Gerry Te Kapa Coates Ngai Tahu  was born in Oamaru and studied at Christchurch Boys’ High School, University of Canterbury (1959-64), Victoria University (1979-1981) and CIT (1990) graduating BE (Hons), and ME. Coates has worked as a consulting engineer since 1970 and is currently working as a director of his own company, Wise Analysis Limited in Wellington. His long-term interest in writing began with poetry, and in later years has included short stories, nonfiction articles and a novel is in the pipeline. He has attended Huia Publishers writing workshops in 2002 and 2003, and in September 2004 he participated in ‘He Tapu Te Kupu’ organised by Te Ha, the Maori Writers Society of Toi Maori Aotearoa. Coates has been short listed in the Maori Literature Awards in 2001, 2003 and 2007. He also published and edited the industry newsletter Aviation Report (ISSN 1173 6216) from 1995 to 1998 writing some 62 editorials as well as many news articles. During 2003-2004 he also wrote a number of editorials for Engineering Dimension as President of IPENZ. In 2011 his first collection of poetry and short stories was published by Steele Roberts entitled “The View From Up There”.

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