PAST Writers-In-Residence

2009 residents – Vincent O'Sullivan, David Eggleton and Ian Wedde

Three writers have been selected for residencies at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport 2009.

Prominent Wellington poet, fiction writer, editor and biographer, Vincent O’Sullivan, and Dunedin writer and poet, David Eggleton both held eight-week residencies in the first half of the year.

Vincent O'Sullivan has published an extensive range of poetry, fiction and drama, as well as academic books,. He was at the centre between February and April working on a biography of artist Ralph Hotere.

David Eggleton is a poet and writer who lives in Dunedin. He is a popular and dynamic performance poet, has written books and been selected as the Montana reviewer of the year. He has been described as "one of New Zealand's more engaged contemporary poets and cultural commentators" (Critic, July 2007). He was at the centre between April and June, working on a collection of poems drawing on Polynesian myths and legends.

Both writers used their time in Auckland to carry out research in the area, as well as to write.

These short residencies were offered with the assistance of Creative New Zealand.

In the second half of 2009, Ian Wedde has been selected for a six-month residency. The residency is a partnership between The University of Auckland, Creative New Zealand and the Michael King Writers’ Centre. It aims to foster New Zealand writing by providing an opportunity for an established author to work full-time on a major project in an academic environment, together with free accommodation and a studio working space at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport, Auckland.

Ian Wedde is a distinguished Wellington poet, novelist and critic. He has published a large number of poetry collections and novels, and his poems appear in numerous journals and anthologies. He was editor of the 1985 Penguin Book of New Zealand Verse, co-edited with Harvey McQueen, and has won many distinguished awards and fellowships. His work as an art critic led him to curate a number of key exhibitions and work as the arts projects manager at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa from 1994 to 2004. In 2005 he was the Meridian Energy Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellow.

Wedde's latest publication is a major book about the artist Bill Culbert and he has another book due out later this year.

In 2007, Wedde received a Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Auckland. These annual awards honour alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their professions, to their communities, and to the nation.

While he holds the 2009 residency, Wedde plans to work on a new novel, a book of poems and a book-length essay about the meaning of home.

2008 Short Residencies – Richard Corballis and Sarah Laing

Two writers were selected for residencies at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport, Auckland, in the second half of 2008.

One of the authors, Professor Richard Corballis from Palmerston North, is researching and writing a major biography of leading New Zealand playwright, Bruce Mason.

Professor Corballis, who is Professor of English in the School of English and Media Studies at Massey University, has a written a number of books, numerous academic articles, reviews and two radio plays. He was been awarded a number of prizes and distinctions for his work.

The second author, Sarah Laing from Auckland, will use her residency to complete her latest work, a novel which explores aspects of cultural identity. Called Dead People’s Music, it will be published by Random House in April 2009.

Sarah Laing, from Mt Albert, has written short stories, taken part in spoken word performances and been involved in a number of literary festivals, including the 2008 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival. She won the Sunday Star Times short story competition open division in 2006. Her short story collection Coming Up Roses was published to critical acclaim last year, and the New Zealand Listener magazine described her as New Zealand’s next great short story writer.

2008 Resident – Chris Price

Prominent New Zealand poet Chris Price is the writer-in-residence at the Michael King Writers' Centre in Auckland for the first half of 2008.

During the residency, Chris Price plans to complete a new collection of poems, The Blind Singer, and lay the groundwork for another major project - a full-length work of creative non-fiction that will blend biography, travel, memoir, history and essay. Death's Jest-Book will re-imagine the life of the eccentric English poet, anatomist and suicide Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803-1849) for a modern audience.

Chris Price's first collection of poetry Husk (Auckland University Press, 2002) hit the bestseller list (unusually for a book of poems), before receiving the 2002 Best First Book of Poetry Prize at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Her second book, Brief Lives (AUP, 2006) is a genre-crossing work that includes elements of poetry, essay, memoir and fiction. It was shortlisted for the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards in the biography category. It was also chosen as one of Best Books of 2006 by the NZ Listener, Dominion Post, National Radio and LeafSalon.

Chris Price was also one of ten writers who participated in the science-art collaboration that produced Are Angels OK? The parallel universes of New Zealand artists and scientists (Victoria University Press, 2006), edited by Paul Callaghan and Bill Manhire.

Price has worked as a book editor, and edited the national literary journal Landfall for most of the 1990s. From 1992 to 2004 she was coordinator of Writers and Readers Week for the New Zealand International Arts Festival. Since 2004 she has taught the poetry workshop at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University as well as managing its public events programmes and editing the online journal Turbine. She has an MA (Hons) in Languages and Literature from The University of Auckland, and an MA in Creative Writing from Victoria University.

The residency for the first half of 2008 is a joint venture between The University of Auckland, Creative New Zealand and the Michael King Writers' Centre. It is the first time that the three organisations have teamed up to offer the residency. The inaugural grant aims to foster New Zealand writing by providing a full-time opportunity to work in an academic environment together with residence and studio space at the writers' centre in Devonport.

2007 Resident – Margaret Hayward

The 2007 resident at the Michael King Writers’ Centre was Otaki author, Margaret Hayward. She wrote Diary of the Kirk Years, published in 1982, and Women Writers of New Zealand (with Joy Cowley) in 1983.

During her residency resident, she planned to complete a book on Prime Ministerial leadership in New Zealand and to carry out research for other projects.

2006 Resident – Gerry Evans

Gerry Evans – author of Where Giants Dwell (1999), Good Morning USA (2004) and Shipping Out (2006) – was the resident for seven months in 2006. Born in west Wales, he settled in New Zealand in 1963. He spent 30 years as a seaman and 10 years as a waterside worker, and served on the executive of both unions. He was the National Secretary of the Seafarers’ Union from 1988 to 1994.

Sadly, Gerry died suddenly at his home in Wellington in May 2008.

2005 Resident – Diane Brown

Dunedin novelist, poet and memoirist, Diane Brown, wrote Here Comes Another Vital Moment while she was resident for three months in 2005.

Born in Auckland, Brown now lives in Dunedin, where she writes books and reviews, assesses manuscripts and teaches fiction writing at Aoraki Polytechnic. Her first book, Before the Divorce We Go to Disneyland, was published in 1997 and won the Best First Book of Poetry at the Montana Book Awards. She won the Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship in 1997, and published her first prose novel If the Tongue Fits
in 1999, followed by 8 Stages of Grace, a verse novel in 2002. She wrote Liars & Lovers, a travel memoir, in 2004.

NZ Book Council page for Diane Brown

2005 Resident - Geoff Chapple

Geoff Chapple was the first resident at the centre when it opened in 2005. His play Hatch, written at the house, was a major success at the AK07 Arts Festival and has toured New Zealand since.

A noted journalist, Chapple has written six books of non-fiction, including 1981: The Tour and Rewi Alley of China. Alley was also the subject of his 1998 opera libretto, performed at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts (with music by Jack Body). He has written radio drama and co-wrote the screenplay of Vincent Ward's acclaimed film The Navigator.

Chapple initiated the idea of a New Zealand-long tramping track – Te Araroa. He left his position as deputy editor of The Listener to begin work for Te Araroa Trust, which is now putting the trail in place.

Te Araroa Trust
NZ Book Council article