Southern Stars Come Out to Shine
New Zealand writers gathered together ahead of The Long Night of Māori Stories which took place as part of the Berlin International Writers Festival. They were joined by German cultural journalists at the New Zealand residence in Berlin.
New Zealand books on display
Whalerider by Witi Ihimaera and The Fox Boy by Peter Walker
Kate De Goldi talks to Hamish Clayton
Joe Harawira
Alan Duff and James Belich
The evening looks like it was enjoyed by everyone
Cultural programme director Tanea Heke and Hamish Clayton
The authors L–R: Joe Harawira, Alan Duff, James Belich, Hamish Clayton, Kate camp, Kate De Goldi, Cathie Koa Dunsford, Peter Walker and Paula Morris.
Berlin, 11.09.2012: One of the largest gatherings of New Zealand Maori storytellers will be talking up a storm on Wednesday at the Lange Nacht der Māori – Geschichten at the internationales literaturfestival in Berlin on 12 September.
Eight Māori and Pakeha (European) storytellers and writers from New Zealand will have eight minutes each on stage to tell a story which has the influence of Māori culture at the heart of it: stories inspired by, connected to, influenced by and derived from Māori culture.
Māori have a long tradition of storytelling through the oral tradition, dance (kapa haka), tattoo (ta moko), weaving and carving while the European tradition of storytelling through written text came with those who immigrated to New Zealand. Both of these long traditions have woven together to create a unique blend of storytelling and because New Zealand’s publishing industry is relatively young it is a country bubbling with stories from multiple points of view.
“While everyone knows New Zealand for its beauty, the Lange Nacht der Maori – Geschichten is a chance to discover facets of New Zealand society – the complex, darker and urban, the myths and truths – and the at times vexed and troubled, but maturing relationship between Maori and Pakeha in New Zealand,” said Tanea Heke.
There will be something for everyone in the line up which ranges from oral storyteller Joe Harawira who carries a full face ta moko (tattoo), to authors known in Germany - Witi Ihimaera (Whale Rider), Alan Duff (Once Were Warriors), and Cathie Dunsford (Kaitiakitanga Pasifika) - through to exciting new discoveries and award winning writers Paula Morris (Rangatira), Peter Walker (The Fox Boy), James Belich (The New Zealand Wars) and Hamish Clayton (Wulf).
The evening will be moderated by Knut Elstermann and New Zealand’s 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair’s Guest of Honour project director Tanea Heke.
For more information visit www.nzatfrankfurt.govt.nz or www.buchmesse.de/en/guestofhonour/
