Gordon Ogilvie

FROM THE OXFORD COMPANION TO NEW ZEALAND LITERATURE

Ogilvie, Gordon (1934 - 2017) is a biographer and historian with a particular interest in the history and people of the Canterbury region.

Born in Christchurch and educated at Canterbury and Victoria Universities, Ogilvie is the author of fourteen volumes of history and biography, mostly on Canterbury subjects. He is also well known as a teacher, public speaker, journalist and tour guide. In 2000 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Canterbury University in recognition to his contribution to the province's literature.

Ogilvie's life of Denis Glover is the first comprehensive biography of this important literary figure. Denis Glover: His Life (1999) examines Glover's development and influences as a poet and portrays in detail the New Zealand literary scene and its characters over several decades. It also gives a revealing picture of Glover's relationships with family, lovers and colleagues.

Denis Glover: His Life was shortlisted in the 1999 Montana New Zealand Book Awards, as was Ogilvie's biography of Canterbury's pioneer aviator The Riddle of Richard Pearse. Ogilvie has twice won the J.M. Sherrard award for regional history, for The Port Hills of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula: Cradle of Canterbury.

Gordon Ogilvie's titles are: St Mary's Church, Heathcote (1960); Moonshine Country: The Story of Waitohi, South Canterbury (1971); The Riddle of Richard Pearse (1973); The Port Hills of Christchurch (1978); Introducing Denis Glover (1983); Historic Buildings of New Zealand (contributor) (1983); Banks Peninsula: Cradle of Canterbury (1990); High Flies the Cross: The 75th Jubilee History of St Andrew's College 1917 - 1992 (1992); Picturing the Peninsula (1992); Little Feet in a Big Room: Frances Ogilvie of China (1994); Pioneers of the Plains: The Deans of Canterbury (1996); From Gigs to Rigs: Steel Brothers and 120 Years of Road Transport in New Zealand (1997); Denis Glover: His Life (1999); Enjoying the Port Hills (2000).

Recent titles by Gordon Ogilvie are: The Christchurch Writers' Trail (The Caxton Press, 2002), Picts and Porridge: An Ogilvie Family History (The Caxton Press, 2002), Business Histories and the Ballantynes Story (The Canterbury History Foundation, 2004), Ballantynes: The Story of Dunstable House 1854-2004 (The Caxton Press, 2004), The Shagroons' Palace: The Christchurch Club 1856 - 2006 (Henry Elworthy, 2005).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Gordon Ogilvie has now published over twenty works of history and biography. His more recent titles include High Flies the Cross: The 90th Anniversary History of St Andrew's College 1917-2007 (The Caxton Press, 2007); Highland Piping Society of Canterbury : jubilee history 1960-2010 with Alex Thompson (Highland Piping Society of Canterbury, 2010); and Banks Peninsula: cradle of Canterbury (Phillips & King Publishers, 2010)

In 2008 he recieved an ONZM for his service to history and biography.
Ogilvie passed away November 2017.