Katherine “Elsie” Morton was a journalist and writer.
Born 5 October 1885 in Devonport, Auckland, Elsie was the only girl among five children. Privately tutored, she took an early interest in writing and began to publish articles in the New Zealand Herald as early 1907 under the name Elsie K. Morton.
In 1916 she became a full-time reporter at the Herald where she earned an avid following as a feature writer. She was one of the first to write about the beauty of Auckland’s west coast as an attraction to travellers. Her knack for bringing to life natural adventures to readers eclipsed her work as a general reporter, making her celebrity at the New Zealand Herald.
She received the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935.
Her books, “Along the Road” and “Joy of the Road” set records in sales in New Zealand. Later, she became a fixture on the radio, pioneering the genre of travel shows in New Zealand. This period of her life is reflected in her books, “Fun in Fiordland” (1950) and “A Tramper in South Westland ” (1951) remain marvellously vivid pictures of New Zealand’s yesteryear.
In 1957, she published the “Crusoes of Sunday Island,” the story of the Bell family who settled on Raoul Island. It went through numerous editions and was serialised in English, South African and New Zealand newspapers. Walt Disney bought the rights shortly before his death.
“All through my writings,” Katherine said, “I’ve tried to emphasize mercy and tolerance and kindness. I think they’re the blessed things of life.”
Katherine was writing up to the last weeks of her life. She never married.
Elsie’s stop on Purewa’s Heritage Tours
Katherine Morton (Elsie K. Morton)
Died 1968
IMAGE: Auckland City Libraries – Sir George Grey Special Collections Reference: 1324-2
