Brian Turner

Brian Lindsay Turner (4 March 1944 – 5 February 2025) was a New Zealand poet, author, environmental campaigner and field hockey player. He was New Zealand Poet Laureate between 2003 and 2005.

Life and career Turner was born in Dunedin on 4 March 1944. He played hockey for New Zealand in the 1960s and was a senior cricketer and veteran road cyclist of note. His mountaineering experience included ascending a number of major peaks including Aoraki / Mount Cook.

In 1978, Turner was one of the founders of the South Island Independence Movement.

His writing included columns and reviews for daily and weekly newspapers, articles, given radio talks, and written scripts for TV programmes. His publications included cricket books with his brother Glenn Turner, the former NZ cricket captain, essays, books on fishing, the high country, and eight collections of poetry. His other brother was golfer Greg Turner. He died in Wānaka on 5 February 2025, at the age of 80.

Awards and recognition

1979 – Commonwealth Poetry Prize 1985 – J.C. Reid Memorial Prize 1997 – appointed Canterbury Writer in Residence 2010 – Poetry Award for Just This at the New Zealand Post Book Awards