Maurice Gee, acclaimed New Zealand author, dies at 93

Economic Times

15-06-2025

Gee wrote over 30 novels for adults and children during his long career. His notable work, Under the Mountain, was first published in 1979 and adapted into a television series in 1981 and a film in 2009. (Image credit: National Library of New Zealand)
Maurice Gee, one of New Zealand's most respected and prolific writers, has died in Nelson at the age of 93. His family confirmed that the author passed away peacefully at home on the afternoon of June 12.
In a statement, his children Nigel, Emily, and Abigail said, 'He lived a long and full life and approached death with cheerfulness and calm. He asked us not to grieve. Our father touched the lives of many through his words and leaves behind a remarkable legacy in New Zealand literature.'
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Gee wrote more than 30 novels for both adults and children over a career spanning decades. Among his most well-known works is Under the Mountain, first published in 1979 and later adapted into a popular television series in 1981 and a film in 2009. His adult fiction included In My Father's Den (1972), which was made into a feature film in 2004, and The Plumb Trilogy (1978–1983), widely regarded as a cornerstone of New Zealand literature.
Born in Whakatāne in 1931, Gee grew up in West Auckland, a region often serving as the backdrop for his fiction. His upbringing and local surroundings profoundly influenced his storytelling.
Works such as Going West, Crime Story, The Burning Boy, Live Bodies, The Halfmen of O, and Blindsight showcased his range and depth as a writer.
Gee received numerous awards and honours throughout his career. These included the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship. In 2003, he was named an Arts Foundation Icon, one of the highest honours for a New Zealand artist.A major biography of Gee, Maurice Gee: Life and Work, was published in 2015 by Rachel Barrowman. The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature praised Gee's contribution, stating that his work 'bountifully gives us a rich vision of some region and aspect of New Zealand life, and of human life in general... Yet there is always an awareness of living at the edge of an abyss.'Gee was also known for his support of end-of-life choice, reflecting the calm and considered approach with which he viewed mortality.Tributes poured in following the news of his death. Nelson MP Rachel Boyack called him 'a giant of New Zealand's literary world,' adding that Under the Mountain was one of her childhood favourites. Poet Bill Manhire described Gee as 'one of the greats,' while writer Rachael King simply wrote, 'RIP you legend of children's fiction.'Publisher Fergus Barrowman, who has long associated with Gee's work, said the author has been central to his understanding of the world since reading Plumb in 1979.