William James Ballantine QSO MBE (15 April 1937 – 1 November 2015) was a British-born New Zealand marine biologist.

Born in Leicester, England, on 15 April 1937,[citation needed] Ballantine was awarded an MA from Downing College, Cambridge and a PhD from Queen Mary College, University of London.

[1] He emigrated to New Zealand in 1964 when he was appointed the inaugural director of the University of Auckland's Leigh Marine Laboratory.

[4] Ballantine died at Auckland City Hospital on 1 November 2015; his wife Dulcie had predeceased him.

[6] In the 1994 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to marine biology and conservation.