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Brian Parkinson was born in 1944 at Opotiki in the eastern Bay of
Plenty where his father was a farmer, racehorse breeder and stock
dealer. He was educated at boarding school in Auckland and later attended
Victoria University while working at the then Wildlife Branch, now
part of the Department of Conservation. After serving in Military
Intelligence (a contradiction in terms - Brian) he joined the NZBC
as Science Reporter on the station AKTV2. Brian went overseas in 1967
and spent several years prospecting in the outback of Australia and
in the remoter (uncontacted) areas of Papua New Guinea.
From 1976 to 1983, Brian directed a
marine resource survey in PNG, later undertaking similar work in
Micronesia, Seychelles, Thailand and Tuvalu. From 1983 to 1986 he
directed a marine research project in Fiji.
In this period he published several
books, and one of these 'Tropical Landshells of the World', is regarded
as. one of the great works of malacology. It has been described
by the British Museum of Natural History as "a glorious addition
to the literature of conchology".
During his time in the tropics he discovered
several dozen species of flora and fauna - up to then undescribed.
Several of these (including fish, molluscs and insects) were later
named for him.
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Books
by Brian Parkinson
'The Birds
of New Britain.'
'Tropical Landshells of the World.'
'Mitre Shells of the Pacific & Indian Ocean.'
'A Travelling Naturalist in New Zealand.'
'A Field Guide to New Zealand Rivers & Lakes'.
'New Zealand Impressions.'
‘Discover New Zealand’s Wildlife’
Books - in preparation
'Four Seasons in an
Alpine Valley'.
'Common Insects' (2 vols.)
'Common Ferns & Fern Allies'.
'Common Shells’
'A Guide to the shells of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga'.
Publications - Popular
Contributor
to:
'New Zealand Dictionary of Biography'.
'Paradise' (Air Niugini in-flight magazine)
'Nguoi du lich' (Vietnamese tourist magazine)
'Animals'
'New Guinea Post-Courier'.
'New Zealand Geographic' - in preparation.
Publications
- Scientific
numerous.
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