Neville Peat
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peat, Neville (1947 - 2026) was a natural historian, environmental writer and biographer. Born in Dunedin, Peat worked as a journalist and an information officer with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (DSIR) Antarctic Division.
In his lifetimes, Peat published over 50 titles. These include regional natural histories and New Zealand guides, especially concentrating on Southern New Zealand, histories of Antarctica, and studies of birds, especially those indigenous to New Zealand such as the kiwi and the New Zealand falcon.
His book Wild Dunedin: Enjoying the Natural History of New Zealand’s Wildlife Capital (Otago University Press, 1995) with Brian Patrick, won Book of the Year for Natural Heritage at the 1996 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Wild Fiordland: Discovering the Natural History of a World Heritage Area (Otago University Press, 1996), also with Brian Patrick, was also shortlisted for the same prize in 1997.
Some of his other titles included: The World of Penguins, with Chris Gaskin (Hodder and Stoughton, 1991); The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal (McIndoe, 1992) and his best-selling biography, Hurricane Tim: The Story of Sir Tim Wallis (Longacre Press, 2005). His adaption of the same biography for children titled, Winging It: The Adventures of Tim Wallis (Longacre, 2006) was a finalist in the 2007 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, and was listed as a 2007 Storylines Notable Non-Fiction Book.
Peat said of his work: "Although they range from Tokelau to Antarctica, my books have a mostly Southern New Zealand focus, with natural history and geography being major themes. In the Lark titles, I have incorporated fictional elements to help readers tune into southern landscapes and seascapes. The award-winning Wild series (with scientist Brian Patrick), broke new ground in natural history writing, describing the nature of southern regions such as Fiordland and Central Otago in detail from the rocks up."
Neville Peat was awarded the 2007 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship, New Zealand’s largest literary prize, for his project on the Tasman Sea.
In 2018, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation, and in 2024, he won the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Non-Fiction.
His most recent work was Home is an Island, published in November 2022, exploring islands contributing to the character of New Zealand.
Neville Peat died in Dunedin aged 78.
MEDIA LINKS AND CLIPS
- Neville Peat’s website
- Neville Peat's author profile at Otago University Press
- Neville Peat's author profile at Longacre Press
