture Book Manuscript Award in 2014. Vanessa is a member of Storylines and SCBWI, writes reviews for the Booksellers New Zealand blog, and previously wrote reviews for the US-based blog The Library Adventure. She lives in Howick, Auckland.

Te Rangi Hīroa (Sir Peter Buck)

Andreas J. Hirsch

is a writer, art curator and photographic artist who lives in Vienna, Austria. He has written widely on the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and been curator of the Hundertwasser Museum in Vienna. His other writings include books on Picasso, HR Giger, Beethoven, and ars electronica.

Website: https://www.andreas-hirsch.net/

Chris Hoult

is a senior photographer known for his haunting landscapes and social documentary work in books such as Home Free (on New Zealand house-truckers) and Out West: A Photographic Journey through Auckland’s West. Chris lives outside Dargaville, Northland.

Website: http://www.chphotography.co.nz/

Joan Joass

is a retired primary school teacher with science degrees in geology and chemistry and a career that includes being a wine-laboratory technician and a bus driver. This is her first picture book. Joan lives on Herald Island, West Auckland.

Darryn Joseph

(Ngāti Maniapoto) is a senior lecturer in Māori language at Massey University, Palmerston North, and the author of more than 23 books, mainly for Māori immersion education. Darryn is a trustee of Storylines and was a judge for the 2018 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.