Mary Varnham
{{Short description|New Zealand writer and publisher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
Mary Varnham (born 1946) is a New Zealand writer and publisher.{{Cite web|date=1 January 1946|title=Varnham, Mary, 1946–|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22421256|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Varnham, Mary, 1946– {{!}} Items {{!}} National Library of New Zealand {{!}} National Library of New Zealand|language=en}} She was a Wellington City Councillor from 1998 to 2001.{{Cite web|date=24 June 2017|title=Mary Varnham {{!}} Awa Press|url=https://awapress.com/authors/mary-varnham/|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Awa Press {{!}} Award-winning publishers of intelligent, thought-provoking non-fiction|language=en-US}}
Biography
Varnham was raised in Paekākāriki until she was 8 years old, when her family moved to Wellington.{{Cite web|last=Varnham|first=Mary|date=9 March 1993|title=Interview with Mary Varnham|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35831725|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Interview with Mary Varnham {{!}} Items {{!}} National Library of New Zealand {{!}} National Library of New Zealand|language=English}} She attended Paekākāriki School, Hataitai School, Wellington East Girls College and Woodford House. She studied a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English and political science at the University of Otago, graduating in 1969.{{Cite web|date=1 January 1946|title=Varnham, Mary, 1946–|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22421256|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Varnham, Mary, 1946– {{!}} Items {{!}} National Library of New Zealand {{!}} National Library of New Zealand|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Wellington|first=Unity|title=White Water Publishing, Booknotes 149, Autumn 2005|url=http://unitybooks.nz/ourhistory/white-water-publishing-booknotes-149-autumn-2005/|access-date=15 October 2021|website=unitybooks.nz|language=en-US}} From 1972 to 1978, she lived in New York City, where she worked as a writer, public relations consultant, and book publicist at Simon & Schuster.
After returning to New Zealand, she worked at National Business Review and Network Communications. In 1983, she joined the New Zealand Labour Party’s parliamentary research unit and in 1984, she became a ministerial press secretary for Ann Hercus in David Lange's Labour Government.
From 1998 to 2001, Varnham was a Wellington City Councillor. In 2001 she stood for Mayor of Wellington, but was unsuccessful, finishing second behind deputy mayor Kerry Prendergast.{{cite web|url=http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/elections/results/2001/2001results.html|title=Election Results – 2001|publisher=Wellington City Council|accessdate=17 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001121559/http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/elections/results/2001/2001results.html|archive-date=1 October 2006|url-status=dead}}
In 2003, Varnham established Awa Press, a publishing company focusing on non-fiction works by New Zealand and overseas writers.{{Cite web|date=27 February 2011|title=The life of a publisher|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/4713111/The-life-of-a-publisher|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}} She edited Peter Adds' book The Transit of Venus, which was shortlisted for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in the Reference & Anthology Category in 2008.{{Cite web|last=CircleSoft|title=The Transit of Venus: How a Rare Astronomical Alignment Changed the World|url=https://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/p/nz-non-fiction-the-transit-of-venus-how-a-rare-astronomical-alignment-changed-the-world|access-date=15 October 2021|website=The Women's Bookshop|language=en}}
Publications
- Varnham, M., & Woodford House (Havelock North, N.Z.). (1994). Beyond blue hills: One hundred years of Woodford House. Havelock North, N.Z: Woodford House.{{Cite book|last1=Varnham|first1=Mary|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39968155|title=Beyond blue hills: one hundred years of Woodford House|last2=Woodford House (Havelock North|first2=N.Z.)|date=1994|publisher=Woodford House|isbn=978-0-473-02436-9|location=Havelock North, N.Z.|language=English|oclc=39968155}}
- Kedgley, S. J., & Varnham, M. (1993). Heading nowhere in a navy blue suit: And other tales from the feminist revolution. Wellington, N.Z: Daphne Brasell Associates Press.{{Cite book|last1=Kedgley|first1=Susan Jane|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30157332|title=Heading nowhere in a navy blue suit: and other tales from the feminist revolution|last2=Varnham|first2=Mary|date=1993|publisher=Daphne Brasell Associates Press|isbn=978-0-908896-30-1|location=Wellington, N.Z.|language=English|oclc=30157332}}
- Varnham, M. (1979). Bhutan: Himalayan Kingdom. Thimphu: Royal Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan.{{Cite book|last=Varnham|first=Mary|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/604651471|title=Bhutan: Himalayan Kingdom|date=1979|publisher=Royal Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan|location=Thimphu|language=English|oclc=604651471}}
Personal life
References
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Category:New Zealand publishers (people)
Category:People educated at Woodford House
Category:People educated at Wellington East Girls' College
Category:University of Otago alumni
Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politicians