GREETINGS FROM WELLINGTON WHERE NZ POST WRTERS & READERS WEEK
STARTED IN SPECTACULAR STYLE LAST NIGHT


The Gala Opening at the Embassy Theatre, (it was packed to the gunwhales) ,featured a most diverse group of writers - in order of speaking Paul Muldoon (an Irsih poet who lives in the US), Mayra Montero, (a Cuban novelist who lives in Puerto Rico), Ian McEwan, (English novelist,Booker Prize winner), Christian Bok, (a Canadian performance poet), and Sia Figiel, (a Samoan novelist who lives in Samoa and NZ).


And what entertainment they provided. To some degreeg Christian Bok stole the show with his astonishing poetic deliveries but each author in their own way provided us with a unique and entertaining experience.


The Gala Opening suggests this is going to be the best-ever NZ Post Writers & Readers Week section of the New Zealand Interntional Arts Festival.


Visit the website http://www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz/ and then get on down to the Embasssy to see and hear authors from around the world and across the land.


FOOTNOTE
Broadcaster Lynn Freeman, (Arts on Sunday, Radio NZ National), made an excellent chair. I felt some sympathy for her because she had five authors (and a translator) on stage. Why Festival organisers insist on five panellists on opening nights is beyond me. Three is plenty. And they always run way way over time........Five introductions, five readings, panel discussion all in 90 minutes? Give me a break!