Children's book author Margaret Mahy died in Christchurch on Monday afternoon after a short illness, says literary figure Graham Beattie.
"Margaret Mahy, one of New Zealand's greatest-ever writers, (I put her up there with Katherine Mansfield), died in Christchurch this afternoon after a brief illness," the former publisher and bookseller says on his well-read blog Bookman Beattie.
"Farewell Margaret, I salute you, it has been both an honour and privilege to know you."
Mahy was born in Whakatane on March 21, 1936. She wrote her first story at the age of seven.
After graduating from Auckland University College and Canterbury University College in 1955 with a BA, she then attended the New Zealand Library School in Wellington, received her Librarian's diploma and went to work for the Petone Public Library.
In 1967 she worked for the School Library Service in Christchurch.
During this time she had stories published in the New Zealand School Journal.
Mahy's first book to be published was A Lion in the Meadow in 1969.
In 1976 she was appointed Children's Librarian at Canterbury Public Library.
In 1980 she became a fulltime writer and has gone on to win numerous awards for her books, and honours for her contribution to New Zealand and children's literature.
She had written more than 120 books.
NZN