Authors

Biology and the natural environment captivate Andrea. She has zoology degrees from Waikato and Oxford universities, and did her doctoral studies at the latter on stress in chickens. She edits for other authors, but mainly writes features about science-related topics for publications such as the 'New Zealand Listener', focusing on the tricky balance - or lack of - between humans and nature. Andrea lives with her family in Hamilton and loves reading, bush walking, growing food and keeping chickens.

Merenia Gray (Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne, Tainui, Pākehā) is an arts entrepreneur currently working as an adviser for Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage in Sector Performance of Crown Entities. Nationally and internationally, her artistic career as an awardwinning choreographer, dancer, teacher and arts sector leader spanned thirty five years. Merenia's whanau has a long and illustrious legacy of excellence within Aotearoa and the legal and arts sectors.

No biography

Sophie Gray is the inspiration behind destitute gourmet and the 'dg' series of cookery books and www.destitutegourmet.com. She is a popular speaker and teacher on food, family life and finances, and is a regular contributor to food magazines. Her family-friendly recipes are easy to make, tasty, healthy and affordable, and frequently include gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives. Menu planning, smart shopping tips, how to use leftovers, and advice on eating in season are fundamentals. She is married to Richard, and they have two grown children, Isabella and Jack. Sophie works fulltime communicating the destitute gourmet philosophy from their home in Auckland, New Zealand.

No biography

Lynda Gray is a freelance journalist with a special interest in agriculture and primary industry. Born in South Otago, she spent many hours helping on her family’s sheep and beef farm. She completed an agricultural commerce degree at Lincoln University in the mid-1980s, worked in the wool industry and travelled overseas before completing a Diploma in Journalism. Since 1993 she has contributed to several farming-related media, including Country-Wide, which incorporates The Deer Farmer magazine. Lynda has three adult children and lives on a lifestyle block near Alexandra with her husband Cam.

David Gray is a governance expert who has worked with Māori organisations for the past 20 years. As principal of Kia Tū Rangatira Ai Consulting, he has been a consultant and coach to a large number of Māori entities, from the largest iwi governance bodies to very small marae- and hapū-based entities. He has been CEO of three Māori organisations and is currently a trustee of a post-settlement governance entity. In addition, he has advised various arms of the Crown on the subject of governing Māori organisations. David is based in Tuakau, and his work takes him to all corners of Aotearoa.

No biography

Born in Solihull, UK, Ed Greaves now resides in Auckland, New Zealand. Besides pouring his imagination out into the pages of his books, he also spends his time developing indie horror games, composing music, building and modifying old vehicles, and drawing. And sometimes teaching history. Feel free to follow Ed on Twitter - https://twitter.com/GreavesEc

Anna Green is an Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington's Stout Research Centre for NZ Studies. Anna specialises in memory and oral history using an interdisciplinary approach drawn from psychology, anthropology, sociology and literature. Anna serves as president of The National Oral History Association of New Zealand and contributes to various international scholarly associations and journals. Megan Hutching is a freelance historian specialising in oral history. She has produced six books in the 'New Zealanders Remember' series, including most recently, Last Line of Defence: New Zealanders remember the war at home. Megan's early research into women opposing war in early twentieth-century New Zealand continues to inspire her ongoing work on ordinary women's extraordinary lives.

Alison Green (Ngati Awa, Ngati Ranginui) is a mother, a grandmother, and a professor in the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi. She holds a PhD in Maori and Pacific Development. In 2019, Alison was awarded the inaugural Misiweskamik Indigenous Post-Doctoral Fellowship to the University of Saskatchewan, where she taught at the Department of Indigenous Studies. She is also the chief executive of a Kaupapa Maori organisation that delivers sexual and reproductive health support, policy, advisory services and research. Leonie Pihama (Te Atiawa, Nga Mahanga a Tairi, Waikato) is a mother of six and grandmother of six mokopuna. She is a professor of Maori and Indigenous research, director of research at Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki, and director of Maori and Indigenous analysis. She has held roles as professor of Maori research at Nga Wai a Te Tui Research Institute, and director at Te Kotahi Research Institute (Waikato) and the Indigenous Research Institute for Maori and Indigenous Education (University of Auckland). She was a recipient of the Hohua Tutengaehe Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship and the inaugural Nga Pae o te Maramatanga Senior Maori Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Washington. In 2015, Leonie was awarded the Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti Award and the Te Tohu Rapuora Award. She has served on the boards of the Maori Health Committee for the Health Research Council, Maori Television, Te Mangai Paho and Nga Pae o te Maramatanga.

Paula Green (Author) Paula Green ONZM is one of New Zealand's most highly regarded poets, as well as an acclaimed writer, reviewer and anthologist. She has published a number of acclaimed poetry collections for adults and children, and edited several anthologies. She is also the author of two picture books. In 2017, she received the Prime Minister's Award for Poetry and was admitted to the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Poetry. She lives in coastal West Auckland with her husband, the painter Michael Hight (they have two adult daughters), and champions Aotearoa's present and future poets through her two blogs, Poetry Box for children and Poetry Shelf for adults. Kimberly Andrews (Illustrator) Kimberly Andrews is a trained biologist and geologist who grew up in the Canadian Rockies and has lived and worked in New Zealand, Borneo and the UK. Her picture books have been widely acclaimed and her Puffin the Architect series has been published in five languages. In 2019 she won the Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Puffin the Architect, the first story which she both wrote and illustrated. Kimberly lives with her husband and two young daughters in a shipping-container house near Wellington, where she illustrates and writes, and runs Tumbleweed Tees, a screen-printing business featuring her illustrations of New Zealand plants and wildlife.