Dave Hansford

Dave Hansford is an award-winning writer and photographer based in Nelson, specialising in science and environment issues. He spent 14 years as a press photographer before turning to freelance writing in 2002. He has worked as a science reporter for National Geographic News and environment writer and columnist on The Listener, and in 2012, had a regular environment slot on TVNZ’s Good Morning show. His writing and photography has also appeared in North and South, Good, NZ Business, BBC Wildlife, Australia Nature, Action Asia, Destinations, Wilderness, Forest & Bird and Seafood magazines, as well as newspapers around the world. He worked as an editor on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 5th Assessment Report, and between 2010 and 2013, edited NIWA’s Water & Atmosphere magazine. He currently writes mostly for New Zealand Geographic magazine, where he pens a regular science column, Life. When he’s not working (even when he is) he enjoys tramping, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and diving. In 2016, he published his first book, Protecting Paradise; an examination of the science and mythology around 1080, and the psycho-social phenomena it engenders. He recently received a Queen’s Service Medal for services to the environment.