List of New Zealand women writers

This is a list of women writers who were born in New Zealand or whose lives and works are closely associated with that country.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

A

• Avis Acres (1910–1994), artist, writer, illustrator and conservationist
• Pip Adam, novelist, short story writer, and reviewer
• Catherine Mary Ann Adamson (1868–1925), Australian-born New Zealand diarist
• Fleur Adcock (born 1934), poet and editor
• Pinky Agnew (born 1955), actor, author and social commentator
• Sarona Aiono-Iosefa, children's fiction writer
• Margaret Alington (1920–2012), librarian, historian and writer
• Pamela Allen (born 1934), children's writer and illustrator
• Barbara Anderson (1926–2013), novelist, short story writer
• Catherine Ann Andersen (1870–1957), teacher, community leader and writer
• Isabella Smith Andrews (1905–1990), Scottish-born New Zealand writer
• Sylvia Ashton-Warner (1908–1984), writer, poet and educator
• Tusiata Avia (born 1966), poet, children's writer

B

• Annette Baier (1929–2012), philosopher and non-fiction writer
• Hinemoana Baker (born 1968), poet, teacher
• Louisa Alice Baker (1856–1926), British-born New Zealand journalist and novelist
• Philippa Ballantine (born 1971), novelist
• Serie Barford (fl. 2007), poet, sort story writer
• Mary Anne Barker (1831–1911), Jamaican-born New Zealand journalist, poet and writer
• Miriam Barr (born 1982), poet
• Sarah Maria Barraud (c.1823–1895), British-born New Zealand letter writer
• Rachel Barrowman (born 1963) author and historian
• Blanche Edith Baughan (1870–1958), British-born New Zealand poet, writer and penal reformer
• Fleur Beale (born 1945), teenage fiction writer
• Margaret Beames (born 1935), children's writer
• Airini Beautrais (born 1982), poet
• Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), British-born New Zealand poet and social worker
• Jean Betts (fl. 1970s), British-born New Zealand playwright
• Judith Binney (1940–2011), historian, academic and writer
• Hera Lindsay Bird (born 1987), poet
• Ellen Wright Blackwell (1864–1952), British-born New Zealand writer and botanist
• Arapera Hineira Kaa Blank (1932–2002), Māori poet and teacher
• Jenny Bornholdt (born 1960), poet and children's writer
• Paula Boock (born 1964), writer and editor
• Avice Maud Bowbyes (1901–1992), home science lecturer and writer
• Virginia Braun (fl. 2000s), gender studies expert, psychologist and non-fiction writer
• Freda Bream (1918–1996), teacher, novelist and non-fiction writer
• Bub Bridger (1924–2009), poet and short story writer
• Adele Broadbent (born 1968), children's author
• Deidre Brown (born 1970), historian
• Audrey Brown-Pereira (born 1975), poet, diplomat and public servant
• Diane Brown (born 1951), novelist and poet
• Helen Brown (born 1954), novelist and columnist
• Riwia Brown (fl. 1994), playwright
• Harriet Louisa Browne (1829–1906), Scottish-born New Zealand salon hostess, community leader and letter writer
• Margaret Bullock (1845–1903), journalist, writer, feminist and reformer
• Dorothy Butler (1925–2015), children's writer, bookseller and memoirist

C

• Dolce Ann Cabot (1862–1943), journalist, newspaper editor, feminist and teacher
• Meg Campbell (1937–2007), poet
• Eleanor Catton (born 1985), Canadian-born New Zealand novelist and short story writer
• Hannah Rebecca Frances Caverhill (1834–1897), diarist
• Christine Cole Catley (1922–2011), journalist, publisher and writer
• Kate Camp (born 1972) poet and essayist
• Lynda Chanwai-Earle (born 1966), poet, playwright and actress
• Janet Charman (born 1954) poet
• Brenda Chawner (fl. 2010s], library academic, editor and writer
• Catherine Chidgey (born 1970), novelist and short story writer
• Daphne Clair (born 1939), romance novelist
• Margaret Clark (born 1941), academic, editor and non-fiction writer
• Constance Clyde (1872–1951), Scottish-born New Zealand journalist, essayist and writer
• Nellie Euphemia Coad (1883–1974), teacher, community leader and writer
• Elizabeth Fairburn Colenso (1821–1904), missionary, teacher and Bible translator
• Kay McKenzie Cooke (born 1953), poet
• Jennifer Compton (born 1949), playwright, poet and short story writer, emigrated to Australia
• Sandra Coney (born 1944), politician, feminist, historian and non-fiction writer
• Judy Corbalis (fl. 1980s), novelist and short story writer
• Violet May Cottrell (1887–1971), poet and spiritualist
• Joy Cowley (born 1936), children's writer
• Rachael Craw, young adults' writer
• Fiona Cross (fl. 2000s), arachnologist and non-fiction writer
• Majella Cullinane, Irish-born New Zealand poet and novelist
• Jackie Cumming (fl. 2000s), academic, health expert and non-fiction writer

D

• Lois Daish (fl. 1960s), restaurateur, cookbook writer
• Debra Daley, novelist
• Ruth Dallas (1919–2008), poet and children's writer
• Winnie Davin (1909–1995), teacher, community worker, writer and editor
• Jackie Davis (born 1963), novelist and poet
• Kate De Goldi (born 1959), children's writer, short story writer
• Stephanie de Montalk (born 1945) poet and biographer
• Joan de Hamel (1924–2011), children's writer
• Pip Desmond, non-fiction author and journalist
• Jean Devanny (1894–1962), New Zealand-born Australian novelist and short story writer
• Gillian Dobbie (fl. 2000s), computer scientist, academic and non-fiction writer
• Lynley Dodd (born 1941), children's writer
• Robyn Donald (born 1940), novelist
• Alison Edith Hilda Drummond (1903–1984), farmer, historian, writer and editor
• Joan Druett (born 1939), historical novelist and non-fiction writer
• Yvonne du Fresne (1929–2011), short story writer, playwright and novelist
• Kate Duignan (born 1974), novelist
• Marilyn Duckworth (born 1935), novelist, poet and short story writer
• Tessa Duder (born 1940), swimmer, young peoples' writer and non-fiction writer
• Eileen Duggan (1894–1972), poet and journalist
• Elizabeth Geertruida Agatha Dyson (1857–1951), journalist and magazine editor

E

• Lauris Edmond (1924–2000), poet
• Dorothy Eden (1912–1982), novelist and short story writer
• Ellen Elizabeth Ellis (1829–1895), British-born New Zealand feminist and writer
• Barbara Else (born 1947), novelist, short story writer, editor and literary agent
• Riemke Ensing (born 1939), Dutch-born New Zealand poet and educator
• Cicely Margaret Escott (1908–1977), novelist, drama teacher and poet
• Barbara Ewing (born 1944), New Zealand-born UK-based actress and writer

F

• Jacqueline Fahey (born 1929), painter and writer
• Fiona Farrell (born 1947), poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright
• Angie Farrow (born 1951), academic, playwright and writer for theatre and radio
• Beryl Fletcher (1938–2018), novelist
• Tui Flower (1925–2017), food writer
• Mihingarangi Forbes (fl. 1990s), journalist and radio broadcaster
• Margot Forde (1935–1995), botanist, taxonomist and writer
• Michelanne Forster (born 1953), American-born New Zealand playwright and scriptwriter
• Dorothy Fowler (fl. 2009), novelist
• Janet Frame (1924–2004), novelist, poet, short story writer and children's writer
• Ruth France (1913–1968), librarian, poet and novelist
• Margaret Fraser (1866–1951), domentic servant and letter writer
• Anne French (born 1956), poet and editor
• Catherine Fulton (1829–1919), diarist, social reformer and suffragette

G

• Abby Gaines (fl. 2007), romance novelist
• Kathleen Gallagher (born 1957), playwright, filmmaker, poet, and novelist
• Rhian Gallagher (born 1961), poet
• Elizabeth Anne Gard'ner (1858–1926), home science teacher and writer
• Frances Shayle George (c.1829–1890), teacher, writer
• Ivy Gibbs (c. 1886–1966), probably English-born New Zealand poet and children's writer
• Ruth Gilbert (1917–2016), poet
• Olivia Aroha Giles (fl. 2006), Māori artist and writer
• Betty Gilderdale (born 1923), children's book author
• Esther Glen (1881–1940), novelist, children's writer, journalist and community worker
• Charlotte Godley (1821–1907), letter writer and community leader
• Patricia Grace (born 1937), Māori writer of novels, short stories, and children's books
• Grace Winifred Green (1907–1976), radio broadcaster and journalist
• Paula Green (born 1955) poet and children's author
• Charlotte Grimshaw (born 1968), novelist
• Edith Searle Grossmann (1863–1931), teacher, novelist, journalist and feminist
• Kirsty Gunn (born 1960), novelist and short story writer

H

• Mandy Hager (born 1960), novelist, young adults' writer
• Bernadette Hall (born 1945), poet and editor
• Pip Hall (born 1971), playwright and scriptwriter
• Jane Elizabeth Harris (c.1853–1942), British-born New Zealand writer, lecturer and spiritualist
• Kathleen Hawkins (1883–1981), poet
• Catherine Hay (1910–1995), romance novelist
• Karyn Hay (born 1959), writer, broadcaster
• Helen Heath (born 1970), poet
• Christina Henderson (1861–1953), Australian-born New Zealand teacher, feminist, prohibitionist, social reformer and editor
• Ellen Anne Hewett (1843–1926), Jersey-born New Zealand writer
• Mary St Domitille Hickey (1882–1958), nun, historian
• Sarah Higgins (1830–1923), midwife, community leader and writer
• Eva Hill (1898–1981), physician, writer and health compaigner
• Lucy Hockings (born c.1975), journalist and producer
• Liddy Holloway (1947–2004), actress and television scriptwriter
• Janet Holmes (born 1947), linguist, sociologist and non-fiction writer
• Lynley Hood (born 1942), biographer and non-fiction writer
• Philippa Howden-Chapman (fl. 2000s), academic, public health expert and non-fiction writer
• Edith Howes (1872–1954), British-born New Zealand teacher, writer and educationalist
• Keri Hulme (born 1947), novelist
• Rosalind Hursthouse (born 1943), philosopher and non-fiction writer
• Robin Hyde (1906–1939), South African-born New Zealand poet and novelist
• Prue Hyman (born 1943), academic, feminist, economist and non-fiction writer

I

• Catherine Lucy Innes (c.1840–1900), British-born New Zealand writer
• Fanny Irvine-Smith (1878–1948), teacher, lecturer and writer
• Kate Isitt (1876–1948), journalist and writer

J

• Annamarie Jagose (born 1965), LGBT academic and novelist
• Florence James (1902–1993), New Zealand-born Australian writer and literary agent
• Lynn Jenner, poet and essayist
• Alexa Johnston, biographer and food writer
• Christine Johnston (born 1950) novelist
• Stephanie Johnson (born 1961), poet, playwright, and short story writer
• V. M. Jones (born 1958), Zambian-born New Zealand children's writer
• Sherryl Jordan (born 1949), children's writer
• Andrea Jutson (fl. 2005), crime novelist

K

• Keri Kaa (born 1942), Māori language advocate, writer and educator
• Amy Kane (1879–1979), journalist and community leader
• Merata Kawharu (fl. 1990s), Māori writer and academic
• Lindy Kelly (born 1952), short story writer, children's writer, playwright and novelist
• Elizabeth Kelso (1889–1967), journalist, editor and community leader
• Anne Kennedy (born 1959), novelist, poet and filmwriter
• Alice Annie Kenny (1875–1960), short story writer and novelist
• Angela Kepler (born 1943), naturalist and writer
• Suzi Kerr (born 1966), economist, academic and non-fiction writer
• Fiona Kidman (born 1940), novelist, poet, scriptwriter and short story writer
• Rachael King (born 1970), novelist and short story writer
• Elizabeth Knox (born 1959), novelist, autobiographical novella writer and essayist
• Shonagh Koea (born 1939), novelist, short story writer
• Saradha Koirala (born 1980), poet, writer and novelist

L

• Sarah Laing (born 1973) is an author and cartoonist
• Annabel Langbein (fl. 1980s), cook, food writer and publisher
• Eve Langley (1904–1974), novelist and poet
• Michele Leggott (born 1956), poet and academic
• June Margaret Litman (1926–1991), journalist
• Elsie Locke (1912–2001), poet, novelist, children's writer, non-fiction writer and feminist
• Helen Lowe (born 1961), novelist
• Brigid Lowry (born 1953), children and young adult author
• Edith Joan Lyttleton (1873–1945), Australian-born New Zealand novelist and short story writer

M

Margaret Mahy and her winning book The Moon & Farmer McPhee at the 2011 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards

• Mary McCallum (born 1961), poet, novelist, children's author, songwriter, editor and publisher
• Charlotte Macdonald (fl. 1990s), historian and non-fiction writer
• Rebecca Macfie, non-fiction author and journalist
• Catherine Julia Mackay (1864–1944), Australian-born New Zealand journalist and cook
• Jessie Mackay (1864–1938), poet
• Anna Mackenzie (born 1963), children's and YA writer
• Hester Maclean (1859–1932), Australian-born New Zealand nurse, matron and autobiographer
• Margaret Mahy (1936–2012), children's and young adults' writer
• Becky Manawatu (born 1982), novelist
• Jane Mander (1877–1949), novelist and journalist
• Juliet Marillier (born 1948), novelist
• Selina Tusitala Marsh (born 1971), New Zealand poet laureate 2017
• Muriel Wallace May (1897–1982), teacher, school principal and writer
• Emilie Monson Malcolm (c.1830–1905), writer
• Clare Mallory (1913–1991), children's writer
• Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923), modernist and short story writer
• Janice Marriott (born 1946), children's writer, screenwriter and poet
• Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), crime writer
• Mary Ann Martin (1817–1884), British-born New Zealand community leader, teacher and writer
• Kāterina Mataira (1932–2011), Māori language proponent, educator, intellectual, artist and writer
• Sarah Louise Mathew (c.1805–1890), British-born New Zealand diarist
• Peta Mathias (fl. 1990s), food writer and television presenter
• Tina Matthews (born 1961), children's writer, illustrator
• Gill Matthewson (fl. 1980s), architect, educator and writer
• Cath Mayo, children's, young adults' and adult novelist
• Rachel McAlpine (born 1940), poet, playwright, novelist and non-fiction writer
• Mary McCallum (born 1961), novelist, short story writer, poet, and journalist
• Sue McCauley (born 1941), novelist, short story writer, playwright, journalist and screenwriter
• Lyn McConchie (born 1946), novelist and children's writer
• Carolyn McCurdie poet, children's and short story writer
• Jill McDonald (1927–1982), New Zealand-born UK-based children's writer and illustrator
• Shona McFarlane (1929–2001), artist, journalist and broadcaster
• Rosemary McLeod (born 1949), writer, journalist and cartoonist
• Linda McNabb (born 1963), British-born New Zealand children's writer
• Cilla McQueen (born 1949), British-born New Zealand poet
• Courtney Sina Meredith (born 1986), poet, playwright, and short story author
• Elizabeth Messenger (1908–1965), journalist, cookery writer and crime novelist
• Miriam Meyerhoff (fl. 2000s), sociolinguist and non-fiction writer
• Karlo Mila (fl. 2003), poet
• Antonija Mitrović (fl. 1990s), Serbian-born New Zealand computer scientist and non-fiction writer
• Tze Ming Mok (born 1978), fiction writer and sociopolitical commentator
• Pérrine Moncrieff (1883–1979), British-born writer and conservationist
• Paula Morris (born 1965), novelist and short story writer
• Elsie K. Morton (1885–1968), journalist and writer
• Shirley Murray (1931–2020), hymn writer
• Margaret Mutu (fl. 2000s), Māori activist and writer

N

• Elizabeth Nannestad (born 1956), poet
• Susan Napier (born 1954), romance novelist
• Sheila Natusch (1926–2017), writer and illustrator
• Emma Neale (born 1969), novelist and poet
• Lino Nelisi (born 1952), children's author
• Marjory Nicholls (1890–1930), poet, teacher and drama producer

O

• Susan Moller Okin (1946–2004), philosopher and non-fiction writer
• Gloria Olive (1923–2006), American-born New Zealand mathematician and non-fiction writer
• Linda Olsson (born 1948), Swedish-born New Zealand novelist
• Claudia Orange (born 1938), historian and non-fiction writer
• Sue Orr (born 1962), short story writer and novelist

P

• Makereti Papakura (1873–1930), entertainer and ethnographer
• Ruth Park (1917–2010), New Zealand-born Australian novelist, short story writer and children's writer
• Lorae Parry (fl. 1990s), Australian-born New Zealand playwright
• Jenny Pattrick (born 1936), novelist
• Evelyn Patuawa-Nathan (fl. 1979), Māori writer
• Isabel Peacocke (1881–1973), teacher, novelist and broadcaster
• Emily Perkins (born 1970), novelist
• Dianne Ruth Pettis (1955–2008), novelist and journalist
• April Phillips (fl. 1990s), British-born New Zealand actress, writer, singer and film producer
• Leonie Pihama (fl. 1990s), Māori researcher, academic and non-fiction writer
• Vivienne Plumb (born 1955), Australian-born New Zealand poet, playwright, novelist and editor
• Rebecca Priestley (fl. 1990s), academic, science historian and non-fiction writer
• Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (1941–2006), Māori weaver and writer
• Elizabeth Pulford (born 1943), writer of fiction, poetry and non-fiction for children, teenagers and adults

Q

• Alison Quigan (fl. 1980s), actress, theatre director and playwright

R

• Maggie Rainey-Smith (born 1950), novelist, poet, short story writer, essayist and reviewer
• Beverley Randell (born 1931), children's writer
• Charlotte Randall (fl. 1990s), novelist
• Jo Randerson (born 1973), writer, playwright and actress
• Lizzie Frost Rattray (1855–1931), journalist, suffragist and welfare worker
• Gloria Jasmine Rawlinson (1918–1995), Tongan-born New Zealand poet, novelist, short story writer and editor
• Annie Lee Rees (1849–1949), Australian-born New Zealand writer, teacher, lawyer and community leader
• Rosemary Frances Rees (1875–1963), actress, theatre producer and novelist
• Amber Reeves (1887–1981), New Zealand-born British feminist, writer and scholar
• Mary Richmond (1853–1949), community leader, teacher and writer
• Paddy Richardson (fl. 2000), novelist and short story writer
• Sue Reidy, author and designer
• Catherine Robertson (born 1966), novelist
• Violet Augusta Roche (1885–1967), journalist and welfare worker
• Hilda Rollett (1873–1970), teacher, journalist and writer
• Joan Rosier-Jones (born 1940), novelist, playwright, short story writer, non-fiction writer and teacher
• Tania Roxborogh (born 1965), teacher, novelist and non-fiction writer

S

• Fiona Samuel (born 1961), playwright, writer, actress and director
• Elspeth Sandys (born 1940), novelist, poet, and short story author
• Nelle Scanlan (1882–1968), journalist and novelist
• Mary Edith Scott (1888–1979), teacher and novelist
• Mary-anne Scott, writer and musician
• Robyn Scott (born 1981), British-born New Zealand writer and entrepreneur
• Rosie Scott (1948–2017), novelist and lecturer
• Tina Shaw (born 1961), novelist and children's writer
• Helen Lilian Shaw (1913–1985), short story writer, poet and editor
• Nalini Singh (born 1977), romance novelist
• Anna Smaill (born 1979), poet and novelist
• Elizabeth Smither (born 1941), poet
• Laura Solomon (1974–2019), novelist, playwright and poet
• Eileen Louise Soper (1900–1989), Australian-born New Zealand journalist and Girl Guide commissioner
• Mamari Stephens (fl. 2010s), Māori law academic, lexicographer and non-fiction writer
• Adela Blanche Stewart (1846–1910), homemaker and writer
• Olga Stringfellow (born 1923), journalist and novelist
• Jacqueline Sturm (1927–2009), poet and short story writers
• Laura Jane Suisted (1840–1903), writer, journalist and parliamentary reporter
• Essie Summers (1912–1998), romance novelist
• Barbara Sumner-Burstyn (fl. 2000s), film producer and writer
• Vanda Symon (born 1969), crime novelist and radio host

T

• Tamairangi (fl. 1820), tribal leader and poet
• Leilani Tamu, poet
• Violet Targuse (1884–1937), playwright
• Anna Taylor (born 1982), short story author
• Grace Taylor, poet
• Renee Taylor (born 1929), feminist writer and playwright
• Ngahuia Te Awekotuku (born 1949), Māori cultural academic and non-fiction writer
• Margaret Tennant (fl. 1980s), historian and non-fiction writer
• Ngaire Thomas (1943–2012), writer
• Kirsten Moana Thompson (born 1964), non-fiction writer
• Mona Innis Tracy (1882–1959), Australian-born New Zealand poet, short story writer, novelist and community worker
• Jill Trevelyan (born 1963), art historian and non-fiction writer

U

• Makerita Urale (fl. 1990s), playwright, producer and documentary director

W

• Dorothy Wall (1894–1942), children's writer and illustrator
• Louise Wallace (born 1983), New Zealand poet
• Marilyn Waring (born 1952), feminist, politician and writer
• Joy Watson (born 1938), children's writer
• Kristina Webb (fl. 2010s), artist and writer
• Joyce West (1908–1985), novelist and children's writer
• Lydia Wevers (born 1950), literary critic, English language literary historian, editor and book reviewer
• Dorothy Mary Neal White (1915–1995), librarian and writer
• Emily Louisa Merielina White (1839–1936), British-born New Zealand gardener and writer
• Cherry Wilder (1930–2002), short story writer and science fiction novelist
• Helen Wilson (1869–1957), teacher, farmer, community leader and writer
• Annabelle White (fl. 1990s), cookbook writer
• Alison Wong (born 1960), poet and novelist
• Elizabeth Wong (born 1937), Chinese-born Australian-based New Zealand politician and novelist
• Susan Wood (1836–1880), Australian-born New Zealand writer
• Alice Woodhouse (1883–1977), librarian, journalist and broadcaster
• Sue Wootton (born 1961), poet and short story writer
• Anne Eyre Worboys (1920–2007), New Zealand-born British novelist

Y

• Sonja Yelich (born 1965), poet

See also

• List of New Zealand women artists
• List of New Zealand women photographers