Stephen Stratford

Prominent writer and editor Stephen Stratford died suddenly last weekend at his home in Cambridge, in Waikato.

After growing up in Tauranga, Stephen migrated to Auckland to attend university. He took a variety of courses but warmed to none of them. Instead, he worked as a subeditor at the , then at magazine. He became deputy editor of and was the founding (1993-1997). His deputy there was poet and writer Kevin Ireland. He then worked as a freelance editor, writer and manuscript assessor until his death. He was the principal judge at the New Zealand Book Awards several times and the author of 19 books. It was his influence at that gave the magazine space for publishing short fiction and poetry, which was hugely encouraging for local writers.