Des Hunt facts for kids

Des Hunt (born 29 December 1941) is a New Zealand writer. He creates exciting stories for children and young adults. Many of his books have won or been nominated for important awards. For example, Cry of the Taniwha won the Gaelyn Gordon Award in 2016. He also received the special Margaret Mahy Award in 2017. Des Hunt lives in Matarangi, on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Meet Des Hunt: A Writer for Young People

Des Hunt was born in Palmerston North on 29 December 1941. When he was a child, he loved science. It was his favorite subject at school! His favorite book growing up was The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

From Science Teacher to Storyteller

Des Hunt was a teacher for more than 42 years. He taught subjects like chemistry, physics, and computing. He even wrote science textbooks!

In 2007, he stopped teaching to focus on writing full-time. But he still visits schools often. He loves to talk about his books. Sometimes, he even uses fun chemical reactions to show how writing works!

Books About Our World

Des Hunt loves nature. This love shows in his books. His stories often talk about important environmental issues. They also have strong messages about protecting our planet.

He is married and has two grown-up children. He lives in Matarangi, a beautiful place on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Many of Des Hunt's books have been recognized with awards. Some have been named "Storylines Notable Books." This means they are highly recommended.

Top Book Awards

• His book Cry of the Taniwha won the Gaelyn Gordon Award in 2016. This award is for a book that many people love.
• In 2017, Des Hunt received the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. This is a very important award for New Zealand children's writers. When he received it, he gave a speech called "Stories Out Loud."
• He has also won other awards for his work in education and physics.
• His 2020 book, Red Edge, was nominated for the Young Readers prize at the Ngaio Marsh Awards in 2021.