Five years for Māori writers on Kāpiti Island

18 June 2012

Five years for Māori writers on Kāpiti Island

Kāpiti Island will again host a Māori writer in 2012, marking the fifth year of the Tau Mai e Kapiti Māori Writer’s Residency.

The residency, funded by Te Waka Toi/Creative New Zealand and hosted by Kaitiaki o Kāpiti Trust, funds a Māori writer, songwriter, playwright or poet to spend eight weeks living and working at the northern end of Kāpiti Island. The area includes the island's last remaining Māori-owned land, adjoining the internationally regarded predator-free nature reserve Kāpiti is well-known for.

2008 resident writer Paora Tibble and Kelly Joseph, who was awarded the residency in 2009, both worked on ideas for future novels on Kāpiti. Nuki Tākao (2010) and Antonia te Maioha (2011) both said that one of the hardest parts of the residency was having to leave.

‘Going back to the mainland was the most challenging aspect of the whole residency,’ says Nuki. ‘Given the choice, I would be there still.’

Antonio says the residency was a ‘dream come true’ for him, and allowed him to begin a radio play and complete several stories and poems. Antonio also immersed himself in the landscape of Kāpiti Island.

‘It was a great mix of mahi on one hand and making the most of the environment on the other. It was a fantastic time of year to witness the birds activities – takahē mating debates, pukeko and weka chicks, the arrival of the spoonbills.’

Applications are now open for the 2012 residency, with a closing date of 15 July 2012. The selection panel's decision will be announced by the 13 August, with the residency commencing 10 September 2012.

For more information visit www.kapitiislandnaturetours.co.nz

ENDS

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