David Ballantyne

New Zealand journalist and writer

For the Scottish cricketer, see David Ballantyne (cricketer).

David Ballantyne

Born| (1924-06-14)14 June 1924

Auckland

Died| 24 February 1986(1986-02-24) (aged 61)
Other names| David Watt Ballantyne
Occupation| Journalist

David Watt Ballantyne (14 June 1924 – 24 February 1986) was a New Zealand journalist, novelist and short story writer.

Ballantyne was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 14 June 1924.[1] He was Māori affiliated to the iwi Ngāti Uenukukōpako and Ngāti Hinepare of Te Arawa.[2]

After a brief episode in the military and after not completing his medical studies, he began his career as a journalist at the Auckland Star. In 1948, he published his first novel, The Cunninghams in the United States. He finished Freeman’s Bay, a novel about Auckland working-class life, in 1950, but it was not accepted by either his American or his New Zealand publisher.[1]

Ballantyne married the painter Jean Vivienne Margaret Heise in 1950, with whom he had a son. In 1954 he moved with his family to London, where he continued working as a journalist and author. In 1966, the family returned to New Zealand.

Ballantyne died at his home in Ponsonby in inner-city Auckland in 1986.[1]

He published eight novels, of which the first The Cunninghams and the fifth, Sydney Bridge Upside Down are recognised as New Zealand literary classics.[citation needed]

Sydney Bridge Upside Down was adapted by director James Ashcroft into a stage-play for Taki Rua and presented at the Hannah Playhouse in 2013. [3]

## Personal

[edit]

His great-grandmother was Hēni Te Kiri Karamu.[2]

## Novels by David Ballantyne

[edit]

* The Cunninghams (1948)
* The Last Pioneer (1963)
* A Friend of the Family (1966)
* Sydney Bridge Upside Down (1968)
* The Talkback Man (1978)
* The Penfriend (1980)
* And the Glory (1983)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Moisa, Christodoulos E.G. (2012). "Ballantyne, David Watt". Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
2. ^ a b "The strange case of the first Māori author". Newsroom. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
3. ^ Bill, Guest (22 October 2014). "Sydney bridge upside down, 2013". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

## External links

[edit]

* David Ballantynel (novelist)
* The Last Pioneer (novel)

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