Authors

No biography

Brian Miller is the author of several top-selling books, including `The Highlands of Papua New Guinea' and `Digital Cameras the easy way', `Moments in Time - Ralph Miller - Artist', `Capturing Light' and co-author with Diane of `Otago Central Rail Trail - easy guide'. Diane Miller is the author of: Chile Bird, Alice's Adventures at the Castle, Stars of Orion and Josephine off the Rails.

Brian Miller is the author of several top-selling books, including `The Highlands of Papua New Guinea' and `Digital Cameras the easy way', `Moments in Time - Ralph Miller - Artist', `Capturing Light' and co-author with Diane of `Otago Central Rail Trail - easy guide'. Diane Miller is the author of: Chile Bird, Alice's Adventures at the Castle, Stars of Orion and Josephine off the Rails.

No biography

No biography

Spike Milligan (1918-2002) was a famous British comedian, poet, writer and musician. His wild imagination and madcap humour had a timeless appeal that continues to delight audiences of all ages to this day. Spike (Terence Alan) was born to British parents in India, where his father, an army captain, was stationed in Poona (Pune). The family lived in India and Rangoon (Yangon) before returning to Britain when Spike was twelve. When the Second World War (as Spike called it, the Adolf Hitler Show) began, he enlisted and served in the 56th Heavy Regiment as a signaller. During his time in the army he joined the Bill Hall Trio and performed for the troops. He is perhaps best known for creating, writing and performing the popular 1950s BBC Radio show The Goon Show. He has written several story books and poetry for children. His novels include Puckoon, and he produced seven volumes of war memoirs. Badjelly the Witch, which Spike wrote for his daughter Jane, was first published in 1973. It was performed on BBC radio in England, and later on Radio New Zealand's Sunday morning children's programme. Spike was awarded an honorary knighthood and CBE for his services to entertainment, and also the British Comedy Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award. A BBC poll voted him as the 'funniest person of the last 1000 years'. His poem 'On the Ning Nang Nong' was voted Britain's funniest poem. Spike died at the age of 83 and his tombstone inscription - 'I told you I was ill' - ensures that he will forever be remembered first and foremost as a comic genius.

No biography

Judy Mills is a retired teacher, social worker and local body politician. She graduated with Honours in English from Auckland University where she encountered the Student Christian Movement, and it was here she first learned that you must love God with your mind as well as with your heart and soul. Her interest in Norman Lesser, beginning in 2008, led her to include Liverpool, Barrow-in-Furness and Nairobi in overseas travel, and these visits have significantly contributed to a greater understanding of his world before his arrival in New Zealand. She enjoys music, especially the piano and singing, good conversation, time with friends and family, and the outside world. She has held leadership rôles in the National Council of Women and the Association of Anglican Women and remains actively involved in caring for the environment and issues of justice and peace. Although her roots are in the North, she has lived happily in Napier for the last 35 years with her husband Murray, the 13th Bishop of Waiapu. They have five adult children and a growing whanau.

No biography

SARAH MILNE lives by the sea in Christchurch with her three-year old daughter and chocolate lab. After learning to walk and talk in Melbourne, Sarah's family moved back to New Zealand, where she spent her childhood and teen years growing up as a quintessential Kiwi. Her early twenties saw her set off on her OE, spending the next decade living (and dividing her heart) between Australia, England and New Zealand, moving back to Christchurch in 2016 to start her own family. During her pregnancy, Sarah contracted a virus which she was told could have devastating effects on her unborn baby. It was on this journey that she learnt of CMV, the most common cause of non-hereditary deafness and the leading viral cause of disability in newborn babies. Sarah's baby tested negative for CMV at birth, but each year hundreds of babies are born with or develop cytomegalovirus-related disease in Australia and New Zealand, alone. A debut author, Sarah wrote Kiwis and Koalas out of a need to bring Australia and New Zealand together in a story, filling a huge gap on our shelves for the hundreds of thousands of families split between our two countries. It was also an incredible opportunity to subtly normalise differences, because every child deserves to see themselves in a picture book.

Christopher J. Minchin

Graham Minhinnick is a writer and journalist who previously wrote for the New Zealand Herald. Guy Body has worked in New Zealand and the UK as a newspaper artist and cartoonist since 1986. Newspapers he has worked for include the New Zealand Truth, the Scotsman, the Auckland Star, and the New Zealand Herald. He is currently the back-up editorial cartoonist for the New Zealand Herald, preparing the Monday cartoon and substituting for Rod Emmerson when needed.