David Christopher Thorns ONZM (26 August 1943 – 25 December 2020) was a New Zealand sociologist, particularly known for his work on urban and suburban sociology.
[2][3] In 1966, Thorns married Gloria Kathleen Corrigan, and the couple went on to have two children.
[2] He subsequently moved in 1977 to the University of Canterbury, where he remained for the rest of his career, rising to the rank of full professor.
[6] In 1995, Thorns was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand,[7] and in 2002 he was awarded the University of Canterbury Research Medal.
[6] In the 2009 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to urban sociology.