# John Hall-Jones

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**John Hall-Jones** (14 September 1927 – 19 November 2015) was a New Zealand [historian](/source/Historian), [otolaryngologist](/source/Otolaryngologist) and [outdoorsman](/source/Outdoorsman). Jones concentrated on the history of [Southland](/source/Southland,_New_Zealand) and [Otago](/source/Otago), New Zealand's southernmost [regions](/source/Regions_of_New_Zealand), as well as the [New Zealand Subantarctic Islands](/source/New_Zealand_Subantarctic_Islands).[1]

Born in 1927, Hall-Jones was the great–grandson of [John Turnbull Thomson](/source/John_Turnbull_Thomson) (1821–1884), a British [architect](/source/Architect) and [civil engineer](/source/Civil_engineer) who was the original surveyor of the city of [Invercargill](/source/Invercargill),[1] the grandson of New Zealand prime minister Sir [William Hall-Jones](/source/William_Hall-Jones), and the son of [Fred Hall-Jones](/source/Fred_Hall-Jones), a community leader and historian.[1][2] He studied medicine at the [University of Otago](/source/University_of_Otago), graduating [MB ChB](/source/MB_ChB) in 1953,[3] and then undertook postgraduate training in London.[4] Until his retirement at the age of 60, Hall-Jones was a practising [otolaryngologist](/source/Otolaryngologist),[1] and made a significant contribution to postgraduate medical education in Southland.[4]

An avid outdoorsman, much of Hall–Jones's writing focused on the [natural history](/source/Natural_history) and wilderness areas of southern New Zealand. He also published works on the history of [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica), the [Himalayas](/source/Himalayas), [Patagonia](/source/Patagonia), and the [Rocky Mountains](/source/Rocky_Mountains).[1] Hall-Jones would often begin research for his books by exploring the wilderness of an area by flying, [kayaking](/source/Kayaking), trekking or camping in a region. He would write during the winters when the weather was colder.[1] In all he published 34 historical books.[5]

In the [1995 New Year Honours](/source/1995_New_Year_Honours_(New_Zealand)), Hall-Jones was appointed an [Officer of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire), for services to medicine and local history.[6] In 2007, he was awarded an honorary [Doctor of Laws](/source/Legum_Doctor) degree by the University of Otago.[4] He won the J.M. Sherrard Award for regional histories for two of his books, *Fiordland Explored* and *Bluff Harbour*.[1] His *The Fjords of Fiordland* was a finalist in the 2003 [Montana Book Awards](/source/Montana_Book_Awards),[7] while *Goldfields of the South* was a Sir James Wattie Book award finalist.[1]

In 2015, he published his autobiography, *A Life of Adventures*, just a few months before his death. He died on 19 November 2015, at the age of 88.[1]

## References

1. Fallow, Michael (23 November 2015). ["Southern historian John Hall-Jones dies"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/74293425/Southern-historian-John-Hall-Jones-dies). *[Southland Times](/source/Southland_Times)*. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

1. ["NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Ha–He"](http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university11.html). Retrieved 16 December 2015.

1. ["Otago announces December graduation honorary doctorates"](http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=10332). 29 November 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

1. Fallow, Michael (14 October 2015). ["An 88-year-old Indiana Jones reflects"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/features/72943628/an-88yearold-indiana-jones-reflects). *[Southland Times](/source/Southland_Times)*. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

1. No. 53894. 31 December 1994. p. 34.

1. ["The Fjords of Fiordland"](http://www.pageandblackmore.co.nz/product/66671-TheFjordsofFiordland-9780908629565). Page & Blackmore Booksellers. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

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