Vale Maurice Gee
Aotearoa New Zealand fiction writer Maurice Gee has died at the age of 93, reported the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ).
‘Gee received numerous awards, nominations and grants for both his adult fiction and his young adult and children’s books, and was bestowed the prestigious Icon Award in 2003 by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. His short stories and novels are characterised by their real or imaginatively-reworked local settings, dysfunctional families and sketches of violence,’ said the organisation. ‘Gee’s numerous publications and his wide readership have contributed to his reputation as one of New Zealand’s most significant writers of fiction.’
The Big Idea NZ, which has collected tributes from around Aotearoa New Zealand, a selection of which is available below, said: ‘With 50 years of writing under his belt after becoming a full-time author in 1975, Gee wrote some of the most admired and impactful stories New Zealand has ever produced – and is cited as an inspiration to many writers and creatives to follow in his footsteps.’
Auckland Writers Festival writes:
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Maurice Gee (1931–2025) – one of Aotearoa’s most treasured literary voices.
Maurice was the inaugural Honoured New Zealand Writer at the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki in 2012, where we had the immense privilege of celebrating his remarkable body of work.
Over more than six decades, his novels – including Plumb, Going West, In My Father’s Den, Live Bodies, Under the Mountain, The Halfmen of O, and The Fat Man – helped shape the literary landscape of this country. With clarity, imagination and compassion, he captured the quiet complexities of life in Aotearoa.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Maurice’s whānau, friends, and all who have been moved by his words. He leaves behind a towering legacy and stories that will endure.
We join the acknowledgement of great New Zealand writer Maurice Gee, who passed away on Sunday at 93.
He was both extraordinarily accomplished and versatile, producing short stories, television scripts, and novels for children and adults. Readers who thrilled to the tension of Under the Mountain could mature to read his renowned Plumb trilogy. One of the many awards recognising his work and his contribution was the 2004 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement (fiction). This picture is from the day of the presentation event, at which he was honoured alongside Anne Salmond (nonfiction) and Kevin Ireland (poetry).
Thank you, Maurice Gee.
Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage writes:
We are saddened to hear of the passing of legendary author Maurice Gee (1931–2025) over the weekend.
Maurice Gee was a distinguished and great author of New Zealand literature. The prolific author wrote for children and adults, through novels, non-fiction and short stories.
One of his seminal works, Plumb, was described as one of the best novels ever written in New Zealand. In the early 1980s, his children’s book Under the Mountain was made into a TV show, which many people still remember fondly today. It was later adapted into a film in 2009, starring Sam Neill.
Gee’s work was read in the home and in public life. Gee’s writing is still being read and studied in schools across Aotearoa, and he has been recognised with many high profile awards and prizes for his contributions to writing and children’s literature.
Our thoughts are with Gee’s whānau, friends and community at this sad time. His legacy will live on through the words he has contributed to New Zealand literature.
The Arts Foundation NZ writes:
Haere rā, Maurice Gee. We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Maurice – a literary giant, a master storyteller, a quiet revolutionary, and one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most celebrated novelists.
Named one of our inaugural Icon Whakamana Hiranga in 2003, Maurice’s writing shaped generations – from Plumb (1978) and Under the Mountain (1979), to Going West (1992) and The Fat Man (1994). Earlier, in 1992, he was also awarded the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship.
With clarity and compassion, he gave voice to our histories, families, and inner lives – helping us all make sense of the world. His legacy lives on in the stories he told and the writers he inspired.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who have been moved by his extraordinary work.
Farewell, Maurice. Thank you for your generous words.
Photo Credit: Robert Cross.
Category: Daily obituary
