Keith Tonkin was born in Christchurch and is a writer who combines his love of New Zealand history with fiction writing. After attending Redcliffs Primary School and Christchurch Boys' High School, he went on to Christchurch Teachers' College. Keith has taught in Nelson, Western Australia, Christchurch, Westland and Otago between bouts of travelling, selling books, writing and bringing up a family.
Keith has always had a huge interest in history, especially New Zealand history ever since his parents took his sister, brother and him on long holidays throughout New Zealand. Keith has kept travelling throughout New Zealand and still can't get enough of it – next on the list is the Chatham Islands.

Selected bibliography:

• Four Great New Zealand Inventors (Giltedge Publishing 2003).
• New Zealanders of Action in World War Two (Giltedge Publishing 2003).
• Great New Zealand Adventurers (Giltedge Publishing 2004).
• New Zealand Film-makers (Giltedge Publishing 2004).
• The Big Snow illustrated by Spike Wademan (Giltedge Publishing 2005).
• The Longest Journey illustrated by Spike Wademan (Giltedge Publishing 2005).
• Te Pou Kara (The Flagpole) illustrated by Spike Wademan (Giltedge Publishing 2006).
• Te Tupuna Maunga o Parihaka illustrated by Spike Wademan (The Ancestral Mountain of Parihaka) (Giltedge Publishing 2006).
• Five Great New Zealand Entrepreneurs (Giltedge Publishing 2007).
• Four Great New Zealand Scientists (Giltedge Publishing 2007).
• Avaiki Tautau – Homeland Beneath the Stars illustrated by Spike Wademan (forthcoming Giltedge Publishing 2014).

Other resources:

• Keith’s website.
• Keith’s New Zealand Book Council Profile.
• Keith’s Christchurch Libraries Profile.