Montague Harry "Monte" Holcroft OBE (14 May 1902 – 24 September 1993) was a New Zealand essayist and novelist.

His 18½ years editing the New Zealand Listener "confirmed the Listener as a unique institution at the centre of New Zealand's cultural life".^[1]

Early life and family

Holcroft was the second of three sons, born in Rangiora on 14 May 1902 to Harry Cooper Holcroft and Harriet Emily Soanes. He was married three times and had three children, Allan Holcroft (deceased) from his first marriage and is survived by two children from his second marriage, Anthony Holcroft and Jocelyn Rimmington.

Life

In 1936, Holcroft began writing for the Southland Times and became its editor. In 1949, Holcroft was offered the editorship of the New Zealand Listener in Wellington. He took up the appointment in June 1949.^[2] He became the longest-serving editor of the New Zealand Listener.

He helped found the New Zealand branch of UNESCO.^[3]

Honours and awards

In 1947, Holcroft received the Hubert Church Award. In the 1970 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to journalism.^[4]

Works

Novels

• Beyond the Breakers, John Long, 1928
• The Flameless Fire, John Long, 1931^[5]
• Brazilian Daughter John Long, 1931

Essays

• The village transformed: aspects of change in New Zealand, 1900-1990. Victoria University Press. 1990. ISBN 978-0-86473-210-1.
• A voice in the village: the Listener editorials of M.H. Holcroft. Silver Fern Books. 1989. ISBN 978-0-908792-04-7.
• New Zealand: Essay by M.H. Holcroft. Illustrators Kenneth Bigwood, Jean Bigwood. Reed. 1966.((cite book)): CS1 maint: others (link)
• Encircling seas: an essay by M. H. Holcroft. The Caxton Press. 1946.
• The Deepening Stream: Cultural Influences in New Zealand (1940)

Memoir

• The way of a writer, Volume 1. Cape Catley. 1984. ISBN 978-0-908561-17-9.
• A sea of words: volume two of an autobiography. Cape Catley. 1986. ISBN 978-0-908561-15-5.

History

• The Line of the Road: A History of Manawatu County, 1876-1976. John McIndoe Ltd. 1977. OL 4380812M.

Anthology

• Discovered Isles: a Trilogy : The Deepening Stream, The Waiting Hills, Encircling Seas. Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1950. Voyager link
• Timeless World : a Collection of Essays, Wellington: Progressive Publishing Society, 1945. Voyager link NZ Listener 323.13 Aug (1945): 12-13.