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Lightfoot, Kiri
Writer's File

Kiri Lightfoot

Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau
Lightfoot, Kiri
In brief
Kiri Lightfoot is an award-winning children’s and young adult author. She has also worked as a scriptwriter for children’s television and as an actor for both television and theatre. Her first novel for young adults, Bear, was a finalist in the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. This wasn’t her first nomination; her picture book Every Second Friday (Hodder, 2008) was shortlisted for Best Picture Book at the 2009 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.
Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lightfoot, Kiri (1979 – ) was born in Exeter, England, and lives in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Kiri is the author of picture books and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers. Since majoring in Journalism as part of her Bachelor of Communication, she has worked as an actor, scriptwriter, and in television production. Kiri also works with Active Arts doing poetry workshops in aged care.

Kiri's first picture book, Every Second Friday (Hodder, 2008), tells the story of two children navigating life with separated parents and two homes — a story inspired by her own family. Her second book, Ming's Iceberg, was published in 2021 by Scholastic NZ and was inspired by a family member who travelled to the continent on a yacht in the 1970s. Kiri loves using this book to talk about Antarctica, particularly in discussions about climate change. Te Ngahere i te Pō / The Forest at Night (Allen & Unwin NZ, 2025) is a lyrical exploration of the nocturnal creatures of Aotearoa New Zealand’s forests. This story was inspired by a nighttime adventure in the Waitakere Ranges.

Kiri's debut YA novel, Bear, explores the challenges of single-parent and blended families, as well as struggles with mental health and anxiety. Kiri was inspired to write this story after volunteering for many years as a Youthline counsellor. Bear, published by Allen & Unwin NZ, won the Storylines New Zealand Tessa Duder YA Award in 2024 and was a finalist in the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Kiri's passion for storytelling deepened during her time with Massive Theatre Company, where actors develop performances based on their own experiences. She loves sharing her passion for creative expression and connecting with young readers through school visits and workshops.

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