John Lockyer is a writer and a teacher. He has over 100 titles in print, many of which have been published for the educational market. He has written books for children of all ages, covering a diverse range of topics. The Kea (2001, Reed) was a finalist for the Elsie Locke Award in 2002, and A History of New Zealand received a Booksellers Gold Award. Willie Apiata VC (2009, Puffin) is a finalist in the Non-Fiction category of the 2010 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards.