Patu

About the Author

Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngati Awa) is an award-winning children's picture book writer and illustrator who lives and works in Christchurch, New Zealand. Among the numerous fellowships and national book prizes that have been awarded to Gavin throughout his career, highlights are his Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement - Non-fiction in 2019; his Te Waka Toi Nga Tohu a Ta Kingi Ihaka/Sir Kingi Ihaka Award in 2018 recognising lifetime contribution to strengthening Maori art and culture through his children's books; The Arts Foundation's Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award in 2013; and the 2000 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for lifetime achievement and his distinguished contribution to children's literature in New Zealand. Gavin was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013, and President of Honour of the NZ Society of Authors. He has won the supreme Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award a record five times - and most recently in 2022 with his ATUA- Maori Gods and Heroes, which also won the Elsie Locke Award for Non-fiction and the Russell Clark Award for Illustration. See more about Gavin and his work at www.gavinbishop.com.