Maurice Shadbolt

Maurice Francis Richard Shadbolt CBE (4 June 1932 – 10 October 2004) was a New Zealand writer and playwright.

Shadbolt was born in Auckland, and was the eldest of three children. He had a younger brother and sister, Peter and Julia. Shadbolt was educated at Te Kuiti High School, Avondale College and Auckland University College. In total, Shadbolt wrote 11 novels, four collections of short stories, two autobiographies, a war history, and a volume of journalism, as well as plays. His most famous book is probably Season of the Jew (1987), which recounts the story of Te Kooti.

In the 1989 New Year Honours, Shadbolt was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to literature.

Shadbolt suffered from what was thought to be Alzheimer's disease, which during his autopsy was revealed to be Lewy body dementia. On his death on 10 October 2004, in his rest home in Taumarunui, he was surrounded by his children. Shadbolt had five children: Sean, Brendan, and twins Tui and Daniel from his first marriage to journalist and author Gillian Heming. His second daughter Brigid was from his second marriage to television presenter, Barbara Magner. Shadbolt was also married to the actress Bridget Armstrong and a cousin, Tim Shadbolt, is Mayor of Invercargill.

His works were often published in the UK and United States as well as in New Zealand, sometimes in different years. Dates are for the first appearance.

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