Maori writers feature at Auckland Writers & Readers Festival

14 May 2013

Maori writers feature at Auckland Writers and Readers Festival

Some of the country’s most influential Maori writers are supporting the Auckland Writers Festival, which commences this week.

“The Festival acknowledges the important contribution that Maori writers make to New Zealand literature, and every year they are an integral part of our programme,” Festival Director Anne O’Brien said today.

“As well as focusing on the work of Maori authors, Maori writers assist the festival by chairing sessions throughout the festival, and running sessions as part of our programme for school students.

“Selwyn Muru has also joined this festival this year as our kaumatua. We are very excited to have Selwyn on board, to help us welcome and host our international guests, and support our whanau of Maori writers. Selwyn brings decades of experience in Maori arts, and is very familiar with the development of contemporary Maori literature which has now been evolving for over fifty years.”

‘We salute the pathfinders of Maori literature led by the late Harry Dansey, Arapera Blank, Jackie Sturm-Baxter and Hone Tuwhare and today’s literary stars Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace and Robert Sullivan,” Selwyn Muru said.

“They have laid down the Pou Korero for others to follow. The new wave of Maori writers who are supporting this year’s Auckland Writers and Readers Festival continue to carry our tradition. I am very proud to be part of this year’s proceedings.”

ENDS

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