I’m very happy to have been asked to join a distinguished lineup of writers in this fundraising event, which is being held at the Hataitai Centre (the former Hataitai Bowling Club). The lineup is:
Jenny Bornholdt Gregory O’Brien Dame Fiona Kidman Tim Jones Sarah Scott
I’ll be reading poetry, including some climate poetry from New Sea Land and some new poems.
Tickets are adults $20, students and seniors $15. A mezze platter is available for $20.
From the event website:
“Celebrate local writers of Hataitai with live music and a relaxed chat, followed by readings by local poets Jenny Bornholdt, Gregory O’Brien, Dame Fiona Kidman, Tim Jones and Sarah Scott.
Profits raised will go towards sustaining a budding community programme of local creative art and literary events and workshops right here in Hataitai.
Mezze platters with a selection of delicious pairings for your pair with your BYO drink of choice. Vegan options are available.”
I’m very happy to be taking part in this event, organised by Wellington City Libraries, with three other writers tackling the climate crisis in different ways in their work. Here is the Library’s panui for the event:
One of the most important issues currently facing the planet is how we react to climate change, both as individuals and as a global community. One aspect of this is how our creative and scientific communities convey the issue.
To that end, we have gathered together four esteemed authors and scientists, who have directly connected to the subject, for a very special panel discussion at Ngā Puna Waiora | Newtown Library.
Panelists Erick Brenstrum, Mandy Hager, Frances Mountier and Tim Jones
Our panel features:
Tim Jones:
Tim Jones was born in England, grew up in Southland and lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington. He was awarded the NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship in 2022. His recent books include poetry collection New Sea Land (Mākaro Press, 2016) and climate fiction novel Emergency Weather (The Cuba Press, 2023). His poem “All the Summer” is included in Koe: An Aotearoa Ecopoetry Anthology, edited by Janet Newman and Robert Sullivan (Otago University Press, 2024).
Mandy Hager:
Mandy Hager is a multi-award winning author. In 2019 she received the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, for life-time achievement and a distinguished contribution to NZ’s literature for young people. Her latest book, Strays and Waifs, is the first in an adult thriller series set on the Kapiti Coast.
Erick Brenstrum:
Meteorologist Erick Brenstrum worked for the New Zealand Meteorological Service for 43 years as a forecaster and educator. He has written about weather and climate for a number of newspapers and magazines including a column in New Zealand Geographic for 27 years. He is the author of The New Zealand Weather Book and Thalassa, a book of poems. He has lectured on meteorology at Victoria University and been a regular contributor on Radio New Zealand’s Nights program.
Frances Mountier:
Frances Mountier (Tangata Tiriti) is a climate justice activist and writer living in Newtown with her partner and children. Her writing has appeared in Turbine Kapohau, Sport, Takahē, JAAM, Hue & Cry, and Renegade House. This year, she is the Loxley Award recipient, asking “Is it time for a Climate Justice Union for Aotearoa?” She is working on a series of personal essays exploring parenthood, the housing crisis, climate justice, and possibilities for organising.
