Maurice Gee

Maurice Gee was one of New Zealand's most acclaimed writers. His work for the screen included creating 1980s kidult series The Fire-Raiser and The Champion. Gee's novels also inspired a number of screen adaptations, including beloved sci-fi series Under the Mountain and 2004 movie In My Father's Den. Maurice Gee died on 12 June 2025. 

Flame filled the inside of his head. It ran along his arteries. It licked around his bones. Maurice Gee describes the title character, in chapter eight of his 1986 book The Fire-Raiser