NZ Society of Authors

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2025, Charlotte Grimshaw, in October 2025 in association with Verb at the New Zealand National Library. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sect...

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2024 Barbara Else in November 2024 as part of the Verb Festival, Wellington. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa.

In 2019, Deborah Shepard travelled to England to spend two days recording the oral history of writer Fleur Adcock. In the last episode Fleur talked about some of her life in New Zealand; this episode focuses more on her life in London, her permanent home now for nearly fifty years.

Fleur Adcock lived between New Zealand and England for many years. Although Fleur settled in London as a full-time writer in the 1970's, she is still published here and we still regard her as 'one of our own'. Over two episodes we are going to drop into parts of Fleur’s oral history, collected in 2021 by Deborah Shepard - here's part one.

Denys Trussell is well known for his environmental poetry and advocacy, yet there is much more to learn about him. In this episode we drop into his 2021 discussion with Kelly Ana Morey where they talk about his turn towards writing, and why he spends so much of his time fighting for what he believes in.

Graeme Lay is the author of more than forty books of fiction and non-fiction, and many many shorter works. He was good friends with most Auckland writers of his generation. Graeme spoke with Kelly Ana Morey in 2021, and they start by talking about the first works of short fiction he had published as a young writer.

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2022-2023, Witi Ihimaera-Smiler in November 2023. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa.

In 2016, Marilyn Duckworth won the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. The award came more than 50 years after she had won the New Zealand Literary Fund Award for Achievement in 1963. Marilyn talks to Deborah Shepard in this episode about her career as an author over those 50 years.

Witi Ihimaera has become one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most recognised and decorated writers over his 50+ years as an author. The first episode of this season covered some of those highlights; this episode we again join Witi talking to Deborah Shepard about his life as a writer.

The New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History Podcast is back with our fifth season! We start with two episodes featuring Witi Ihimaera. In this first episode we begin with Witi talking to Deborah Shepard about the writing scene he launched into in 1970's New Zealand. New episodes every 3 weeks.

It’s been a while since our last New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History podcast episode, so we thought you’d enjoy being introduced to 'The Author’s Tale'. This great podcast is presented and produced by NZSA member, Stephanie Frewen, and features casual conversations with prominent and influential New Zealand authors.

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2021-2022, Tessa Duder in May 2022. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa. Tessa Duder has been a champion of children’s and yo...

In the last of our New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore episodes, novelist Gigi Fenster introduces you to her favourite episode: the workshop 'Writing Process for Essay and Memoir Writers' with Lynn Jenner given at the 2018 National Writers Forum. Learn more about Gigi's books at: https://gigi-fenster.com/About More about Lynn Jenner at: https://pinklight.nz/about/ More about NZSA at: auth...

In the New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series, well known NZSA authors introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast. This week, James Russell, author of the Dragon Brothers Trilogy and Dragon Defenders series, introduces you to his favourite episode: Philip Temple's oral history conversation with Deborah Shepard discussing his life and work over half a centu...

In the New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series, well known NZSA authors introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast. This week, Graci Kim, author of the instant US bestseller, 'The Last Fallen Star' (A Gifted Clans Novel 1), introduces you to her favourite episode: the panel discussion ‘Making it in the international market’ from the 2018 National Writers Fo...

Welcome to the New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series, where we’ve asked well known NZSA authors to introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast so far. This week, Rosetta Allan, author of the recently released ‘Crazy Love’ along with several other novels and poetry collections, introduces you to her favourite episode: Paula Morris’ 2020 Janet Frame Memorial...

The New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series is a podcast series where well known NZSA authors introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast so far. This week, Whiti Hereaka, author of the newly released ‘Kurangaituku’ and successful playwright, novelist, screenwriter, introduces you to her favourite episode: the panel discussion ‘Getting Hot and Bothered’ from...

Introducing the NZSA Summer Encore Series, where we’ve asked well known NZSA authors to introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast so far. This week, Mary-anne Scott, author of the newly released ‘The Tomo’, along with ‘Spearo’, ‘Sticking with Pigs’, and several other books for young people, introduces you to her favourite episode: Joy Cowley from Season 3 of the NZSA...

Margaret Mahy is New Zealand’s most celebrated children’s writer. She wrote over 100 books, published in 15 different languages, and continues to be read around the world. In May 2000, Alison Gray interviewed Margaret for the New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History Project.

As a poet, essayist, biographer and editor, Brian Turner has become one of New Zealand's most significant writers on landscape, the environment and sport. In this episode, Brian and Naomi Arnold have a wide-ranging discussion about Brian's writing, environmental activism, sports connections and work in publishing.

Season 4 of the NZSA Oral History podcast continues in a second episode with Barbara Else, from her 2020 oral history interview with Naomi Arnold. In this episode you can hear Barbara and Naomi discuss NZSA, copyright, author incomes, and much more about not just writing books, but also the business of books.

Dunedin-based Barbara Else is a successful New Zealand author who has also run one of Aotearoa’s oldest literary agencies, TFS. She has held fellowships and scholarships throughout her career, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and was awarded the Margaret Mahy Medal, both in recognition of her services to literature. In part 1 of her interview, Barbara talks with Naomi Arnold ab...

Philip Temple is an award-winning author of ten novels and more than thirty non-fiction books for both adults and children. He has held many of our top residencies, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Literature, and been the recipient of a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. He has also been a campaigner on behalf of writers in Aotearoa for many year...

This episode is part 2 of Naomi Arnold's 2020 oral history interview with Kyle Mewburn. Naomi and Kyle talk about the issues authors face, both on and off the page, and Kyle's time as NZSA president: "I was known for being flippant, because I am flippant, how very observant of these people to notice!". An open look at the life of a NZ writer and author advocate.

Kyle Mewburn is one of New Zealand's most prolific and eclectic writers. Kyle became a full-time writer in 1997 and was President of NZSA for four years, she is dedicated to the welfare of writers across Aotearoa. Kyle talked with Naomi Arnold in 2020, and begins season 4 of the NZSA Oral History Podcast.