Maria Gill
Location: Auckland
Preferred audience: Years 3-11
Maria Gill is an award-winning New Zealand author who writes nonfiction and historical fiction for children and young adults.
With a passion for bringing real-life stories to life, Maria has published more than 60 books that explore people, places, and pivotal moments in history. Her books often focus on environmental issues, biographies, and wartime tales, helping young readers understand the world through engaging, fact-rich storytelling. Maria’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year and the Elsie Lock Award for Nonfiction. A former teacher, she now writes full-time from home by the beach, where she also mentors emerging writers and visits schools to inspire the next generation of storytellers.
In 2020, Maria Gill won Storyline’s Margaret Mahy medal for outstanding services to children’s literature.
Maria's best audience ages are Years 3-8 for Non-Fiction, and Years 9-11 for Nancy Wake.
Website: www.mariagill.co.nz
Rocket Man, illustrated by Alistair Hughes (Bateman Books, 2026)
A Flame in the Dark (One Tree House, October 2025)
New Zealand’s Endangered Dolphins illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Upstart Press, 2024)
Queen of the Cosmos: Beatrice Hill Tinsley illustrated by Alistair Hughes (Upstart Press, 2024)
Epic New Zealand Adventurers illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Upstart Press, July 2023)
Ernest Rutherford: Just an ordinary boy illustrated by Alistair Hughes (Upstart Press, 2023)
The King’s Medal illustrated by Alistair Hughes (Upstart Press, October 2021)
Remarkable Animal Stories illustrated by Emma Huia Lovegrove (Scholastic, August 2021)
New Zealand Disasters: Our response, resilience and recovery illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic, Feb 2021)
Ice Breaker: An Epic Antarctic Adventure illustrated by Alistair Hughes (New Holland, 2020)
On the Brink (New Holland, 2019)
Kate Sheppard: Leading the Way for Women (Scholastic, 2018)
Earthquakes! Shaking New Zealand (New Holland, 2018)
Anzac Animals illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic, 2018)
Abel Tasman: Mapping the Southern Lands illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic, 2017)
Toroa’s Journey illustrated by Gavin Mouldey (Potton & Burton, 2017)
Find Out! Volcanoes (Dorling Kindersley, 2016)
Anzac Heroes illustrated by Marco Ivancic (Scholastic, 2016)
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame: 25 Kiwi Champions, illo Marco Ivancic (New Holland, 2014)
The Last of Maui’s Dolphins picture book, illo Bruce Potter (New Holland, 2014)
Running Our Country: A look inside New Zealand’s Government (New Holland, 2013)
Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes (New Holland, 2012)
The Call of the Kokako illustrated by Heather Arnold (New Holland, 2011)
New Zealand’s Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis illustrated by Bruce Potter (New Holland, 2011)
Rangitoto illustrated by Heather Arnold (Penguin Books, 2009)
Save Our Seas Illustrated by Vivienne Lingard (New Holland, 2009)
Eco-rangers: Save our Planet (New Holland, 2009)
Dogs on the Job (Reed, 2008)
Operation Nest Egg (Reed, 2007)
Bird’s-eye View (Penguin Books, 2006)
Homework Powerpack (Zenith Publishing, 2005)
Digital Books
Operation Nest Egg Chick (Pixel Books, 2013)
The Rock Standing in the Ocean (Pixel Books, 2013)
Published under own imprint Long White Cloud Books
Rangitoto 2014 (reprint)
Operation Nest Egg Chick 2014