To celebrate the 21st anniversary of the fabulous Wellington Writers Walk, we’ve taken a closer look at just a few of the authors represented. In this blog we take a look at Patricia Grace’s sculpture, which features a quote taken from Cousins, Penguin Books, 1992

I love this city, the hills, the harbour, the

wind that blasts through it. I love

the life and pulse and activity, and the

warm decrepitude … there’s always an edge

here that one must walk which is sharp

and precarious, requiring vigilance.

In the video below, local authors and Wellington Writers Walk Committee members Philippa Werry and Maggie Rainey-Smith explore Patricia Grace’s work –  to be found between the  bridge and the Kupe sculpture, next to The Boatshed and down the steps, or view it can be viewed from the top. They provide a fascinating insight into Patricia Grace’s work, life and creative process , and also celebrate her achievements, body of work and connections to Wellington.

From the centre : a writer’s life / Grace, Patricia
“With photographs and quotes from her many, hugely loved books, Patricia Grace begins with her grandparents and parents and takes us through her childhood, her education, marriage and up to the present day in this touching and self-deprecating story of her life, the life of a writer, of a Maori woman and of a teacher. It expresses the love for family and for ancestral land; shows the prejudices she had to face and that made her stronger; and tracks her career as a writer.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Cousins / Grace, Patricia
“Three cousins’ lives have followed very different paths, yet their struggles offer insightful glimpses into the lives of contemporary New Zealand women. The author records psychological, cultural and political circumstances that circumscribe their worlds.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Dogside story / Grace, Patricia
“Set in a rural Maori coastal community, the humour and aroha of the community are powerful life preserving factors. But there is conflict in the whanau. Te Rua is battling for custody of his daughter against his two aunts. But why are they disputing custody and what is really going on?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Potiki / Grace, Patricia
“In New Zealand, white developers pressure a Maori family to let them build a tourist complex on the family’s land. The conflict is narrated by the woman of the house. Lots of native lore.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Baby no-eyes / Grace, Patricia
“Baby No-eyes is Te Paania’s first child, killed in a car crash before she even leaves the womb. Baby’s ghost returns to comfort Te Paania, and when Baby’s brother Tawera is born he takes her place in the world although she is always by his side.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

The sky people / Grace, Patricia
“In this collection of stories, we meet the Sky People – those who are wounded in love or by circumstance and those who are unwanted or dispossessed; the challenge to human dignity and its redemption.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Chappy / Grace, Patricia
“Daniel is sent to New Zealand to sort himself out. He discovers the remarkable love story between his Maori grandmother and Japanese grandfather. Racial intolerance and cross-cultural conflicts are encountered in a story of enduring love.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Tu / Grace, Patricia
“Three brothers, a war and secrets. Te Hokowhitu-a-Tu — Tuboy, Tu Bear — is the family’s hope for the future. First chance he gets he becomes a soldier, and finds there’s no place he’d rather be than with his battalion. Some years later, a niece and nephew come looking for answers. It is time for revelations.” (Adapted from Catalogue)