Wednesday 13 November 2024
Launch of from our hands to yours
From our hands to yours is a collection of poems by Mana College ESOL students. I’ve been writing poetry with them since 2018, and here’s a selection of their charming, insightful, delightful, sometimes awkward work.
Wednesday 13 November, 6pm, Staffroom, Mana College, Awarua Street, Porirua
Friday 8 November 2024
The Secret Art of Editing Poetry,
I’m part of a panel discussing editing and poetry, The Secret Art of Editing Poetry, organised by students on the Whitireia Publishing Programme.
Friday 8 November, 5.00-5.45, Te Auaha, Dixon Street, Wellington
Sunday 3 November 2024
The launch of Now and then
We’re launching Now and then: poems about generations. It’s a big celebration of both the book and the writers in it.
Sunday 3 November, 3pm, Public Trust Hall, 133 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Tuesday 29 October 2024
Now and then: readings about generations.
A group of poets from the new Landing Press anthology are reading their work at Unity Books, and I’ll talk a little about Landing Press
Tuesday 29 October, 12.30-11.15pm, Unity Books, Willis St, Wellington
Sunday 20 October 2024
Poems in the Barn
Poems in the Barn is part of the Yarns in Barns Festival in Wairarapa. I’m reading my poem ‘RD2 and a tractor’, which won the Jan Gerritsen Award. Lovely to be part of a competition which honoured a big contributor to the Wairarapa Arts community.
Sunday 20 Octdober, 1-3pm, Strangs Woolshed, Longbush Road, Carterton,
Sunday 19 November 2023
I’m at Otaki Books & Co, talking about my novel Light Keeping. This bookshop is a wonderful small community bookshop, the kind we all need to support.
Sunday 19 November, 4.00-5.00pm, Otaki Books & Co, 216 Main Highway, Otaki.
26 October 2023
Trish Harris and I talk about our chapters in Everything I know about books. We’ll explore what we have in common, and some differences.
Thursday 26 October, 12.30-1.30pm. Unity Books, Willis Street.
17 October, 2023
The Publishing Programme at Whitireia are launching their excellent anthology on publishing, Everything I know about books. In my contribution to the book I took the opportunity to talk about the Landing Press process. The book marks 30 years of the Whitireia Publishing Programme.
Tuesday 17 October, 5.30pm, Level 1, Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street.
15 October 2023
I’m launching my new novel Light Keeping. The Trades Hall in Wellington is a very suitable place, because the novel also has an employment/de-manning of lighthouses thread to it. It’s set in 1977-85, and 2019, and there’ll be 1970s food! The book is the result of a fine partnership between the Whitireia Publishing Programme and Quentin Wilson Publishing. RSVPs are essential.
Sunday 15 October, 4.00pm, Trades Hall, 124 Vivian Street, Aro Valley
1 October 2023
It’s International Grandparents’ Day! Bee Trudgeon (children’s librarian at the Porirua Library) and I are running a writing workshop for grandparents and their grandchildren, of all ages. Write small stories and poems. Grandma’s home baking supplied!
Sunday 1 October, 1.00-3.00pm, Porirua Public Library, Parumoana Street, Porirua
Email landingpressnz@gmail.com to sign up, by Friday 29 September.
25/26 August 2023
National Poetry Day
Landing Press is running two free writing workshops on the theme of their upcoming anthology, generations. Free, with food!
For children and young people, with Riah Tahana-Dawson.
Friday 25 August, 4.00-6.00pm, Newtown Library
For Arabic-speaking women, with Noha Khalil. Child care available.
Saturday 26 August, 1.00-3.00, Porirua Public Library, Parumoana St, Porirua.
To register, email landingpressnz@gmail.com
18 July 2023
Roll & Break at Unity Books
I’m reading from my new collection of poems, along with Rebecca Chester and Eva Scally. It’s a magical collaboration with violinist Gregory Squire, who will interpret and accompany some of the poems.
Tuesday 18 July, 12.30-1.30, Unity Books, Willis Street, Wellington
19 March 2023
More than a roof live in Auckland
After a year of promises, Landing Press is finally in Auckland. Nine Auckland writers in More than a roof will be reading their work from the book, and I’ll be reading some poems from workshops with the Wellington City Mission.
Sunday 19 March, 4pm, the Betty Wark Room, Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland Central
29 October 2022
Roll & Break, with coffee and cake
I’ll be reading from my new collection of poems, Roll & Break, at Kaizen Cafe in Porirua. Together with the Landing Press team and Greg Squire, violinist, we’ll be presenting poems in a way that brings them all to life!
Saturday 29 October, 3.30pm, Kaizen Cafe in Pataka Art and Museum, Porirua
16 October 2022
More than a roof, with coffee and cake
Join 9 writers from More than a roof – poems about housing – reading their poems
that reflect a wide range of views on our current housing crisis. Poems come with free coffee and cake!
Sunday 16 October, 4pm. St Peter’s Village Hall, Beach Street, Paekakariki
8 October 2022
Launch of Roll & Break, poems
Landing Press and Whitireia Publishing are launching my new collection of
poems, about Titahi Bay beach. There’ll be a violinist, double bass player, slide shows, historical film footage – everything to lift these poems off the page.
RSVP to landingpressproject@gmail.com
Saturday 8 October, 4pm, Level 1, Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street, Wellington
26 August 2022
Pastries & Poetry, for National Poetry Day
Khadro Mohamed, James Brown and I are reading poems to celebrate National Poetry Day. The poems come with free pastries and coffee. Whitireia Publishing and Landing Press are hosting this excellent event.
Friday 26 August, 8.30-9.15am, Te Auaha, Level 1, 65 Dixon Street
5 March 2022
More than a roof at the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts
Kath Bier introduces a remarkable line up of writers from this wide-ranging look at our current housing crisis through poetry and short prose.
Saturday 5 March, 11am. Te Marae at Te Papa
CANCELLED
20 November 2021
More than a roof at the Garden Room, St Peters, Wellington
Landing Press is launching its new book, More than a
roof, poems about housing. Sadly, because of Covid restrictions,
this is an invitation-only event. But lots of other events
will be coming up celebrating this unique book! Details of the book
are on the Landing Press website.
October 2021
Presentation to CLESOL 2021 Virtual conference
Auckland
19 June 2021
Somewhere a cleaner at Pataka Art + Museum
10 writers from this unique collection read their work,
with music from Don Franks. Join them for great words,
coffee and cake. Free. Hosted by Friends of Pataka.
Pataka Art + Museum, Parumoana St, Porirua
Sunday 19 June, 2021, 300-4,00pm
18 April 2021
Friends of Kapiti Library
I’m talking about Somewhere a cleaner to this
great group of readers!
Paraparaumu Library, Ivor Trask Place, Paraparaumu
Sunday 18 April, 2.00-3.00pm
Somewhere a cleaner
We’re running a lot of events around Somewhere a cleaner
Look for the details on the Landing Press website
Verb Garden Party, 20 February
Fringe Bar, Wellington 21 February
Aro Valley Wellington 28 March
Paekakariki, 2 May
Good Books, Jesse St, Wellington 28 May
29 November 2020
Launch of Somewhere a cleaner
We launch Landing Press’s new book, Somewhere a cleaner, poems and short prose by cleaners. To be launched by Ibrahim Omer, new Labour MP.
Grand Hall, Parliament
Sunday 29 November, 3.00-5.00pm
1 November 2020
Wai Word
4 poets from More of Us and I are reading at Wai Word in Carterton. This book just keeps on going, and we love taking its varied voices to new groups of people.
Carterton Courthouse, 60 Holloway Street, Carterton
Sunday 1 November, 3.00-4.30pm
13 July 2020
Hawkes Bay Live Poets
Poems from All of Us and More of Us are the programme for this evening at the Hawkes Bay Live Poets. And of course the open mic – the staple and wonderfully varied part of any poetry evening.
Hastings Community Arts Centre
Monday 13 July, 7pm
11 June 2020
Women’s Rebus Club, Waikanae
Now that the country is getting back to normal again I’m very happy to be speaking to this group in Waikanae, about researching two novels, The Score and A Change of Key, then talking about the poetry collection More of Us. There’s the linking theme of how we listen to each other’s stories, especially when we’ve come from different countries.
Waikanae Community Centre
Thursday 11 June, 10.30am
28 February 2020
The Crescent Moon exhibition opens in Hastings
I’m speaking at the opening of The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand. I’m really pleased that this exhibition is on the road again after several years in storage, and it’s still so very relevant. Ans Westra, photographer for the original book and exhibition, will be there too. The exhibition opens on Friday 28, and there is a floortalk on Saturday 29 February, when Ans and I will be joined by Rizwaana Latiff.
Hastings City Art Gallery
Friday, 28 February, 5.30pm
Saturday 29 February, 11am.
22 February 2020
O Matou Malaga, Our Voyage
I’m very honoured that my poem “Travelling” (Keel & Drift 2016) is part of this remarkable concert by the Virtuoso Strings, Sinfonia for Hope and Jonathon Lemalu. It is set to music by Craig Utting and sung by Lemalu, as part of a musical record of the voyage of the Virtuosos Strings.
Te Rauparara Arena, Porirua
Saturday 22 February, 2.30pm
24 November 2019
Fifty Shades of Light – the summer edition!
Yes Fifty Shades of Light is back. Four poets – Anne Powell, Trish Harris, Peter Rawnsley and myself – read a mix of poems and play with some ideas. There’ll be another word choir, and a chance to buy books, gift-wrapped for Christmas.
St Theresa’s Hall, James Street Plimmerton,
Sunday 24 November 2.00-3.30.
19 August 2019
Mana College ESOL students at the Porirua Library
This year’s ESOL class at Mana College read poems they’ve been writing all year.
These students make English work in completely fresh ways. Rap, music – it’s all
there. And of course food to go with it!
Porirua Library, Parumoana Street, Porirua
Thursday 19 August 5.30.
17 August 2019
The Crescent Moon exhibition opens in Stratford
I’m speaking at the opening of The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand. This exhibition has been resurrected after several years in storage, and it couldn’t be more timely. I’m delighted to be there, and Ans Westra, photographer for the original book and exhibition, will be there too. I hope it’s the beginning of a new journey for this exhibition which is so relevant.
Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford
Saturday 17 August, 1.00pm
30 June 2019
Fifty Shades of Light
Yes we’re having fun with the title. Four poets – Anne Powell, Trish Harris, Peter Rawnsley and myself – read a mix of poems and play with some ideas. And get everyone to join in a word choir!
St Theresa’s Hall, James Street Plimmerton,
Sunday 30 June 2.00-3.30.
4 June 2019
More of Us – join some of the writers
This is a celebration of the strong Porirua connection to More of Us.
Several Porirua-based writers will read their work, and we’ll talk about the
remarkable journey of this book.
PaperPlus North City, North City Mall Level 1
Tuesday 4 June 5-6pm
2 June 2019
A Change of Key and More of Us
I’m speaking at the Friends of the Kapiti Coast District Libraries which is one of
the longest running organisations of its kind in the country. We’ll all be talking
about A Change of Key and More of Us.
Paraparaumu Library Meeting Room
Sunday 2 June, 2pm
10 May 2019
Migrant Journeys 2: a community listening experience
This is the second of a series of events based on radio interviews by Michael Wilson of ArrowFM in Masterton. He has interviewed drivers in the book Migrant Journeys: New Zealand taxi drivers tell their stories. I’m joining him, Helmi Al Khattat from Iraq, and Sukhdev Sing Bains from India, whose interviews will be played, then there’ll be a chance to ask questions.
Aratoi Museum of Art and History, Masterton
Friday 10 May, 7.00pm
9 February 2019
Talking about painting and poetry
I’m back in Masterton to join artist Rebekah Farr. She’s talking about her exhibition Departures / and I’m talking about and reading from All of Us.
Aratoi Museum of Art and History, Masterton
Saturday 9 February, 2.00pm
2 February 2019
Migrant Journeys: a community listening experience
Michael Wilson of ArrowFM in Masterton has done a wonderful series of radio interviews based on Migrant Journeys: New Zealand taxi drivers tell their stories. I’m joining him and two taxi drivers whose interviews will be played, then there’ll be a chance to ask questions.
Aratoi Museum of Art and History, Masterton
Saturday 2 February, 7.00pm
15 November 2018
Connection: The Arts Communications Hui
I”m part of a panel at this hui, talking about what artists want from the media.
Marketing isn’t my greatest strength, though I’ve certainly learnt a lot, but
perhaps a grass-roots perspective, which is all I can offer, might be useful.
Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
Thursday 15 November, 9am-4pm
11 November 2018
Armistice: The Eleventh Hour on the Eleventh Day (Litcrawl)
Yazan and Mohammad El Fares, who have been part of a poetry workshop
I”ve been running this year at Mana College, will be reading as part of this reflection on Armistice Day. How poignant, and appropriate, to have two students, who have lived through the war in Syria, join a group of established writers talking about war.
National Library, Wellington
Sunday 11 November, 11am
4 November 2018
Come to the launch of All of Us
The collection of poems by Carina Gallegos and me, about the theme
of migration, is off out into the world. It’ll be a celebration that will
bring together a great mix of people, because the poems in the book
are about a great mix of people.
Salvation Army Centre, 4 Normanby St, Newtown
Sunday 4 November, 2.30-4.00pm
28 October 2018
National Bookshop Day
Saturday 27 October is National Bookshop Day. But in Porirua we’re
celebrating it on Sunday 28 October. Nine authors at North City
Paper Plus for an hour, 1-2. Lots going on. I’ve had this idea for the last
three years – get a bunch of authors to Paper Plus, because they’re such a
great support for writers – and finally this year it’s happening. Lots going
on in the bookstore.
North City Paper Plus, North City Mall, Porirua
Sunday 28 October, 1-200pm
27 October 2018
East-West Poetry Fest
Carina and I are joining a lot of other poets at this feast of poetry over two days. We’ll be reading from All of Us and talking about poetry, and Tipesa Samuel Ulavale and Thi Van Vang from Mana College, Porirua are coming with us.They’re part of the ESOL class that have been writing poetry with me all year. It’s been one of the best things in the year.
City Library, Palmerston North
Saturday 27 October-Sunday 28 October
20 October 2018
Poetry at the Fringe
Carina Gallegos and I are reading poetry from All of Us at the Fringe Bar,
Allen St, Wellington. We’re joined by amazing drummer Sam Manzana.
And of course there’s an open mic.
The Fringe Bar, Allen St, Wellington
Sunday 20 October, 4.00-6.00
11 October 2018
In conversation at Unity Books
Brannavan Gnanalingam and I talk with Lynda Chanwai-Earle about novels,
inclusiveness, and why we write what we write.
Unity Books, Willis Street, Wellington
Thursday 11 October, 12-12.45pm
7 October 2018
Come to the launch of A Change of Key
This novel is a sequel to The Score.
It’s being launched at
The Bill Pearce Room, St Josephs Church,
Ellice St, Mt Victoria, We;llington
4pm, Sunday 7 October.
Vanya Mateeva, violinist, will be playing, and there’ll be a behind-the-
scenes look at research, and a competition for kids.
Everyone is welcome.
Manawatu Writers Festival September 2018
Tuesday 11 September, 10:30–11:30am, Feilding Library
The Story Collector
I”m talking about my work with former refugees and resettled immigrants in the Wellington area, enabling them to tell their stories. I”ve got plenty to draw on – Migrant Journeys, I have in my arms both ways, Borany’s Story, The Crescent Moon, and a lot of smaller works. There’s plenty of evidence that facts don’t change our minds – but I believe stories do.
National Poetry Day, 23/24 August 2018
It’s busy!
Thursday 23 August, Porirua Library, 5.30pm
All of us
Poems by Carina Gallegos and Adrienne Jansen, Mana College ESOL students, young writers, competitions, a word choir, food and drink.
A lot of fun to celebrate poetry for everyone.
Friday 24 August, 11.00-2.00
All of us again
Poems from the new collection All of us, from Whitireia Creative Writing students, and others of Wellington’s great poets. A competition, free poems. And something special – ESOL students from Mana College reading their own poems. What a milestone for these young poets – some of them have only been here for a year. Readings start at 12.00
Monday 20 August 2018
Poetry Reading + Open Mic – a Monday warm up event for National Poetry Day
The New Zealand Society of Authors (Wellington) is having an early celebration of Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2018.
Ten poets are reading for five minutes each, and my five minutes is in the middle there somewhere. I”m reading poems from All of Us. There’s an open mic too.
7pm – 9pm, Vic Books Pipitea, Rutherford House, 27 Lambton Quay, Wellington, near the train station
7pm: Bar opens.
7.30pm: NZSA Wellington Branch meeting
7.45pm: Celebrating National Poetry Day (poetry readings, open mic; to finish by 9pm)
Wednesday 8 August 2018
Celebrate Children’s Books in Wellington
I’m representing Escalator Press and joining some other publishers in talking about 3 books we’ve each selected from the shortlisted books for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. (My pick is How to Bee by Bren MacDibble – it’s a wonderful book).But of course the book I”m cheering for at the awards night is Erin Donohue’s Because Everything Is Right but Everything Is Wrong. We (Escalator Press, that is)are very proud to have published this book.
12-12.45, Unity Books, Willis Street, Wellington