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!

Ngā Kupu Ora honours Pā Henare Tate

Thank you to Massey University for hosting a memorable ceremony last Thursday to celebrate the winners of the Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards.

An audience of over 180 people attended the evening in Te Raukura Wharewaka on Wellington’s waterfront, honouring five authors in the categories of biography, fiction, non-fiction, Māori language and the special award.

I was proud to be there as part of the group to tautoko Pā Henare Tate, who accepted the Non-Fiction/Te Kōrero Pono awards for his He Puna Iti i te Ao Mārama: A Little Spring in the World of Light.

The judges described Pā’s work as “a compelling and passionate description of the role that tikanga and kaupapa play in the construction of a Māori Christian theological framework.”

Other winners included esteemed fiction writer Witi Ihimaera for White Lies, and Bradford Haami for his work Ka Mau te Wehi.

Massey has taken an important initiative with these awards, now in their fifth year, and which aim to foster Māori literary excellence, authorship and scholarship.

Pā Henare Tate with supporters; Sister Magdalen Sheahan (centre) was a key editor on the book. 

Staff members of Massey University/Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa in full flight