Gordon Ogilvie

Who is Gordon Ogilvie?

Gordon Ogilvie, ONZM, is a New Zealand historian and biographer who has written over 20 books, mainly about the people, places and institutions of the Canterbury region. He played a considerable role in uncovering the exploits of pioneer aviator Richard Pearse and popularising these for the first time through his 1973 work The Riddle of Richard Pearse. His other major biography, Denis Glover : His Life, is the first full account of this significant figure in New Zealand literature.

Born in Christchurch, Ogilvie grew up at Horotane Valley where his father was an orchardist. He was educated at St Andrew's College, Canterbury University and Victoria University. After completing a diploma in post-primary teaching he eventually returned to St Andrew's College as head of English, a position he held for 24 years. He retired from teaching in 1993 to take up writing full-time. His late wife Elisabeth was the author of another Canterbury regional history, Purau.

His output includes three biographies, a range of regional, church, club, school, family and business histories, contributions to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and Historic Buildings of New Zealand : South Island, innumerable feature articles and reviews as well as two guide books. The Port Hills of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula: Cradle of Canterbury both won the J. M. Sherrard Award for New Zealand Regional History and have been republished in revised editions. The Riddle of Richard Pearse and Denis Glover : His Life were New Zealand Book of the Year finalists.