DAVID YOUNG is a professional, independent writer in the field of history and the environment. David is a highly respected writer and consistent advocate for environmental environmental justice over many decades. He is published widely in essays, articles, magazines and author of 10 books. David has worked in film and oral history and as a journalist, features writer, researcher and editor.
He is the recipient of a number of fellowships and awards. A Stout Research Fellowship (Victoria University Wellington) resulted in Woven by Water and he received a Creative New Zealand-Fulbright residency at the University of Hawai'i which enabled Wai Pasifika. David lives in Te Wai Pounamu, Aotearoa (South Island, NZ) writing and engaged in regeneration of bio-diversity, sustainability issues and environmental management. |
David's work reflect a fascination with freshwater, Maori- settler environmental history and, increasingly,
the relationship between nature and culture. His books include:
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Journals & Dictionary Entries
For an annotated list of entries for David Christopher Young (1947) see The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa Authoritative Researcher-Writer: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography,1990 Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 2009-> Terra Nova, 1990-1992: Founder & Editor of a monthly resource management magazine. Waste Awareness Newsletter, 1993-1997: Editor. Contributing Writer: Islands, 1974: New Zealand Geographic, 1989: Mana Magazine, 1998: Forest and Bird, 1996-present. New Zealand Listener, 1976-1989: Feature writer, Features Editor, Deputy Editor: Focus on energy debates and the big conservation debates of 1970s and 1980s; Think Big 1978-1983; Arts; Politics. The Christchurch Star,1971-1975: Journalist, Feature Writer and Leader Writer. |
Oral History Projects
Television Documentaries · A Conversation with Judge Joe Williams on Sustainability & Race Relations, 2008 · Shooting script writer (four episodes): Frontier of Dreams, a history of NZ · Advisor, Vincent Ward, foundation work for River Queen · Director: The Constitution debate, 2000: Constitution conference, Execam · Director: Claymates 1999: community build a rammed earth house, Execam · Director: Vote! 1998: Electoral Commission video for schools · Writer/researcher/interviewer: One Land Two People, Ninox Films · Inside New Zealand, 1997: 2nd in NZ Film and Television Awards, documentaries · Director: DOC's First Ten Years, 1997 Ninox Films · Researcher/writer/interviewer: The Poisoning of New Zealand, Ninox Films,1994 · Researcher/writer: Ruapehu Tragedy, Ninox Films, 1993 · Researcher Writer: Living Treasures series, 1990 sesqui-centennial celebrations · Researcher Writer: Pieces of Eight, on NZ Rowing Eight, 1984 |
Public Engagement
· Presentation : Scalar Refigurations, Beyond Human Scales Conference, Victoria University, 2021
· Panelist, Writers and Readers Festival, Blackball, West Coast, 2021
· Chair, Friends of Mapua Wetland, 2015-2021
· Keynote speaker and session chair: River Symposium, Canberra, Australia, 2014
· Delivered seminar Writing fiction as a non-fiction writer at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2013
· Author, 150 Years of Conservation in New Zealand Exhibition, 2012 celebrating 25 years of Department of Conservation
· Trustee, Ngati Koata Spinyback Trust, Nelson
· Chair, Tim Flannery Plenary Address, International Festival of the Arts, Wellington, 2012
· Reviewer for Royal Forest and Bird Society Ko Aotearoa Tēnei: A Report into Claims Concerning New Zealand Law and Policy
Affecting Māori Culture and Identity: Environmental reports, Maniapoto & Heretaunga Plains
· President of the Professional Historians’ Association of New Zealand /Aotearoa (PHANZA)
· Relieving Lecturer; Environmental Management, Victoria University, 2010
· Lecturer/coordinator, Health & Environment, Public Health 703, University of Otago, clinical school Wellington, 2009
· Board member, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), New Zealand division, 1993-2008
· Speech-writer, including Minister for Science and Technology Steve Maharey’s speech on sustainability, 2007
· Chair, NZ Festival of the Arts session, guest speaker David Suzuki, 2002
· Panelist, NZ Festival of the Arts, with Michael Ignatieff on Blood and Belonging, 2000
· Writer, New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy team 1997-98
· Research and tangata whenua liaison, Whanganui River conservation project 1998
· Writer/director for major refit of four Natural History galleries, Auckland War Memorial Museum 1997-98
· Writer 60 essays on Treaty and Maori matters, Te Papa, 1997
· Communications advisor, Wanganui, Kaimanawa Wild Horses, DoC, 1997
· Key-note speaker: Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust Conference, Dunedin
The re-seeding of Aotearoa: Regenerating communities in culture and landscape in the face of disconnected government
· From Plough to Plate, assuring the Natural Advantage, author for MAF Quality Management 1996
· Communications director, immediate aftermath Cave Creek, Tai Poutini Polytech, Greymouth, April 1995
· Regular public speaker at a variety of seminars, conferences and festivals
Māori history
- Whanganui River Conservation Project, Research and tangata whenua liaison 1998
- Chatham Islands, Conservation issues chapters, Waitangi Tribunal, 1999-2000
- Maori Society & the State in Colonial & Post-Colonial Te Tau Ihu (top of South Island 1880-1960) Crown Forestry Rental Trust, 1999
- Taranaki Sacred Sites, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Maniapoto, CFRT, 1999
- Rongowhakaata iwi – a tribal history, Crown Forestry Rental Trust, 2000
- Traditional and Customary History, Southern Whanganui Cluster, CFRT, 2006-7
- Wai 262 Flora and Fauna Report (Wai 262) Report 2008; National Park Inquiry Report, 2009-11, writer on conservation, customary and fisheries chapters
- Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka A Maui, Analysis & writing for the Report, Northern South Island Claims, Office of Treaty Settlements, 2009
- Evidence: Pouakani case, J. Paki versus the crown 2010
- External Appraiser, CFRT and Justice Dept, Environmental /historical reports, Heretaunga Plains (2010), Te Rohe Pōtae (2011), Lake Horowhenua (2015), and Rural Rivers, Northland (2016)
- Ko Aotearoa Tēnei: A Report into Claims Concerning New Zealand Law and Policy Affecting Māori Culture and Identity. Reviewer, Crown Forestry Rental Trust (CFRT), 2 Environmental reports, Maniapoto & Heretaunga Plains
Researcher & Witness to Indigenous Rights Hearings
Whanganui Southern Cluster, 2008: Traditional and customary evidence, Waitangi Tribunal
Buller Conservation Order, 1995: Wild and scenic evidence presented to hearing
Te Whanganui a Oroto, 1993: Environmental evidence researched and presented to Waitangi Tribunal for claimants in Napier
Whanganui Minimum flows, 1989: Evidence to Planning Tribunal, hearing for tangata whenua
Raupatu claims, 1989: Research Manager, Waitangi Tribunal
Whanganui Minimum Flows, 1988: Evidence to Catchment Board Hearing, for tangata whenua and DoC