David Grant

David Grant was born and raised in the southernmost city in New Zealand, Invercargill. Also one of the world’s most southern cities, it is situated across Foveaux Strait from Stewart Island. Following a BA degree in English Literature and World History from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, and an MA Honours degree in New Zealand History from the University of Auckland, David worked as a journalist for a period, undertook extensive overseas travel and returned to a career in secondary school, primarily teaching history in a variety of New Zealand schools. He ended his teaching career as deputy principal of Ngaruawahia High School near Hamilton in the Waikato. Turangawaewae Marae, the headquarters of the Maori King movement is located in this town.

Since 1991 he has worked as an independent historian. To date, he has published 11 well-received books-with two more emerging in 2012. He has also written numerous essays for anthologies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, journals and magazines. All of these publications cover a wide selection of New Zealand historical subject matter. He regularly lectures at conferences and seminars and has participated in radio, television and film history documentary programmes. He was a founding executive member of PHANZA (The Professional Historians’ Association of New Zealand/Aotearoa), is a life member and former chairperson of the Labour History Project and is secretary and a trustee of the Community Media Trust, a collective of prominent New Zealand film makers. David looks forward to sharing his extensive knowledge of New Zealand history with his fellow travellers.