Our authors

The curators, academics, storytellers, illustrators, artists, scientists, photographers, and biographers behind our titles.

A split image of a head and shoulders of a man the book cover for Wild Wellington

Michael Szabo: biography and 10 questions about Wild Wellington Ngā Taonga Taiao

Michael Szabo discusses Wild Wellington Ngā Taonga Taiao with Te Papa Press.

Leon Perrie. Photo by Yoan Jolly. Te Papa

Leon Perrie: biography and 10 questions about Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Aotearoa New Zealand

Leon Perrie discusses Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Aotearoa New Zealand with Te Papa Press.

A man with a goatee and no hair is looking at the camera.

Glenn Busch: biography and 10 questions about A Man Holds a Fish

Glenn Busch discusses A Man Holds a Fish with Te Papa Press.

A white card with the cover of the book and four head and shoulder photos of people.

The Ten-Question Q&A with the authors of Te Ata o Tū The Shadow of Tūmatauenga

The authors answer ten questions about the book and the mahi (work) involved to publish it.

Q&A with Rachel Haydon, author of The Beach Activity Book

Rachel Haydon, author of The Beach Activity Book, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Split image of two head and shoulders photos of two men

Native Shells of Aotearoa: Author biographies and 10 questions

Kerry Walton and Bruce Marshal discuss ‘Native Shells of Aotearoa’ with Te Papa Press.

Split image with a woman crouched down outside and a man standing in front of a giant plastic beehive.

Native Insects of Aotearoa: Author biographies and 10 questions

Julia Kasper and Phil Sirvid discuss ‘Native Insects of Aotearoa’ with Te Papa Press.

Eight watercolour paintings of flowers set out in a grid of 4 and 4.

Flora: Celebrating Our Botanical World – Author biographies and 10 questions

The authors of ‘Flora: Celebrating Our Botanical World’ discuss their work with Te Papa Press.

A man in a workshop working with a clay sculpture

Baye Riddell: biography and 10 questions about Ngā Kaihanga Uku

Baye Riddell discusses Ngā Kaihanga Uku: Māori Clay Artists with Te Papa Press.

Head and shoulders of a white man with grey hair and a blue jumper. He is standing in front of green shrubbery.

Ned Barraud: biography and 10 questions about Mangō: Sharks and Rays of Aotearoa

Ned Barraud discusses Mangō: Sharks and Rays of Aotearoa with Te Papa Press.

A head and shoulder image of a woman in glasses smiling at the camera.

Lissa Mitchell: biography and 10 questions about Through Shaded Glass

Lissa Mitchell, the author of Through Shaded Glass: Women and photography in Aotearoa New Zealand 1860–1960, discusses her new book with Te Papa Press.

Tatau: Author biographies and 10 questions

The Ten-Question Q&A with the authors of ‘Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture’.

Two head and shoulder photos of two women looking at the camera. They are placed side-by side.

Tiny Statements – Author biographies and 10 questions

Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault discuss the book ‘Tiny Statements: A social history of Aotearoa New Zealand’ in badges with Te Papa Press.

Head and shoulders photos of three people looking at the camera

Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War – Author biographies and 10 questions

Puawai Cairns, Christopher Pugsley, and Richard Taylor discuss the book ‘Gallipoli: Scale of Our War’ with Te Papa Press.

A split photo of two head and shoulders photos of a man and a woman

Native Plants of Aotearoa: Author biographies and 10 questions

Heidi Meudt and Carlos Lehnebach discuss ‘Native Plants of Aotearoa’ with Te Papa Press.

A head and shoulders photo of a man in front of a hedge

Michael Szabo: biography and 10 questions about Native Birds of Aotearoa

Michael Szabo discusses ‘Native Birds of Aotearoa’ with Te Papa Press.

Robin White: author biographies and interview

Robin White: Something is happening Here is the first book to be devoted to Robin White’s art in 40 years. Here, the authors reflect on working with Robin for the book and accompanying exhibition.

Dr Sadat Muaiava: biography and 10 questions about Lāuga: Understanding Samoan oratory

Dr Sadat Muaiava, author of ‘Lāuga: Understanding Samoan oratory’, discusses this guide to one of the key practices in Sāmoan culture with Te Papa Press.

A man crouching on a beach with his hand on a dog

Mike White: biography and 10 questions about Dogs in early New Zealand photographs

Mike White, who has written the introduction to ‘Dogs in early New Zealand photographs’, discusses the book with Te Papa Press.

Two women in front of a museum case. Both are holding books

Victoria Cleal: biography and 10 questions about Lost in the Museum

Victoria Cleal, author of ‘Lost in the Museum‘, discusses her latest children’s book collaboration with illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.

Lizzie Bisley: biography and 10 questions about Rita Angus

Lizzie Bisley, the author of Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist | Ringatoi Hou o Aotearoa, discusses her new book with Te Papa Press.

Hei Taonga mā ngā Uri Whakatipu: author biographies and interview

The authors behind Hei Taonga mā ngā Uri Whakatipu | Treasures for the Rising Generation: The Dominion Museum Ethnological Expeditions 1919–1923, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Ngā Tai Whakarongorua | Encounters: author biographies and interview

Rebecca Rice and Matariki Williams, the curators and authors behind Ngā Tai Whakarongorua | Encounters , discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Why is That Spider Dancing?: author biographies and interview

Simon Pollard and Phil Sirvid, the authors of Why is That Spider Dancing?, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Back of the Painting: author biographies and interview

Linda Waters, Sarah Hillary, and Jenny Sherman, the authors of The Back of the Painting, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Jill Trevelyan: biography and 10 questions about Rita Angus

Jill Trevelyan, the author of Rita Angus: An Artist's Life, discusses her new book with Te Papa Press

Dahlia Malaeulu: biography and 10 questions about Going to Te Papa

Dahlia Malaeulu, author of Going to Te Papa | Asiasiga ‘i le Falemata‘aga i Te Papa , discusses her work with Te Papa Press

Claire Regnault: biography and 10 questions about Dressed

Claire Regnault, the author of Dressed, discusses her new book with Te Papa Press

Foss Leach: biography and 10 questions about Prehistoric Man in Palliser Bay

Foss Leach, co-editor of Prehistoric Man in Palliser Bay, discusses his work with Te Papa Press.

Jane Ussher: biography and 10 questions about Nature — Stilled

Jane Ussher, author of Nature — Stilled, discusses her work with Te Papa Press

Peter Alsop: biography and 10 questions about Railway Studios

Peter Alsop, one of the authors of Railway Studios, discusses his work with Te Papa Press

Victoria Cleal: biography and 10 questions about Whiti

Victoria Cleal, author of Whiti – Colossal Squid of the Deep, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Rachel Haydon: biography and 10 questions about The Nature Activity Book

Rachel Haydon, author of The Nature Activity Book, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Colin Miskelly and Craig Symes: biographies and 10 questions about Lost Gold

Colin Miskelly and Craig Symes, editors of Lost Gold: Ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands, discuss their work with Te Papa Press.

Wendy Nelson: biography and 10 questions about New Zealand Seaweeds

Wendy Nelson, author of New Zealand Seaweeds: An Illustrated Guide, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Crafting Aotearoa: author biographies and interview

Karl Chitham, Kolokesa U Māhina-Tuai and Damian Skinner, the authors of Crafting Aotearoa, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Protest Tautohetohe authors, Stephanie Gibson, Matariki Williams and Puawai Cairns

Protest Tautohetohe: author biographies and interview

Stephanie Gibson, Matariki Williams and Puawai Cairns, the authors of Protest Tautohetohe, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

He Paki Taonga i a Māui | Māui's Taonga Tales: interview with the editors

David Brechin-Smith and Ranea Aperahama, co-developers of He Paki Taonga i a Māui, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Janet Davidson: biography and 10 questions about The Cook Voyages Encounters

Janet Davidson, author of The Cook Voyages Encounters, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Dougal Austin on NE Point, Mamaku (Indian Island), 2016

Dougal Austin: biography and 10 questions about Te Hei Tiki

Dougal Austin, editor of Te Hei Tiki discusses his work with Te Papa Press.

Awhina Tamaraph Photographed by Kate Whitley 2018

Awhina Tamarapa: biography and 10 questions about Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks

Awhina Tamarapa, editor of Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Athol McCredie: biography and 10 questions about The New Photography

Athol McCredie, editor of The New Photography discusses his work with Te Papa Press.

Rebecca Rice, 2017. Photo by Tim Onnes. Te Papa

Rebecca Rice: biography and 10 questions about Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality

Rebecca Rice, editor of Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality, discusses her work with Te Papa Press

Head and shoulders of a woman smiling at someone off camera.

Susan Waugh: biography and 10 questions about 100 Natural History Treasures of Te Papa

Susan Waugh, editor of 100 Natural History Treasures of Te Papa, discusses her work with Te Papa Press.

Scenic Playground: author biographies and interview

Peter Alsop, Dave Bamford and Lee Davidson, authors of Scenic Playground, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

Mark Stocker, editor of New Zealand Art at Te Papa

Mark Stocker: biography and 10 questions about New Zealand Art at Te Papa

Friends enjoy benefits and discounts including invitations to previews and private viewings.

Bronwyn Labrum: biography and 10 questions about Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage

Bronwyn Labrum, editor of Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage, discusses her work with Te Papa Press

Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing authors

Tatau: author biographies and interview

Sean Mallon and Sébastien Galliot, co-authors of Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing, discuss their work with Te Papa Press

A man leaning on a filing cabinet and smiling at the camera

Conal McCarthy: biography and 10 questions about Te Papa: Reinventing New Zealand’s National Museum

Conal McCarthy, author of Te Papa: Reinventing New Zealand’s National Museum, discusses his work with Te Papa Press

Athol McCredie: biography and 10 questions about Ten x Ten: Art at Te Papa

Athol McCredie, editor of Ten x Ten: Art at Te Papa, discusses the book with Te Papa Press.

Helen Lloyd: biography and 10 questions about The New Zealand Art Activity Book

Helen Lloyd, author of The New Zealand Art Activity Book: new edition, discusses her work with Te Papa Press

Athol McCredie: biography and 10 questions about New Zealand Photography Collected

Athol McCredie, author of New Zealand Photography Collected, discusses his work with Te Papa Press.

Simon Pollard: biography and 10 questions about The Genius of Bugs

Simon Pollard, author of The Genius of Bugs, discusses his work with Te Papa Press.

Damian Skinner: biography and 10 questions about The Māori Meeting House: Introducing the Whare Whakairo

Damian Skinner, author of The Māori Meeting House: Introducing the Whare Whakairo, discusses his work with Te Papa Press.