Gavin Bishop
John Bishop ONZM (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.
Also recorded as Gavin John Bishop
Gavin Bishop
Johannes van Kan · Supplied by copyright holder WORD Christchurch programme director Rachael King · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Gavin Bishop
- Birth Name
- Gavin John Bishop
- Born
- 1946
- Birthplace
- Invercargill, New Zealand
- Occupation
- Writer
- Education
- University of Canterbury
- Spouse
- Vivien Bishop
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Honours
- Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement (Non-Fiction) · honorary doctor of the University of Canterbury
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John Bishop ONZM (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.
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wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q26466098 · wikipedia · Gavin Bishop
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Gavin Bishop • Honorific Suffix — ONZM • Birth Name — Gavin John Bishop • Born — 1946 • Birthplace — Invercargill, New Zealand • Occupation — Writer • Language — English • Education — University of Canterbury • Spouse — Vivien Bishop • Children — 3 • Website — gavinbishop.com Gavin John Bishop ONZM (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.
Early life
Early life
Bishop was born on 13 February 1946 in Invercargill, to a Tainui and Ngāti Awa family.
Career
Career
Bishop worked as a high school art teacher for thirty years, before writing and illustrating children's books full-time. Bishop's first published picture book was Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, published in 1981 by Oxford University Press. In 2006, he accused the makers of the Hollywood film Mr and Mrs Smith of plagiarizing his 1997 school book The Secret Lives of Mr and Mrs Smith. Hundreds of artworks by Bishop were purchased by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in a deal announced in 2025.
Identity
Identity
Gavin Bishop is recorded with the occupation picture book writer. Recorded as a citizen of New Zealand.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1946
Gavin Bishop was born on 13 February 1946.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q26466098: Gavin Bishop
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “Gavin Bishop”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Select honours and awards
• 2026 - Finalist for Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction for Taniwha at the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. • 2022 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, the Nonfiction and Illustration awards for Atua • 2018 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award for Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story at the New Zealand Children's Book Awards • 2013 – Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Children's Literature. • 2013 – Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award • 2013, 2000, 1994, 1983 – New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, winner of the picture book category. • 2010, 2008, 2006, 1982 – LIANZA Russell Clark Medal for Illustration. • 2000 – Margaret Mahy Medal for Services to Children's Literature. • 1984 – Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations, Grand Prize.
Select bibliography
• 2025 - Taniwha, 64pp (Penguin) • 2024 – Titiro Look, 36pp (Gecko Press) • 2021 – Atua: Māori gods and heroes, 64pp (Picture Puffin) • 2020 – Mihi, 18pp, (Gecko Press) • 2018 – Cook's Cook Limited Edition, 40pp, (Gecko Press) • 2018 – Cook's Cook, 40pp, (Gecko Press) • 2017 – Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story (Penguin) • 2017 – Helper and Helper, 128pp, (Gecko Press) • 2013 – Mister Whistler, 32pp, (Gecko Press) • 2012 – Koinei te Whare nā Haki i Hanga, 40pp, Māori translation of The House that Jack Built (Gecko Press) • 2012 – The House that Jack Built, 40pp, (Gecko Press) • 2010 – Counting the Stars: Four Maori Myths • 2010 – Friends: Snake & Lizard, Joy Cowley, Gecko Press (illustrator) • 2010 – Cowshed Christmas (illustrator) • 2010 – There Was a Crooked Man • 2009 – Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood • 2008 – Rats! • 2008 – Snake & Lizard, Gecko Press (illustrator) • 2007 – Riding the Waves: four Maori Myths • 2006 – Te Waka • 2006 – Kiwi Moon • 2005 – Taming the Sun: Four Maori Myths • 2004 – The Three Billy Goats Gruff • 2002 – Tom Thumb • 1982 – Mr. Fox, 32pp, (Oxford University Press)
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Gavin Bishop received Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement (Non-Fiction) and honorary doctor of the University of Canterbury.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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