Latest news with #NafanuaPurcellKersel
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Nafanua Purcell Kersel Named As 2025 Emerging Pasifika Writer In Residence
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nafanua Purcell Kersel as the Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence for 2025. Nafanua, a Sāmoan writer and performer, is based in Heretaunga, Te Mātau-a-Māui (Hawke's Bay). She will use the residency to work on a stage adaptation of her debut poetry collection Black Sugarcane, as well as a new book of poems. Her aspiration is to create work that creates more.'More alofa, more creativity, more understanding in our communities and worlds,' says Nafanua. Nafanua has a background in facilitation and community storytelling, including her role with Nevertheless NZ, where she leads the storytelling programme and runs creative writing workshops with Māori, Pasifika, and Rainbow+ communities. Her creative work includes poetry, theatre and spoken word, often centring on themes of intergenerational memory and Pasifika knowledge systems. Black Sugarcane, published in 2025 by Te Herenga Waka University Press, grew out of Nafanua's Master of Creative Writing at IIML, for which she won the 2022 Biggs Family Prize in Poetry. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies and in various literary journals including Cordite, Landfall and Turbine l Kapohau. Nafanua says it is a privilege and an honour to receive this award. 'I admire each of the previous recipients, and feel humbled to have been chosen to follow on from them. 'My wish is to write work which offers an insight into the complexity of community and the subtle work of shared stories, through my own experiences, dreams, and observations. My goal for the residency is to produce work which is mana-enhancing and unapologetic in its cultural depth. Fa'afetai, fa'afetai, fa'afetai tele lava mo le avanoa.' Nafanua will receive a stipend of $15,000 to write her new work at the IIML for three months. She will also work with a mentor during the residency. Damien Wilkins, Director of the IIML, says Nafanua's wonderful first book of poems shows her to be a highly skilled writer with new things to say. 'We're excited to see her work develop. The IIML is also very appreciative of the support of the University and Creative New Zealand.'
Scoop
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Writers On Mondays Returns To Showcase Acclaimed And Emerging Literary Voices In Wellington
It's that time of year again! Writers on Mondays is back, with a series running from 7 July to 29 September 2025. Run by the International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) in conjunction with Te Papa Tongarewa and Circa Theatre, these lunchtime events are the perfect opportunity to come in out of the winter weather and listen to vibrant conversations about some of Aotearoa's best writing. And the entire programme is free! Award-winning books and authors feature heavily in this year's programme. Damien Wilkins, winner of the 2025 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, will be joined by last year's winner Emily Perkins to chat about his bestselling novel Delirious, which Newsroom declared 'the book of the year' in 2024. Michelle Rahurahu, fresh from winning the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction at the Ockham Book Awards, will be joined by fellow debut author Gina Butson to take us on a whirlwind tour of their novels Poorhara and The Stars are a Million Glittering Worlds. Many of the authors in the programme are traveling from across New Zealand and even further afield. With Verb Wellington taking a pause on their fantastic readers and writers festival for 2025, Writers on Mondays offers Wellingtonians a unique opportunity to hear literary stars discuss their work this year. Chris Price, co-ordinator of Writers on Mondays, says, 'High-flying Wellington writers are in the spotlight alongside writers from across the motu and beyond: Nina Mingya Powles on a flying visit from London; Mikaela Nyman, fresh from her standout Auckland Writers Festival appearance, making the journey from Taranaki; and poet Nafanua Purcell Kersel traveling from Hawkes Bay. Several Auckland writers will also be in town for especially for the series.' Don't miss your chance to see these writers in Wellington! Randell Cottage Writer in Residence Saraid de Silva and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Michelle Duff will be in conversation with Tina Makereti to explore their stories about multi-generational women and how we excavate the past to inform the present. de Silva's Amma has had international success, longlisted for the Women's Prize, while another featured writer, Jennifer Trevelyan, has had huge international success with her debut novel A Beautiful Family. She caught the attention of a renowned literary agent who secured her a worldwide publishing deal and Allen & Unwin has published her book in NZ. Duncan Sarkies and Brannavan Gnanalingam will be in discussion about their new novels, and why political satire is more important than ever in current times. It wouldn't be Writers on Mondays without poetry and we have plenty of conversations and readings with poets from the freshest to our most revered. Poetry offerings include Nick Ascroft hosting poets from his edition of Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems in a reading, a conversation between Mikaela Nyman and Nafanua Purcell Kersel, and poet laureate Chris Tse talking to poets about how poetry might be reinvented. Anna Jackson, Associate Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, will speak about her new collection of poetry which has been described as 'extraordinary, in both concept and form'. The events feature many writers who previously studied at the IIML, including MA graduates Gina Butson, Michelle Rahurahu, Michelle Duff, Nafanua Purcell Kersel, Jennifer Trevelyan, Nina Mingya Powles, Chris Tse, Gregory Kan, Cadence Chung, Jiaqiao Liu, Rachel O'Neill and Amy Marguerite, plus Mikaela Nyman, who completed her PhD with the Institute. Damien Wilkins, who is Director of the IIML as well as this year's Acorn prize winner, says, 'It's a thrill to see so many writers on the programme with strong connections to the IIML taking their work to the world.' For a glimpse of the further talent soon to emerge from the IIML's MA workshops, scriptwriting students will have their words brought to life in lunchtime performances at Circa Theatre, while the next wave of novelists, poets, and creative nonfiction writers will read in special evening events at Meow. Writers on Mondays will run from 12.15—1.15 pm each Monday from 7 July to 29 September 2025 at Te Papa Tongarewa and Circa Theatre, with two special evening sessions at Meow. Admission is free and all are welcome. The series is supported by the Letteri family. The full programme can be viewed celebrate Aotearoa writers with us at Writers on Mondays – we look forward to seeing you there.
