David Hill lives and writes in New Plymouth. He was a high school teacher for some years before turning to fulltime writing. His novels and stories for teenagers and younger readers are published in several languages. He also writes adult fiction and is a reviewer for various publications.
In 2004 David was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and in 2005 he was awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, acknowledging his significant contribution to children's literature in New Zealand. In 2021 David was a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement.