The kuia and the kid

Page and Blackmore Readers and Writers. Glenn Colquhoun, Saturday October 17 and Patricia Grace, Sunday October 18, The Granary Festival Café. 

I enjoyed two different experiences over my weekend at the Page and Blackmore Readers and Writers. On Saturday, Glenn Colquhoun, despite an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments, represented the new kid, a part he played with cheeky downbeat charm. Patricia Grace on Sunday was the grand dame of New Zealand writing, a role she inhabited with softly spoken and distinguished mana.

Both writers touched on tikanga Maori; Colquhoun is exploring and asserting his engagement with that part of his culture while Grace wears hers like a comfortable korowai as she explores outside usual genres.

Colquhoun delves deeply into questions of identity in his poetry and suggests that no matter your genetic blueprint, to live in New Zealand today is to be influenced by a resurgent Maori culture.

He has a way of gently satirising his subjects that shows compassion and understanding. That shows aroha.

Colquhoun is often described as accessible; I think this is because he wears his heart on his sleeve. Even though his poetry is impeccably crafted it has the feeling of being assembled before your ears.

On Saturday evening he was witty, clever, poignant and completely entertaining.

Grace talked about her new work, Ned & Katina, which is a complete departure for her. It is her first work of non-fiction.

During WWII in Crete, Ned, a Maori battalion soldier, meets and falls in love with Katina. They marry and raise a family in New Zealand. Grace was approached by the whanau to write their story and with trepidation she began her research. The story that unfolded asserted itself on her to the point that “it needed to be told.”

Grace brings her well-loved style to the story - focusing on character and place she brings the fascinating world to life. She spoke and read beautifully.

Congratulations to the organisers of this year’s Readers and Writers for attracting such high calibre speakers.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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