William Taylor

Born in Lower Hutt in 1938, William Taylor built an unusually varied life before becoming a full-time writer. He worked in banking and teaching, became a primary school principal, and later served as mayor of Ohakune from 1981 to 1988. He turned to writing full time in 1986 after receiving the Choysa Bursary.

He first published novels for adults, but became especially well known for children’s and young adult fiction. Sources describe him as the author of more than 30 novels, with notable titles including The Blue Lawn, Spider, Gladys the Goat, and Land of Milk and Honey. His work is often praised for lively dialogue, contemporary New Zealand settings, humor, and compassion for young people.

Over the course of his career, he received major honors including the Esther Glen Medal, the Margaret Mahy Medal, and the Italian Premio Andersen Award, and he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children’s literature and the community. He died in 2015.