David Hill is best known for writing for children and young adults but is also a playwright, poet, columnist, adult novelist and critic. His books have been published in many countries and languages around the world.

Born in Napier, David spent fourteen years teaching before writing full-time. His books range in topic from studies on poetry to teenage fiction, for which he has received numerous awards here and overseas.

In 2004 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and in 2021 he was awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement - Fiction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to New Zealand Literature. He also received a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024 for Services to Writing.

David is a passionate advocate for reading and a beloved part of the Aotearoa literary community whose influence extends beyond what the eye can see. Generations of readers have felt inspired and seen by his characters and stories.

David's main publisher is Penguin New Zealand, and recent titles include Stepping Up, a middle-grade novel about a sporty teenager who faces a journey of resilience after losing his lower leg in a mountain rock accident; and Giant Heart: How Jonah Lomu Became a Rugby Legend which is a a children's biography of the famous sporting star.

David lives with his wife Beth in New Plymouth, New Zealand. We're beyond thrilled that he is delivering this year's Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui.

For more about David or more of Aotearoa New Zealand's writers and illustrators, consult the Writers Files, which is NZ’s largest index of Aotearoa NZ authors and creatives, filterable to make it easier to find writers who represent diverse and expansive communities and genres

Below: David Hill as Junior Fiction Winner at the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, image by Vijay Paul Photography.