The New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History Podcast is back with our fifth season! We start with two episodes featuring Witi Ihimaera. In this first episode we begin with Witi talking to Deborah Shepard about the writing scene he launched into in 1970's New Zealand. New episodes every 3 weeks.

NZSA Oral History Podcast Series

Witi Ihimaera Part 1

Witi Ihimaera has become one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most recognised and decorated writers over his 50+ years as an author. The first episode of this season covered some of those highlights; this episode we again join Witi talking to Deborah Shepard about his life as a writer.

Witi Ihimaera Part 2

In 2016, Marilyn Duckworth won the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. The award came more than 50 years after she had won the New Zealand Literary Fund Award for Achievement in 1963. Marilyn talks to Deborah Shepard in this episode about her career as an author over those 50 years.

Marilyn Duckworth

Graeme Lay is the author of more than forty books of fiction and non-fiction, and many many shorter works. He was good friends with most Auckland writers of his generation.  Graeme spoke with Kelly Ana Morey in 2021, and they start by talking about the first works of short fiction he had published as a young writer.

Graeme Lay

Denys Trussell is well known for his environmental poetry and advocacy, yet there is much more to learn about him.
In this episode we drop into his 2021 discussion with Kelly Ana Morey where they talk about his turn towards writing, and why he spends so much of his time fighting for what he believes in.

NZSA oral History Podcast Series

Denys Trussell

Fleur Adcock lived between New Zealand and England for many years. Although Fleur settled in London as a full-time writer in the 1970's, she is still published here and we still regard her as 'one of our own'. Over two episodes we are going to drop into parts of Fleur’s oral history, collected in 2021 by Deborah Shepard - here's part one.

Fleur Adcock part 1

In 2019, Deborah Shepard travelled to England to spend two days recording the oral history of writer Fleur Adcock. In the last episode Fleur talked about some of her life in New Zealand; this episode focuses more on her life in London, her permanent home now for nearly fifty years.

NZSA Oral History Podcast

Fluer Adcock Part 2

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2022-2023, Witi Ihimaera-Smiler  in November 2023. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa.

NZSA Live!

NZSA Live! Witi Ihimaera-Smiler, 2023 Janet Frame Address

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2024 Barbara Else in November 2024 as part of the Verb Festival, Wellington. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa.

2024 Janet Frame Memorial Lecture

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2025, Charlotte Grimshaw, in October 2025 in association with Verb at the New Zealand National Library. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa

NZSA Live! Charlotte Grimshaw's 2025 Janet Frame Address

Listen to the New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History Podcast, hosted by Karyn Hay and including author interviews collected over 30 years.  

Also find our new podcast, NZSA Live!  Featuring audio recorded at NZSA events.

2024 Janet Frame Memorial Lecture

NZ Society of Authors