Witi Ihimaera photo by Colin McDiarmid
Coming soon to Newtown Library we have a very special launch event for the new anthology A Kind of Shelter Whakaruru-taha. The panel for this event features some of Aotearoa’s most acclaimed authors, poets and artists. Leading up to the launch, we thought we would place a spotlight on just a few of the stellar writers who will be in attendance.
Our first spotlight is on one of the editors; the iconic and nationally celebrated writer Witi Ihimaera. In 2017, Witi Ihimaera was awarded a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. What the selectors said when awarding him this accolade speaks volumes about his work and practice. They described Witi “as one of New Zealand’s most important post-colonial writers, who has consistently proved to be an outstanding storyteller, celebrated as a voice for Māoritanga and a literary leader’. We are thrilled that Witi Ihimaera will be one of the hosts at the Launch of for A Kind of Shelter Whakaruru-taha.
Our other honoured guests include Michelle Elvy, Tina Makereti, Pip Adam, Harry Ricketts, Gregory O’Brien, Ya-Wen Ho and Noa Noa von Bassewitz.
Friday 26th of May, , 6-7pm
Newtown Library
A Kind of Shelter Whakaruru-taha is a major anthology of new writing featuring some of Aotearoa’s most eminent writers, artists and thinkers as they consider what our shared future might hold. The book is a series of rich conversations that discuss our world in the second decade of this century. Just a few of the hot button topics the authors look at include decolonisation, indigeneity and climate change. A Kind of Shelter Whakaruru-taha, itself, is arranged according to the principles of whaikōrero.
The anthology, co-edited by Witi Ihimaera and Michelle Elvy, embraces a wide spectrum of voices. It creates a multiplicity of views for readers to consider. The writers included also hail from a wide variety of artistic and professional practices, including: poets, anthropologists, fiction writers, architects and academics. The resultant final book is a luminous hui, a book to return to time and again.
As co editor Witi Ihimaera says of the book – “It incorporates all types of writing, positions Aotearoa New Zealand as a marae for the future and it empowers so many voices from so many places to speak out to the world with strong and vigorous kōrero. It has built for itself a truly unique and innovative marae from which to hui from.”
Please note we anticipate that this event will be very popular and seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
