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Going West’s Sir Graeme Douglas Orator in 2015 was writer Stephanie Johnson. Addressing the festival theme, Holding the Line, Stephanie delivered a hilarious and biting satire of neoliberalism in New Zealand, donning a wig to take on the parodic character of Amanda *Tauiwi Reinhardt Carlton, the ‘National Party Poet Laureate’. * Tauiwi is a Māori word for non-Māori, used here by Johnson to poke a stick at well-heeled upper-class conservative white women. The author of 16 books including The Writers’ Festival, six plays and radio dramas and two books of poetry, Stephanie has appeared at Going West many times since the first festival in 1996. She is the winner of multiple awards, fellowships and honours; in 2019 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to literature, as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours. Stephanie has taught English and creative writing at the University of Auckland. She is also a teaching fellow at the University of Waikato, and co-founded the Auckland Write

In 2014 Anne Kennedy was selected as the Going West Books and Writers Festival Curnow Reader, a gala night honour bestowed each year on a poet of prominence. Anne speaks of what poet Allen Curnow’s work means to her as both a reader and a writer, commenting that his work grappled with the particularity of place, of history and imagination. Appropriately she begins with Curnow’s much-loved poem The Loop in Lone Kauri Road and follows with two narrative poems from her book The Darling North, which won the 2013 New Zealand Post Book Award for poetry. Reading the poem, The Darling North, and Hello Kitty Goodbye Piccadilly, Kennedy’s style is lyrical, haunting and masterful. With great eloquence and cadence, she explores themes of love, loss, the land, searching for place and feeling out of place, the past and present, and of ‘here-ness’. It is a magnificently crafted performance by one of New Zealand’s finest living poets. Anne’s recital of The Loop in Lone Kauri Road by Allen Curnow is released here b

This recording is from the second Going West Festival in 1997, but in some ways it is where it all began. What co-founder Murray Grey envisioned, and pitched to fellow founders Naomi McCleary and Bob Harvey, was simple: Maurice Gee reading from his novel Going West, on a train as it travelled west. Gee’s novel Going West, which gave the festival its name, was the Goodman Fielder Watties Book Awards winner in 1993 - just one of his astonishing 13 major New Zealand book awards. In this archival recording, Gee reads the now-famous passage from early in the book that describes the train ride between Loomis and Auckland. In Gee’s work, Loomis is the fictional town modeled on Henderson in every possible way other than in name. His reading for the live crowd, by the very tracks he’s describing, gives the passage the same barreling momentum of the old trains, rattling past familiar Auckland landmarks with their social myths and legends. Maurice Gee remains the patron of the Going West Festival.

Russell Brown and Colin Hogg discuss Colin’s book The High Road, an exploration of legal marijuana culture in America, and its implications for Aotearoa. Interested in how legalisation was playing out in the USA, Colin Hogg hit the road to see what moral decline had descended upon those parts of America where the drug is now legal. As high times hit America with laws shifting and attitudes changing, his 2017 book The High Road took readers on an adventure that’s one part Hunter S. Thompson and one part Bill Bryson. Riding shotgun to discuss the book at Going West was journalist Russell Brown, who has written extensively about the issues surrounding cannabis law reform. The session includes a Q and A discussion on where legalisation might take New Zealand. Colin Hogg is one of New Zealand's best-known journalists. Hogg grew up in Dunedin and Invercargill where he joined the Southland Times as a cadet reporter. He has written columns about being a man for the New Zealand Woman's Weekly off and on for over

Business journalist Rod Oram was the Sir Graham Douglas Orator for 2017, and shook off all preconceptions of what he might do by delivering what Metro magazine described as an “impassioned performance” as part of the “opening night of the year”. This piece is highly poetic and jumps backwards and forwards in time, with extensive quotes from diverse characters from the history of Tāmaki Makaurau. Alongside Rod’s words, the performance includes a soundscape by Rod’s daughter Celeste Oram. Rod draws on the ideas explored in his book Three Cities: Seeking Hope in the Anthropocene for this piece. In that book he looks at the fundamental changes required in politics, economics and technology in order to sustain the human population in its current habitat: planet Earth. Rod Oram has over 40 years’ experience as an international business journalist. He has worked for various publications in Europe and North America, including the Financial Times of London. He is a frequent public speaker on business, economics, i

With ruthless wit and compelling insights gained as a writer and writing teacher, Paula Morris argues that the skilled use of language is a more powerful ally for writers than ideas or feelings. She draws on persuasive examples of technique grounded in human experience. Paula (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua) is an acclaimed novelist, memoirist, short story writer and creative writing teacher. An insightful and incisive interviewer, she has been the face of the 2020 Auckland Writers Festival and its COVID-19-mandated shift online. She is a writer of powerful opinion pieces, and the author of the story collection Forbidden Cities (2008); the essay On Coming Home (2015); and seven novels, including Rangatira (2011), fiction winner at both the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards and Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards. Her most recent book is an essay and story collection, False River (2017). Paula teaches creative writing at the University of Auckland and is the founder of the Academy of New Zealand Literature.

Tu is the inspired pairing of two powerful New Zealand artists who share a passion for fusing Māori electronic dub music with a politically conscious edge. Prior to Going West 2018, Tu had only been seen by international audiences. Our festival opening night was the first chance to see this remarkable collaboration between Moana Maniapoto and Paddy Free live in Aotearoa. Moana, singer/songwriter and leader of the band Moana & the Tribe, was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame in 2016 and has been internationally acknowledged for her ground-breaking mix of traditional Māori music elements such as haka and poi with dance beats. Electronic dub producer Paddy Free (Pitch Black and Salmonella Dub) is a pioneer of the New Zealand electronic scene, his reputation built on experimenting with taonga puoro (traditional Māori music instruments), beats and global bass. Tu is a unique new collaboration that can only have come from the South Pacific. It slips and slides across genres, rhythmically and sonically

As part of an outstanding opening night, poet Selina Tusitala Marsh delivered an electric live poetry reading at Going West 2017. That year we were forced to relocate Going West to the former Waitakere City Council chambers in Henderson, after lightning caused a fire at our longstanding home in the Titirangi War Memorial Hall. Then the newly minted Poet Laureate, Selina delivered her own lightning on stage, with a joyous and powerful performance. Honoured with the title of Commonwealth Poet in 2016, she was commissioned to write and perform a poem before the Queen at the Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey. She performed that poem for us at Going West - along with other recent work and her witty observations on the British aristocracy and well known New Zealand diplomats. She also shared her new adventures as poet laureate and her work championing literature and language in schools. Selina Tusitala Marsh is an award winning Pasifika Poet-Scholar. As Associate Professor in the English Depa

For the very first session at the very first Going West Festival in 1996, it felt appropriate to open with the first language of Aotearoa, te reo Māori, with a session on Māori oral and written literature called Breathing Words. We were very proud to bring three stellar Māori voices to the stage to explore important Māori oral and acoustic traditions through te reo and taonga pūoro, and examine how they inform written literature and what ‘literacy’ means in the context of Aotearoa. Guests for this session were Ngāhuia Te Awekotuku, Robert Sullivan and Bernard Makoare. Ngāhuia Te Awekotuku (Te Arawa, Tūhoe) is a leading feminist writer, lesbian-rights activist and advocate for Māori sovereignty. She has contributed to many international feminist journals and published both fiction and research-based works internationally. Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi) is a poet and academic. He is a significant internationally published Māori poet with seven collections of poetry released. His poetry is also widely anthologi

Earlier this year, professional genealogists Michelle Patient and Fiona Brooker joined us via Zoom to celebrate the first anniversary of their fortnightly virtual lounge sessions Talking Family History. In this talk, Michelle and Fiona chat about what led them to start their online sessions; they discuss family history and DNA, share research strategies and provide valuable tips for overcoming brick walls. https://talkingfamilyhistory.com/ Music: Ketsa. When it all falls.

In this talk, family historian Iris Taylor takes us through a brief history of New Zealand nursing up to the First World War. Covering such incidents as the torpedoing of the Marquette which killed New Zealand Nurses, she describes her 2015 pilgrimage to remember these women. Image: New Zealand Nurses, 1916-1917. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A15887. Music: Ketsa. When it all falls.

Alison and Ineka discuss some recently released books that are full of introspection and intensity, loneliness and liberation. They also ask if a book’s typeface can be aggressive. What does that mean? Listen to find out.

Despite their age gap, Alison and Ai discover that they are sisters in YA fandom. Listen as they discuss a recent Auckland Libraries interview with YA superstar Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights.

Nau mai haere mai, welcome to this podcast from Te Hura i Tāmaki Makaurau Uncover Auckland, Kai Connection delivered in Onehunga on 12 June 2021. In this episode we uncover the theme Kai Sovereignty with our panel of experts hosted by Tara Moala from Rākau Tautoko. The panel includes Phillipa Holmes from the The Good Fale and the Kai Collective Project; Amiria Puia-Taylor co-founder of 312 Hub Onehunga , a not-for-profit youth arts organisation and Onehunga Bites (youth-led catering) and Chloe Fong who is a digital user experience designer running the food distribution service This Local Piggy . The full panel discussion is available to researchers through Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. To connect with Tara and follow her work and projects in the food ecosystem and more: https://rakautautoko.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/taramoala/ To connect with Phillipa Holmes and her work and projects: https://www.thegoodfale.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippa-holmes/ Amiria's suggested link

During the mid-1800s, over one hundred people (which included 6 Maori and 1 woman) were transported from New Zealand to the penal colony in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Who were they and where did they originate from? What crimes were they accused of? Were they of ‘good character’ and what did they look like? In this talk, author and lecturer Kristyn Harman explains how convict records can answer these questions and reveal what life was like for the working classes in early colonial New Zealand. Recorded on 24 March 2021. Book available from Auckland Libraries https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3385648 Image: Book cover Cleansing the colony: Transporting convicts from New Zealand to Van Diemen’s Land.

Nau mai haere mai, welcome to this podcast from Te Hura i Tāmaki Makaurau Uncover Auckland, Kai Connection delivered in Onehunga on 12 June 2021. In this episode we uncover the theme Whenua and Wai - Land and Sustainability - with our panel of experts hosted by Phillipa Holmes. Featuring Kelly Marie Francis - Whenua Warrior and kai activist; Dr Hans-Dieter Bader - archaeologist researcher of māra kai (Māori gardens) and Brendon Marshall a lead teacher of science and sustainability. The full panel discussion is available to researchers through Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Explore further resources: Kelly Francis www.whenuawarrior.co.nz www.facebook.com/whenuawarrior www.facebook.com/gardensofsouthauckland Brendon Marshall Link to the Litter Intelligence data (Sustainable Coastlines): https://litterintelligence.org/ Search for Taumanu Beach and Māngere Boat Club and compare with other sites and dates. Link to the website for Kāhui Ako: https://www.teitikahurangi.com/media Check out the

Dedee had a chat to Tessa Forde aka Vanessa Worm, about her first album Vanessa 77 which came out in 2020. They talk about her approach to writing music, the process of writing the album, and how 2020 and the Covid pandemic affected her as an artist. All tracks used in this podcast are from the album Vanessa 77, by Vanessa Worm, released on Optimo Music, July 10, 2020 - In Heaven We Are - Cave of Creation - Bones and Blood - Satisfaction Vanessa 77 album: https://optimomusic.bandcamp.com/album/vanessa-77 Music video: Bones and Blood, 27 September 2020 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZREmKORfWNI&ab_channel=OptimoMusic Other Interviews: 95bFM Long Player with Jess Fu - https://95bfm.com/bcast/long-player-vanessa-worm-vanessa-77 RadioActive FM, Recharted with Finn Johansson – https://www.radioactive.fm/recharted-130-vanessa-worm-thanks-to-nz-on-air-music/

While ostensibly discussing books about trials, trails and travails, Alison and Ineka also manage to mention litmus tests and Avogadro’s constant at least once during this episode of Literary Lounge.

It’s one of our favourite times of year: Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week 2021. This year’s theme is Poupou le lotoifale. Ola manuia le anofale - which means “strengthen the posts of your house, for all to thrive.” The Ministry of Pacific Peoples states that language and reading are important for the foundations of our overall wellbeing, and we couldn’t agree more. In this special Samoa Language Week episode of Books and Beyond, Alison and Ineka discuss the intersections of culture and identity and discover that Samoan writing and storytelling is thriving, thanks to some great community initiatives.

Take the M-train with Alison & Ineka on this instalment of Books & Beyond Literary Lounge as we talk Manga, memoir and make-believe. Believe us when we tell you it’s been all big hair and heartbreak around here recently.