William Taylor, an icon of New Zealand literature', died in Taumarunui, aged 77. He is pictured in 2010, when he released his memoir.

A Kiwi author will be remembered for generations to come through his books, say his peers.

William Taylor was the man behind children's classics such as Possum Perkins and The Worst Socer Team Ever, and young adult fiction including The Blue Lawn and Jerome.

He died in Taumarunui on Saturday, aged 77.



Taylor was born in Lower Hutt but Raurimu, near the Tongariro National Park, was his "beloved home", a memorial notice said.

He was described as a "writer of books, teacher of hundreds, tireless worker for the community".

"So ends a life in writing, no more telling tales, but you can still read them today."

Taylor was mayor of Ohakune and a primary school principal when he started writing in the early eighties.

Author tributes are already being paid, including from celebrated children's author Joy Cowley.

"We will miss his humour, his unfailing kindness, his courage, the books that could have been but we are so grateful for the writings we have," she said.

"Through his novels, future generations who never met him, will be glad to know him."

Taylor published six adult novels overseas, which he always called an apprenticeship for his children's novels.

Once he became a full-time writer in 1986 - thanks to a Choysa Bursary- he produced almost one book a year.

His last was the 2010 memoir Telling Tales: a Life in Writing.

New Zealand Society of Authors president Kyle Mewburn said Taylor's influence wasn't only through his writing.

"Bill Taylor was undoubtedly an icon of New Zealand literature. Less well known is his enormous contribution to the wider literary community."

He was NZSA national president from 2001 to 2004 and was appointed president of honour in 2009.

"His advocacy for, and support of, all writers has left a lasting legacy," Mewburn said.

READ MORE:

* Telling Tales: A Life in Writing

And Taylor accrued many honours.

He received Italy's prestigious Premio Andersen Award and several of his novels were chosen for the international White Ravens Catalogue - for newly-published youth literature considered "especially noteworthy".

Taylor also received literary honours within New Zealand, including the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for lifetime achievement, the then AIM Children's Book Awards, and writers' residencies.

He was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2004, for services to literature and the community.

That community service continued - until recently he was chairman of the National Park Community Board.

Taylor's work was described as "warmly humorous books for younger readers" and "thought-provoking novels for adolescents" by Storylines Children's Literature Trust chair Dr Libby Limbrick.

He visited hundreds - maybe thousands - of schools around the country as a board member of the New Zealand Book Council, writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop said.

"His often challenging and beautifully crafted writing established a high benchmark for the younger writers who followed him."

Taylor was a mentor for author Janice Marriott, who said she would miss his wisdom and humour.

Long-time friend and author Tessa Duder said Taylor was one of the writers who took fiction for Kiwi kids to a new level.

"His was a unique comic voice, matched in New Zealand literature only by Mahy. Equally, he produced tough young adult novels of unflinching realism, showing great sympathy for teenagers searching for a sense of self, often in terrible circumstances."

Taylor is survived by two sons, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.