‘Words flowed, sparkled and rippled’

Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Resident, Shu-Ling Chua has been in Ōtepoti for her six-week residency. And we were honoured to have her participate in the Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival - as a speaker on the art of Essays and as a Key Listener.

I will never forget the pōwhiri at Ōtākou marae which opened Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival 2023. It was powerful, moving and humbling. Hearing Witi Ihimaera, Linda Tuhiwai Smith and Monty Soutar in conversation made me reflect on legacy, responsibility and the ancestors we carry with us. I’m still thinking about Witi’s words at the Opening Gala Night: “The next 50 years are not about me.”

I started Day 1 with a conversation between Paddy Richardson, Paul Diamond and chair Rob Kidd on historical research and the importance of place. To inform their recent works, Paddy drew on the wind at Matiu Somes Island and Paul on photographs, prison records, oral history and translated snippets.

Pip Adam, Sascha Stronach and chair David Large discussed the role of hope, memory, justice, world-building (Sascha: “You’re not writing a Wikipedia entry, but places as inhabited by people.”) and curiosity, in writing sci-fi and fantasy. I loved how Sascha described the joy of ciphers and puzzle boxes: “the act of unpacking is almost like an act of communion with the writer.”

Jeanette Wikaira, Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani, Tracey Tawhiao, Ati Teepa and Cilla McQueen generously shared their memories of Hone Tuwhare, his crib, and poetry inspired by both. I was in awe. Soapbox Political Poetry at Woof! was a fitting, passionate close to an incredible day.

On Day 2, Lynley Edmeades, Susan Wardell, Michaela Keeble and I discussed the art of writing essays, including essays as a way to explore truth, circle around softness and acknowledge uncertainty.

This was swiftly followed by a birthday party celebration for Poet Laureate Chris Tse, featuring poetry from an amazing line-up (I especially loved Megan Kitching’s “A Bee Against a Window” and Jessica Hinerangi’s poem inspired by Dunedin), pass-the-parcel and Celine Dion. Host Liz Breslin was a motivating blur of energy. Honestly, poets throw the best parties!

Susan Paterson, Andrea Hotere and chair Lynn Freeman discussed the role of art in their fiction. Susan’s vivid reading illustrated how a painting can conjure up very different memories and emotions in people, and Andrea spoke of art as a prism or lens that “sparkles back to viewers”.

I closed the festival at a heart-warming event celebrating two recent anthologies of contemporary Māori writing, Te Awa o Kupu and Ngā Kupu Wero. There is irrepressible beauty in the collective.

The Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival, together with my residency at the Caselberg House, reminds me to stay open to wonder and to give back to the communities that have nurtured me.

What mark do I want to leave, now and for future generations?

Community, poetry, kōrero and aroha were at the heart of the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival. Reflecting this year’s theme of “Te Pūao: The Place Where the River Meets the Sea”, words flowed, sparkled and will ripple far beyond this one weekend in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

Thank you to the festival team, artists and audiences for the generous conversations, and nourishing space and energy!!!

Shu-Ling Chua