11 Nov 2025

Lee-Anne Duncan: the huge impact of losing a parent too young

From Nine To Noon, 10:05 am on 11 November 2025
Lee-Anne Duncan (middle left) as a child with her brother, mum, and dad. She is writing a book about and for children whose parents die.

Photo: Supplied by Lee-Anne Duncan

At age nine Lee-Anne Duncan's mother died.

Now several decades later, and a mother herself, the Wellington journalist and editor has connected with 80 other people - some well-known, some less so - who lost a parent in childhood or in their teens.

She has interviewed them and plans to compile their stories into a book - with a view to helping others.

She has a website and is crowdfunding towards the costs of publishing the book.

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