Dr. John E. Martin has researched and written about New Zealand history since the 1980s, teaching in universities and employed as a historian in the public sector. He was parliamentary historian in the 2000s and 2010s. His publications include rural and labour history, the history of science and engineering, and social and political history. His books include The Forgotten Worker (1990), People, Politics and Power Stations (1991 and 1998), Holding the Balance (1996), The House: New Zealand's House of Representatives, 1854–2004 (2004), Parliament's Library (2008), Honouring the Contract (2010), Illuminating Our World (2017), A Colonist's Gaze (2018), Empire City: New Zealand Becomes the Capital of New Zealand (2022) and Isaac Featherston – 'Petatone': A Colonial Life (2025).
