Kapiti Island’s Kaitiaki o Kapiti Trust announced today that writer Kelly Joseph (Ngati Maniapoto) will be Kapiti Island’s resident writer during Matariki (Maori New Year) this year.
‘If I could dream up an ideal writer’s residency for myself,’ says Kelly, ‘it would be this one. The island is so important culturally, historically and in a conservation sense. It has so many stories. It’s incredible to imagine having two whole months to focus only on my writing in such an amazing place.’
Kelly plans to make a start on short film scripts while she is in residence on Kapiti Island, and says she admires the work of Miranda July and French film-makers Michel Gondry and Jean-Pierre Jeunet.Kelly was one of nearly 40 applicants interested in the residency, which is open to authors from all genres writing in both English and Maori. The residency will run from 22 June to 16 August 2009. John Barrett, Minnie Clark & whanau, who live on Kapiti Island and run the Kapiti Nature Lodge, will be hosting Kelly during the eight-week residency.
‘We’re delighted to be sharing Matariki and Kapiti with Kelly, our second resident writer,’ he says. ‘We’re very grateful to our supporters for seeing the residency through for another year. We’re very much hoping it will become an annual thing – as far as we’re aware there are no other residencies in the country aimed specifically at Maori writers.’
Check out this Interview in full with Kelly Joseph recorded on CAAMA Maori Show Te Puna Waiora…
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