Showcasing 25 years of outstanding oratory from the Going West Writers Festival: Voices of Aotearoa

A feast of New Zealand writing and ideas on offer in volume transcribed from 25 years of Going West Writers Festival 

Imagine a party at which two dozen of our leading writers and thinkers gather to share views on a provocative range of themes of national significance.

Voices of Aotearoa invites the reader to join those festivities, just as the Going West Writers Festival has been drawing audiences to Auckland’s west since 1996 to hear from a host of speakers.

This smartly designed hardback draws on the Going West Trust’s complete sound archive to reproduce edited keynote speeches from the festival — addressing topical themes in literature, politics, the environment, culture, personal lives and national identity. 

On the menu are thought-provoking essays from the likes of Michael King and Maurice Shadbolt, personal reflections from Dame Fiona Kidman and Maualaivao Albert Wendt, poetry and song from Allen Curnow and Robert Sullivan, satire from Stephanie Johnson and Te Radar, and much more in between. 

 

Bookmarking the essays are a retrospective on the festival by  Going West Trust chair Naomi McCleary, and a postscript about adapting to the Covid-19 era from current festival director James Littlewood.

James' words are prophetic, as the proposed launch of Voices of Aotearoa ahead of Going West's 11 September event has had to be postponed until at least 9 October, due to Auckland's current lockdown.

Going West has proved adept at moving its festival online, and we're happy to follow for the launch. Happily Voices of Aotearoa remains a physical object and is now available for delivery or click and collect from good booksellers around the country!

 

The writers

The eminent authors featured in Voices of Aotearoa are:

Dame Christine Cole-Catley • Nigel Cox • Allen Curnow • Patricia Grace • Charlotte Grimshaw • Stephanie Johnson  • Dame Fiona Kidman • Michael King • Elizabeth Knox • Bernard Makoare • Paula Morris •  Rod Oram • Geoff Park • Vincent O’Sullivan • Chris Price • Te Radar • Dame Anne Salmond • Maurice Shadbolt • Tony Simpson • Robert Sullivan • Ngahuia Te Awekotuku • Dame Marilyn Waring • Ian Wedde • Peter Wells • Maualaivao Albert Wendt

 

Publication: 16 September 2021  |  RRP $49.99 |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-97-1

Hardback, 220 x 170 mm, 384 pages, b&w

Publishing through the lockdown ...

The Level 4 lockdown in place in Auckland till at least mid-September is playing havoc with book publishing and distribution. 

Restrictions on despatching goods from Auckland mean that supply of books even via online ordering, or bookstores south of Auckland where Level 3 is in place, is very limited. 

This is gutting after industry consultation over the past 18 months secured assurances from central government about the importance of access to books for wellbeing in Kiwi households.

New Zealand remains one of very few countries to have restricted book sales so severely due to Covid-19.

At Oratia Books we carry on undeterred — working from home, publishing our next two titles as scheduled and hoping that our bookstore partners and their customers will understand if books aren't always available. 

So next Tuesday we will publish as best we can the wonderful picture book Blimmin' Koro/Kātahi rā, e Koro e!, a bilingual story of family aroha (love) amidst adversity. 

As soon as we can get books to author Jill Bevan-Brown in Palmerston North, she'll record a reading on video so that whānau stuck at home can enjoy the book until they're able to get hold of an actual copy. 

On 16 September comes Voices of Aotearoa: 25 Years of Going West Oratory, a beautifully designed work with a host of provocative writing from the leading New Zealand authors who have addressed the Going West Writers Festival since its inception.

Going West has rescheduled the launch of Voices of Aotearoa to 9 October, ahead of its Fabricated Reality event at Lopdell House and Te Uru, in Titirangi.

Some delay is unavoidable for our third September release, though — Seven Lives on Salt River was to be printed in Auckland in late August, but now awaits a lowering of alert levels before the printer can reopen.

We look forward to getting books into readers' hands as soon as possible, and wish everyone safe and healthy times till we're through the Delta crisis.

Going West delivers again

Many facets of Oratia Media's publishing were on show in the Going West Writers Festival in Titirangi this past weekend. 

Sir Bob Harvey kicked off the Saturday morning proceedings, talking about the book he published with Oratia in June — Sea Edge: Where the Waitematā Meets Auckland. 

Sir Bob (right) in discussion with Elisabeth Vaneveld and Gregory O'Brien

On the Sunday, our author Malcolm Paterson shared his insights into Auckland's past through the three Sharing Our Stories children's books he's published with us, and was joined by author Owen Gill, whose book Turning Point Auckland we undertook as a commissioned project at the start of the year. 

Malcolm Paterson (talking, second from right) joined Owen Gill (right) and author Patrick Reynolds (second from left) in conversation with Going West artistic director Mark Easterbrook

Then Oratia's publisher Peter Dowling took part in lively discussion of publishing realities in New Zealand, alongside Bridget Williams (Bridget Williams Books) and Harriet Allan (Penguin Random House NZ). 

Congratulations to Going West for a friendly, stimulating weekend!

The Tunnel in Going West

Thanks to the Going West Books and Writers Festival for featuring Malcolm Paterson, author of The Tunnel in our Backyard, in the opening session today.

Malcolm on stage with son Davin

Malcolm, supported by his very well-behaved son Davin, told the audience the genesis of the Sharing our Stories books published by Oratia, and outlined some of the connections to local heritage and landscape that the book conveys.

The first book in the series, The Castle in our Backyard (2010), takes kids into the history of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill, while The Tunnel in our Backyard (published this June) links to Owairaka/Mount Albert and localities in Te Atatū, Waterview and Point Chevalier.

A great morning for books in Titirangi

Going West continues throughout this weekend, offering up a cornucopia of words and ideas at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall.

Unity Books has books from Malcolm and the other featured writers and artists on sale at the festival.

Click on this link for more information about The Tunnel in our Backyard.

Going West Festival

Over 40 artists and authors will take part in more than 20 sessions this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we’ve planned the schedule so you don’t have to miss a thing. Come along and enjoy the relaxed and friendly atmosphere accompanied by delicious catering including morning and afternoon tea, lunch and supper on Friday night – all included in your day or full weekend pass.

Here you can download your full program

Book Market in Titirangi

Tomorrow, on 8 September, the annual bookmarket of the Going West Festival will be held at Titirangi Memorial Hall from 10 am to 2 pm.
Oratia Media will be there with a book stall, where you can browse and buy all our current books.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Iron-Bound Coast book launch

12 September 2009 - Going West Books & Writers Festival

Oratia Media was pleased to launch the third title of its Libro International book list - The Iron-Bound Coast: Karekare in the Early Years - at the Going West festival. On stage, publisher Peter Dowling and writer Bob Harvey spoke to a crowd of over 150 about the historical significance of the book and its wry and witty tales, while a slideshow of old pictures in the background gave an insight of Karekare at the beginning of last century. Author Wallace Badham died in 2001, but he was represented by family members including son, Warwick.

Thanks to the Badham family, the local organisations that supported the book, our talented publishing team, and the fine people behind the Going West festival for their help in making this a memorable night.

Read more about the making of The Iron-Bound Coast book, and an interview with Bob Harvey on the Western Leader

Bookman and blogger Graham Beattie was there to report on the Festival.

Beattie's Book Blog

And after the talks the celebrations continued with Italian nibbles made by Oratia Media Creative Director Alessandra Zecchini, and wine offered by Artisan Wines.

And now a final note: a few guests from the launch asked to know the recipe of the chilled cucumber soup, so here it is:

Alessandra's Chilled Cucumber Soup

Ingredients:

1 telegraph cucumber

A few generous pinches of salt

4 tbsp white balsamic condiment (or white aromatic vinegar)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

5 fresh mint leaves

2 garlic cloves, peeled

750 ml plain full cream yogurt

Salt and pepper to taste.

Carrot sticks and Borage flowers to decorate.

Slice the cucumber (do not peel) and place in a colander with salt. Stir and let the cucumber sweat for 30 minutes. Rinse well under cold running water and then place in a blender with the vinegar (only use white vinegar). Let the cucumber absorb the vinegar for 10 minutes, the add extra virgin olive oil, mint, garlic and yogurt. Blend a few times, until liquid and lightly frothy. Adjust with salt and pepper to taste and store in the fridge until serving time. Shake well before serving and decorate with thin carrot sticks and borage flowers.

Going West Books & Writers Festival Programme 2009

The Going West Books and Writers Festival comprises an exciting range of word-based events including the theatre

season, poetry slam, rare and second-hand book market, writers in schools programme, the literary weekend - bringing together

writers and performers from around the country and Storyfest, the free family day.

The festival will be running from 17 August - 26 September

at various venues in Waitakere City.

Celebrate the West:

Westside Forever - FREE Afternoon

Saturday 12 September

4:30 to 5:30 - An insiders look at 'Outrageous Fortune' with James Griffin, Rachel Lang and Robyn Malcolm (Cheryl)

5:30 Book launch - The Ironbound Coast - Karekare in the Early Years,

with wine and nibbles

For the Festival Programme click here

The Iron-Bound Coast

The Iron-Bound Coast is a rare book. Discovered by writer and Waitakere City mayor Bob Harvey while researching Auckland’s spectacular west coast, the two manuscripts for the work were written in long hand with photos laboriously pasted in. Wally Badham had set out to preserve his crystal-clear memories of early Karekare for his nieces, but has created a work of living history that speaks to all New Zealanders.

Bob Harvey recalls his excitement on discovering The Iron-Bound Coast: “I realised this is truly a rich gem, a legacy of not only remote Karekare beach, but a grand story of this country. Wally speaks in a voice that reflects the time; a time that is now rapidly fading in memory and people.”

Illustrated with 215 photos, most never before published, this hardback edition marks the third release of the Libro International book imprint from Waitakere-based publisher Oratia Media.

Managing director Peter Dowling heralded the publication: “We are thrilled to publish The Iron-Bound Coast, a work of historical significance and entertaining content. We hope we’ve done Wally proud – everyone who reads it seems to fall under his spell.”

Review copies are available now; the book launches at the Going West Books and Writers Festival on 12 September and will be in stores from 15 September.

Extracts and photos from the work are available to selected media.

The Author

Wallace Badham grew up at Karekare and left only with the onset of World War II. His unhappy later life belied the accomplishments and adventure of his youth, when he was among the first pilots in Auckland and spent days roaming across the remote valleys of the Waitkare Ranges. He retained a deep affection for the area and its history until his death in 2001.

The EDITOR

Bob Harvey, historian, writer and mayor of Waitakere City, has edited the Badham text. A prolific author, Harvey is the author of six books centred on the west coast and its history, including Untamed Coast, Rolling Thunder and Wild Beast: The Art of Dean Buchanan. Bob spends much of his time at his beach home in Karekare.

The PUBLISHer

The Iron-Bound Coast is the third book from Libro International, the new book division launched this year by Oratia Media. It follows Outrageous Fortune: The West Family Album, and Tim Tipene’s Kura Toa: Warrior School. Libro International is taking New Zealand history, Maori studies, children’s and general nonfiction titles to the world.

The Iron-Bound Coast: Karekare in the early years

Wallace Badham; edited by Bob Harvey

ISBN: 978-1-877514-01-2

Format: 200 pages, jacketed hardback

Publisher: Libro International, an imprint of Oratia Media Ltd, Auckland; www.oratiamedia.com

Recommended retail price: $60