Hone Tuwhare

Hone Tuwhare

Today, mourners from across the country gathered at the marae near Kaikohe to say their last goodbyes to the great Hone Tuwhare.

Hone Tuwhare Remembered

Fellow poet and close friend Glenn Colquhoun.

Hone Tuwhare Tribute

Cilla McQueen, Bluff poet and Jim Geddes, personal friend and curator at the Eastern Southland Art Gallery.

Te Ahi Kaa mo 27 Kohi-tatea (January) 2008

We remember a man who's love of the written and spoken word captivated a nation, Nga Puhi poet Hone Tuwhare(1922 - 2008).
Born in 1922 near Kaikohe, Tuwhare grew up with his father in Auckland where he excelled in English at school. He thanks his father for encouraging his love and interest in the spoken and written word. However it wasn't until his 40s that he released his first book of poetry "No Ordinary Sun", to critical acclaim. A dozen more collections followed, with one anthology "Shapeshifter" claiming the 1999 Montana Book Award for Poetry.

Te Ahi Kaa has an interview Hone Tuwhare did in 2001 with former Radio New Zealand Broadcaster, John Campbell, about his art, his love of life, and kai.

The Making of Tuwhare (Part 1) on Musical Chairs

In memory of poet Hone Tuwhare, who died in January 2008.

The Making of Tuwhare recalls the story of the project to set his poems to contemporary music by selected artists.

In 2000 Charlotte Yates co-ordinated and released the 'Baxter' CD, with the poetry of James K Baxter set to contemporary music. That CD so impressed Toi Maori Aotearoa that they commissioned Charlotte to repeat the process, this time setting the lyrical poetry of Hone Tuwhare, to a range of musical styles - from Whirimako Black and Dean Hapeta to Don McGlashon and Graham Brazier, and from Te Reo duo Wai to pop favourites Strawpeople.

'Tuwhare' was released on May 16 2005, and Radio New Zealand National's Lynn Freeman followed the making of the Tuwhare CD, charting the earliest days right through to the finished product.

In the first of a three part Musical Chairs special, Lynn Freeman follows the making of the Tuwhare CD with Charlotte Yates and some of the artists she chose for this very special project: Don McGlashan, Wai, Goldenhorse and Graham Brazier.

Hone Tuwhare was the first Maori poet to have published his work in English, with 'No Ordinary Sun' coming out in 1964. His writing was celebrated with numerous accolades ranging from an honorary doctorate, courtesy of the University of Otago, to receiving one of the inaugural Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement in 2003. He was named as an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Artist in 2003. He died in Dunedin on 16 January 2008.

The Making of Tuwhare (Part 2) on Musical Chairs

In this second part of a three programme series on the making of the Tuwhare CD, Lynn Freeman joins producer and singer/songwriter Charlotte Yates as she works on her own musical interpretation of a poem by the iconic Maori poet. You'll also meet some of the musicians she has invited to set Hone's poetry to music, among them Mahinerangi Tocker, Hinemoana Baker and Goldenhorse. Hone Tuwhare was the first Maori poet to have published his work in English, with 'No Ordinary Sun' coming out in 1964. His writing was celebrated with numerous accolades ranging from an honorary doctorate, courtesy of the University of Otago, to receiving one of the inaugural Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement in 2003. He was named as an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Artist in 2003. He died in Dunedin on 16 January 2008.

The Making of Tuwhare (Part 3) on Musical Chairs

The final chapter in the story of the making of the Tuwhare CD, where selected musicians have each chosen a poem by the venerable Maori poet Hone Tuwhare and set it to music. Join producer Charlotte Yates at the grand launch in Wellington, along some of the musicians who've taken part in this remarkable project.

Te Ahi Kaa mo 20 Hongongoi (July) 2008

At 15'.30" into this episode of Te Ahi Kaa we remember Hone Tuwhare (1922-2008).

"An ordinary man writing extraordinarily" - one of the many descriptions recounted about Hone Tuwhare at a recent memorial service.

Born in Kaikohe, Tuwhare no Nga Puhi, was a man of passions whether it was his boilermaker work with NZ Railways as a young man, involvement with the trade union movement or relationships. All fed into his creativity providing fodder for his extensive collection of work and what was a lifetime love of words.

Tuwhare had a great presence and many of the people who spoke at a memorial service held recently in Wellington recounted their personal experiences of his humour, humility and genius including his granddaughter Moana Tuwhare and longtime friend, Mark Derby.

Feature Guest - Rob Tuwhare

Son of Hone Tuwhare and literary executor of the Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust, which was established to purchase and restore Hone's crib at Kaka Point in South Otago and establish a writers' residency (the first in a home of a Ma-ori writer). The trust also seeks to develop resources for schools and initiate events throughout the country celebrating Hone and his contribution to the arts.

Access All Area: Hone Tuwhare - Koha for the Crib

Some of New Zealand's top musicians, artists and poets got together in July 2011 to pay tribute to one of the country's best-loved and most successful poets Hone Tuwhare, and to raise money to preserve and his old 'crib' at Kaka Point, Otago, as a writer's residence. For Access All Areas Trevor Reekie is joined by 'Koha for the Crib' Trustee and organiser of the recent fundraising event Kim Hegan, poet and artist Tracey Tawhiao and Dunedin musicians David Kilgour (The Clean) and Martin Phillips (The Chills), who perform in our studio and discuss writing, Hone Tuwhare's work and legacy.

Book Review - Small Holes in the Silence

Written by Hone Tuwhare, reviewed by Paul Diamond and published by Godwit.