Simon Collins was born in Feilding and was educated at Patea High School and Wanganui High School. He graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Victoria University in 1975 and completed a Diploma in Journalism at the University of Canterbury in 1976. From 1976-1979 Collins worked for the Evening Post and in 1980-1982 worked in Australia and Britain. He was a journalist for the New Zealand Herald from 1983-1992, and from 1993-2000 was a News Editor for City Voice. In 2000 Collins rejoined the New Zealand Herald where he works as the science reporter. In 1985 he won third prize in Westpac Financial Journalism and in 1991 won the Life Officers Association Superannuation Award for articles about superannuation. In 2003 he won the Qantas Media Awards for science news writing and science feature writing, and he won an Industry NZ award for writing about innovation and entrepreneurship.
Biographical sources
- Interviews and email correspondence with Simon Collins on 9 Aug. 1992, 27 July 1998, and 17 March 2004.
Non-fiction
- Rogernomics: Is There a Better Way? Ed. Tony Keesing. Wellington, N.Z.: Pitman, 1987. Extract rpt. as "Rogernomics: Where it Sits in the History of Economics." Management 34.3 (1987): 25-28.
- Collins writes that this publication is a "popular analysis of Roger Douglas’s economic reforms up to 1987."
- "Rogernomics: The Economic Aftermath." The Making of Rogernomics. Ed. Brian Easton. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 1989. 188-206.
- A detailed study and assessment of the objectives of Rogernomics and its impact on inflation, productivity, deficits, debts and social cost. Collins explores possible alternative policies and examines policies adopted in other nations.
- "City Voice, An Alternative to the Corporate Model." Pacific Journalism Review 10.2 (2004): 32-45.
- Co-authors Simon Collins and Jeremy Rose.