The Other Side Of The Sunset: The Cultural Benefits Of NZ & Italian Connections Through Italian Immigration To Aotearoa

By Antonella Sarti-Evans

Published by Earl of Seacliffe Art Workshop, Paekakariki, Aotearoa New Zealand

Editor-in-Chief Michael O'Leary

The Other Side of the Sunset, by Antonella Sarti-Evans traces the multi-faceted influence of Italians and their culture in New Zealand over the last six decades.

Through vivid stories and historical insight, this book reveals how Italian culture has woven itself deeply into the fabric of Aotearoa, creating rich and unexpected connections between languages, traditions, professions and ways of life.

From post-war migrants to the highly skilled newcomers of today, Antonella spent over two years undertaking new research and interviewing a wide range of New Zealanders who all have cultural ties to Italy.

“I spoke with people who often started by saying they didn’t think they had a story to tell, only to still be talking two or three hours later” says Antonella as she reflects on the many migrants, their descendants and whānau.

“As an Italian-Kiwi myself, I’ve always been able to notice Italian cultural influences in New Zealand day to day life, but this was an opportunity to delve a lot deeper and to document that impact; from food, design, cinema, music and the arts - to architecture, restauration, sustainability, marine biology, geology and cutting-edge innovation.”

As a literary translator and academic, Antonella was able to draw on years of data and comprehensive historical research alongside her many hours of one-on-one interviews. Her research, (partially funded by Whiria Te Mahara NZ History Grant by Manatū Taonga, NZ Ministry for Culture and Heritage), took her deep into New Zealand archives, statistics and news stories of the past.

Antonella says that one of the special areas of focus of her book, is the cultural and historical connections between Italians and tangata whenua in Aotearoa, that have enriched the nation's understanding of cross-cultural relationships.

“Italians often feel instantly at home with Māori people in Aotearoa and vice versa. I believe that exposure to the languages and cultures of different countries is an important part of a nation’s growth from many perspectives. Cross-cultural understanding is essential to achieve broader insight, more successful communication, and a deeper knowledge of history. Connections are the soul of NZ identity.”

Antonella’s Italian-Māori highlights incorporate reflections by Rob Mokaraka, (co-author of film Maunga Cassino and play Strange Resting Places with Paolo Rotondo); Tu Sciascia (the youngest son of kaumātua Prof Piri Sciascia), Sir Horomona Horo (a national taonga in playing taonga pūoro), Patricia Grace (acclaimed author of TU, the historical novel based on the 28th Māori Battalion’s campaign in Italy), Kawiti Waetford (first opera singer in te reo), as well as some of the Italian–Māori families of former tunnellers from Turangi.

At its heart says Antonella, the book is a vibrant tapestry of resilience, creativity, and cultural exchange an ongoing story that continues to shape New Zealand society.

“I think this will resonate with both the Italian and Kiwi community as the book is all about celebrating the extraordinary contributions Italians have made to Kiwi culture and the pride that many Kwis take in their Italian connections too.”

BOOK LAUNCH

Book and Arts Editors are invited to the book launch for The Other Side of the Sunset, at Unity Books, Willis Street Wellington, on Thursday 16 April, at 6pm.

ABOUT ANTONELLA SARTI-EVANS

Antonella Sarti Evans (PhD) is an Italian-born translator, writer, and Italian-language teacher based in Wellington, NewZealand.

She holds a PhD in “Literatures of English speaking countries” with a specialization in NewZealand contemporary literature from Università di Roma, La Sapienza.

She has taught at Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka and at Circolo Italiano di Wellington for a number of years. Currently, she is a lecturer in Italian at the House of Philosophy.

Antonella’s main contribution lies in researching and translating NewZealand literature into Italian.

Antonella Sarti Evans translations of prominent NewZealand authors into Italian include: Janet Frame, Patricia Grace, Robin Hyde, Vivienne Plumb, Hone Tuwhare, Apirana Taylor, Anahera Gildea, Kiri Piahana-Wong, Maringikura Mary Campbell . These translations make them available to Italian audiences; novels such as Pōtiki and Tu by Patricia Grace and Janet Frame’s The Lagoon and Other Stories.

She edited the very first selection of contemporary Māori women’s poetry translated into Italian in parallel text — Matariki, sciame di stelle (2020) — and the anthology Let it RainE Ua Te Ua: Tukuna ki teMārama — Poetry from Aotearoa in Multilingual Translation (te reo Māori, Cook Island Māori, English, Italian, French and Japanese) along with Maringikura Mary Campbell (2023).

Antonella Sarti Evans stands as a bridge between New Zealand/Māori literature and Italian readership, helping to globalize NZ voices, especially Indigenous ones, beyond Anglophone boundaries.

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