Dieback
by Des Hunt
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Socially challenged eleven-year-old Peter Macneill has real difficulties when his family is forced to move to a broken-down house in Birkenhead. Then he discovers pekapeka bats living in his backyard trees. With the
help of AGNES and her mokopuna TTui, Peter vows to protect the bats from predators, both animal and human. The worst of these is Oxley Development Ltd who plan to build apartments on the site. They'll do anything to destroy the trees, including introducing dieback disease, poisoning, and even arson. When a pūriri is set on fire Peter finds a new inner strength which surmounts his difficulties and saves the day.
Author: Des Hunt
ISBN: 9780995145153
Publisher: Torea Press
Published: 27/11/2025
Format: Paperback / softback
About the Author
For 44 years Des Hunt was a science and technology teacher interspersed with periods of curriculum development both in New Zealand and overseas. During this period, he had 14 science books published, all with a strong New Zealand emphasis. In 2002 his first novel A Friend in Paradise was released. Since then there have been another 24 titles, eight of which have been finalists in the NZ Children's and YA awards; two have been LIANZA finalists; one has been a Ngaio Marsh finalist. In 2016 Cry of the Taniwha received the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book, and in 2017 Des Hunt was awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal in recognition of his contribution to children's literature.