Gee was born in Pahiatua, a town in the North Island of New Zealand, and studied at the University of Auckland. He began his writing career in the 1950s, and has since published over 30 books. His works have been widely praised for their literary quality, and have won numerous awards, including the New Zealand Book Award for Fiction and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize.
Gee's writing often deals with themes of New Zealand history, culture, and identity. His novels include *The Big Season* (1962), *In My Father's Den* (1972), *The World According to Barney* (1989), and *The Fire* (2004). His children's books include *The Lonely Kid* (1968), *The Underdogs* (1972), and *The Dolphin Song* (1984).
Gee is also a noted essayist and reviewer. His essays have appeared in various publications, including *Landfall*, *The Listener*, and *The New Zealand Herald*. He has also taught creative writing at the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato.
In addition to his literary achievements, Gee has been active in the arts community in New Zealand. He was the founding director of the New Zealand Writers' Workshop, and has served on the boards of several literary organizations. He was also awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to literature in 1995.
Maurice Gee is a bedeutende literary figure in New Zealand, and his writings have had a profound influence on the country's literary culture. He is a master of the short story and the novel, and his works are widely read and admired both within New Zealand and abroad.