Anatonio Te Maioha reads A Game of Cards by Witi Ihimaera Smiler
Send us Fan Mail A Game of Cards has been selected from Pounamu Pounamu by Witi Ihimaera Smiler. It was the first collection published in 1972 by one of Aotearoa's most beloved and influential writers. Witi Ihimaera Smiler has since gone on to publish more than 26 collections, novels and memoirs as well as librettos and inclusions in many anthrologies. Up to 2010 he was Professor of English and Distinguished Creative Fellow in Māori Literatures at Waipapa Taumata Rau. ...
29 Oct 2026
Michelle Langstone reads Concrete Box by Ingrid Horrocks
Send us Fan Mail Concrete Box by Ingrid Horrocks has been selected from her collection All Her Lives (Te Herenga Waka University Press) which won the prestigious Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. She is also the author of the memoir Where We Swim, a literary history, Women Wanderers and the Writing of Mobility, and two collections of poetry. Michelle Langstone is an award-winning actor and writer. She has appeared in many film, tv a...
21 Oct 2026
Michael Hurst reads An Affair of the Heart by Frank Sargeson
Send us Fan Mail Frank Sargeson (1903–1982) was one of New Zealand’s most important and influential short fiction writers. He lived most of his life in Takapuna in Auckland where this story An Affair of the Heart is set, and his modest home there is now an historic place that can be visited. Actor and director Michael Hurst is known for his powerful stage performances, and innovative direction (especially in Shakespeare and the Greeks) and, internationally, for his role as Iolaus in the...
27 Dec 2025
Millen Baird reads The Baddest Toroa in Town by Airini Beautrais
Send a text The Baddest Toroa in Town is selected from the Airini Beautrais' prize winning collection Bug Week which was published by Te Herenga Waka University Press. Airini won the Best First Book of Poetry in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in 2007 for Secret Heart. Her subsequent books include Western Line, Dear Neil Roberts, Flow: Whanganui River Poems and in 2021, she won the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction for her short story collection, ...
27 Dec 2025
Mele Toli reads Bluey by Maria Samuela
Send a text Bluey has been selected from Maria Samuela's collection Beats of the Pa’u published by Te Herenga Waka University Press. Maria was born in Wellington and her writing is predominantly centred on the Cook Island diaspora. Her stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and Beats of the Pa’u (THWUP) is her first collection. Her story Bluey was shortlisted for the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2019, with a second story, Peach Tree, was longlisted in 2022, and We'll m...
25 Dec 2025
Rutene Spooner reads Hooks and Feelers by Keri Hulme
Send a text Keri Hulme's story Hooks and Feelers won the 1975 BNZ Katherine Mansfield prize and set her on the writing path that led to her becoming our first ever Booker Prize winner with The Bone People. Selected from the anthology Oh, to be a writer, a real writer with the kind permission of Te Herenga Waka University Press. Rutene Spooner (Ngāti Porou, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a musician, theatre artist, creative producer, kaihaka, and dad. He has lent his voice to Disn...
25 Dec 2025
Donna Brookbanks reads Emergency Procedures by Amy Head
Send a text Emergency Procedures by Amy Head has been selected from the stunning collection Signs of Life, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press - which is set amidst the rubble of post-quake Christchurch. Amy is also the author of the novel Rotorua and the collection Tough, which won the Best First Book of Fiction at the NZ Book Awards. Donna Brookbanks is an actor, comedian, writer and improviser. She has appeared on Madam, 7 Days, Creamerie and co-founded cult hit improv show...
20 Dec 2025
Harry McNaughton reads Jewel's Darl by Anne Kennedy
Send a text The award-winning story Jewel’s Darl by Anne Kennedy won the 1983 BNZ Katherine Mansfield Prize, shooting the as-yet-unheard-of Anne Kennedy to instant literary fame. Later Peter Wells made an iconic short film of the story, casting a very young Georgina Beyer as Jewel. Anne Kennedy has since gone on to become one of our most revered writers, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry in 2021. She has published five collections of poetry as well as fou...
20 Dec 2025
Claire Chitham reads Babydoll by Catherine Chidgey
Send a text Babydoll by Catherine Chidgey was first published on ReadingRoom. Catherine Chidgey is currently experiencing world-wide acclaim with her most recent novel The Book of Guilt, her ninth novel. Her previous two, The Axeman’s Carnival and Pet, were both longlisted for 2024 International Dublin Literary Award, and The Axeman’s Carnival won the Jan Medlicott prize at the Ockham NZ Book Awards. Claire Chitham famously played Aurora on Outrageous Fortune and was a fan favourite on...
18 Dec 2025
Miriama Te Rangimarie Smith reads The Kiss by Patricia Grace
Send a text The Kiss has been selected Patricia Grace’s short story collection Small Holes In The Silence (Penguin Random House NZ), also recently republished and celebrated in Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories (AUP). Over her prolific and highly influential writing career, Patricia Grace has accumulated many significant awards including Distinguished Companion of the NZ Order of Merit (DCNZM), an Arts Foundation icon award, the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement , the Neust...
18 Dec 2025
Maaka Pohatu reads A Casket Made of Flax by Airana Ngarewa
Send a text A Casket Made of Flax was selected from Airana Ngarewa’s short story collection Pātea Boys, published by Moa Press. Airana Ngarewa (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngāruahine) was born and raised in Pātea, and has published three books – the novel The Bone Tree, short story collection Pātea Boys, and his new novel The Last Living Cannibal – which instantly stormed up the best-seller charts on release. Maaka Pohatu (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) most recently starred in...
11 Dec 2025
John Leigh reads Mr Van Gogh by Owen Marshall
Send a text Mr Van Gogh – a story about a boy reflecting on a man who was known as the local eccentric – was selected from Owen Marshall’s collection The Authors Cut (Penguin Random House NZ), originally published in Mr Van Gogh And Other Stories. Known as NZ’s pre-eminent short story stylist, Owen Marshall has written or edited over 35 books. His many awards include a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit (CNZM), the Prime Minister’s award for Literary Achievement, and the Katherine...
11 Dec 2025
Elisabeth Easther reads Collateral by Michelle Duff
Send a text Collateral – a futuristic story about a musician receiving an unusual sanction for his past demeanours – is selected from Michelle Duff's wonderful debut collection Surplus Women, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press. She's received rave reviews for her stories about women in the past, present and future Aotearoa. Elisabeth Easther has appeared in everything from Shortland Street to The Brokenwood Mysteries, Outrageous Fortune to Funny Girls and also...
3 Dec 2025
Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand reads School Days by Maurice Gee
Send a text School Days has been selected from the collection A Glorious Morning Comrade published by Auckland University Press in 1976, read in memory of Maurice Gee, who we lost in June this year at the age of 93. He left a profound legacy to NZ literature, and during his lifetime wrote prolifically, producing over thirty novels for adults and children. After publishing his first three novels, including In My Father’s Den, he released A Glorious Morning, Comrade in 1976. The story we have...
3 Dec 2025
Jamie Irvine reads American Microphones by Damien Wilkins
Send a text American Microphones is written by Damien Wilkins, selected from his short story collection For Everyone Concerned and Other Stories published by Te Herenga Waka University Press. He is the author of 14 books including his most recent novel, Delirious, which was the much-feted winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Awards. He is the Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters and a Professor at Te Herenga Waka University. ...
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