Events In History
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23 August 1939Writer Robin Hyde dies in London
The journalist, poet and novelist, born Iris Wilkinson, was one of New Zealand's finest inter-war writers. Troubled by depression, illness and poverty, she took her own life in London. Read more...
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9 May 1907First School Journal published
New Zealand pupils were for the first time able to read a schoolbook published in their own country. Read more...
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3 August 1872Anthony Trollope begins New Zealand tour
Anthony Trollope, one of the Victorian era’s most famous novelists, landed at Bluff at the start of a two-month tour of the colony. Read more...
Articles
Making of New Zealand literature
Historian and poet Keith Sinclair has argued that the 1950s was the decade 'when the New Zealand intellect and imagination came alive'
- Page 1 - The making of New Zealand literatureHistorian and poet Keith Sinclair has argued that the 1950s was the decade 'when the New Zealand intellect and imagination came
Guide to style
This Guide to Style addresses issues of writing style and presentation which come up in the course of preparing books in the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. It was drafted because of frequent requests for such a guide from those who write and edit for the Group.
- Page 1 - Guide to styleThis Guide to Style addresses issues of writing style and presentation which come up in the course of preparing books in the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and
New Zealand Book Month
Kiwis love books. To celebrate New Zealand Book Month, we have come up with 31 reasons to love New Zealand books and writing.
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Page 2 – 31 reasons to love NZ books and writing
A selection of stories about the history of Kiwi writing, writers and books – one for each day of NZ Book Month.
Rail tourism
From the late 19th century the expanding rail network opened up exciting leisure and tourism opportunities for ordinary New Zealand families. New Zealand Railways promoted rail holidays through bright, attractive posters and its own popular monthly magazine.
- Page 5 - Railways MagazineDuring the inter-war years no other monthly magazine matched New Zealand Railways for its commitment to promoting a popular literary culture in New
Biographies
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Wilkinson, Iris Guiver ('Robin Hyde')
Robin Hyde packed a lot into her short and often tragic life. Best known today for her novels Passport to hell, Nor the years condemn and The godwits fly, she was also a fine poet, a crusading journalist and an outspoken advocate for the downtrodden.
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Shaw, Helen Lilian
Helen Shaw's 50-year career as a creative writer began in the 1930s, when she was strongly influenced by the literary nationalist writing of the day. A growing interest in mysticism and spirituality led her to pursue a more personal kind of art.
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Curnow, Thomas Allen Munro
Allen Curnow was one of the defining voices of 20th-century New Zealand literature. His career spanned six decades and there was a strong local and international following for his work.
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Baxter, James Keir
Acknowledged as New Zealand’s most accomplished poet, Baxter is also well known for his lifestyle and the counter-cultural community he established beside the Whanganui River.
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Marsh, Ngaio Edith
The magazine Newsweek described her novels as 'the best whodunits ever written'. Marsh was also an artist, playwright, actor and director.
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Lee, Alfred Alexander
A charismatic ex-soldier, orator and propagandist, John A. Lee was a dynamic figure in the Labour Party from the 1920s until 1940, when he was expelled for attacking the leadership of M.J. Savage.
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White, Leo Lemuel
For much of his life Leo White successfully combined two of his passions, aviation and photography, starting Whites Aviation and finding his photographs decorating hundreds of New Zealand homes.
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Davey, Norris Frank
Frank Sargeson, born Norris Frank Davey in 1903, was one of New Zealand’s most celebrated writers of the 20th century.
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Pascoe, John Dobrée
John Pascoe was an avid mountaineer and writer. Though he helped pioneer documentary photography in New Zealand, he has been described as our greatest unrecognised 20th century photographer.
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Main image: Katherine Mansfield
Autographed photograph of Katherine Mansfield in 1914