Antony Alpers (1919-1997) was a native of New Zealand, born and educated in Christchurch. He enjoyed a successful career as a journalist, music critic, editor, teacher, university professor, and most notably as a biographer and historian.

His books include the acclaimed Katherine Mansfield: a Biography, the groundbreaking Dolphins, his definitive study Maori Myths and Tribal Legends, and Legends of the South Seas (reissued as The World of the Polynesians).