IIML
@modernletters.bsky.social
The home of creative writing at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Undergraduate courses, MA and PhD. Also: harbour views and baking.
Thierry and Annemarie Jutel, then and now: we’ll miss these two bright sparks at Te Herenga Waka, but wish them well in their ‘retirement’ down south!
November 11, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Thierry and Annemarie Jutel, then and now: we’ll miss these two bright sparks at Te Herenga Waka, but wish them well in their ‘retirement’ down south!
Going West Festival pic by Marti Friedlander
November 8, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Going West Festival pic by Marti Friedlander
‘I vote with the hand that holds
this knife. I vote for the fish, the bird,
the ocean and a raised land shaped
by explosion, erosion and willful life.’
Dinah Hawken reads from her poem ‘The Uprising’ after receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Poetry last night.
this knife. I vote for the fish, the bird,
the ocean and a raised land shaped
by explosion, erosion and willful life.’
Dinah Hawken reads from her poem ‘The Uprising’ after receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Poetry last night.
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
‘I vote with the hand that holds
this knife. I vote for the fish, the bird,
the ocean and a raised land shaped
by explosion, erosion and willful life.’
Dinah Hawken reads from her poem ‘The Uprising’ after receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Poetry last night.
this knife. I vote for the fish, the bird,
the ocean and a raised land shaped
by explosion, erosion and willful life.’
Dinah Hawken reads from her poem ‘The Uprising’ after receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Poetry last night.
And it’s a wrap - 30 MA folios handed in tonight and off to their examiners in the morning. Here’s Team Makereti in their official t-shirt looking pleased to have crossed the finish line. Time for a cup of tea and a lie down. Congratulations everyone!🥂💐💐💐
November 4, 2025 at 9:18 AM
And it’s a wrap - 30 MA folios handed in tonight and off to their examiners in the morning. Here’s Team Makereti in their official t-shirt looking pleased to have crossed the finish line. Time for a cup of tea and a lie down. Congratulations everyone!🥂💐💐💐
Paying homage to the hedge #MauriceGee @nelsonarts.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Paying homage to the hedge #MauriceGee @nelsonarts.bsky.social
This city does one’s head in
October 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This city does one’s head in
Scriptwriter Fiona Samuel (who wrote the screenplay for Pike River) is the next Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellow! Katherine herself is not far from where the award ceremony took place this evening: Fiona is currently working on a film about her, and Mansfield seems to approve.
October 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Scriptwriter Fiona Samuel (who wrote the screenplay for Pike River) is the next Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellow! Katherine herself is not far from where the award ceremony took place this evening: Fiona is currently working on a film about her, and Mansfield seems to approve.
Students are kind and funny
October 22, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Students are kind and funny
Happy 250th issue to Landfall Tauraka, and congratulations to editor Lynley Edmeades, publisher Sue Wootton, and Hocken curator Kirstie Ross (not pictured) for a great launch, exhibition and symposium, and a bumper issue, including a craft interview (a new feature) with IIML founder Bill Manhire
October 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Happy 250th issue to Landfall Tauraka, and congratulations to editor Lynley Edmeades, publisher Sue Wootton, and Hocken curator Kirstie Ross (not pictured) for a great launch, exhibition and symposium, and a bumper issue, including a craft interview (a new feature) with IIML founder Bill Manhire
Ingrid Horrocks reading from her Mary Wollstonecraft story at a packed launch for All Her Lives tonight - books were flying out the door!
October 9, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Ingrid Horrocks reading from her Mary Wollstonecraft story at a packed launch for All Her Lives tonight - books were flying out the door!
Freya Daly Sadgrove’s test kitchen is cooking at Book Hound next Tuesday
September 18, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Freya Daly Sadgrove’s test kitchen is cooking at Book Hound next Tuesday
Ant it’s a wrap for The Next Page 2025 - a good time was had by all. Thanks to all the writers for bringing their A-game and to Meow for hosting us! Now on with the work…
September 17, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Ant it’s a wrap for The Next Page 2025 - a good time was had by all. Thanks to all the writers for bringing their A-game and to Meow for hosting us! Now on with the work…
Elizabeth Knox introducing her new book Kings of This World to an appreciative crowd in Wellington this evening
September 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Elizabeth Knox introducing her new book Kings of This World to an appreciative crowd in Wellington this evening
Nick Ascroft weeping with laughter (or is it mortification?) while being almost out-Ascrofted by Always Becominging tonight at his own launch: It’s What He Would Have Wanted
September 3, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Nick Ascroft weeping with laughter (or is it mortification?) while being almost out-Ascrofted by Always Becominging tonight at his own launch: It’s What He Would Have Wanted
On Wednesday 20 August at 6pm, Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate Chris Tse marks the end of his term in a free event with fellow poets Ken Arkind, Cadence Chung, Gregory O’Brien, Chris Price, and Ruby Solly at the National Library. Should be a lively night!
August 17, 2025 at 1:06 AM
On Wednesday 20 August at 6pm, Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate Chris Tse marks the end of his term in a free event with fellow poets Ken Arkind, Cadence Chung, Gregory O’Brien, Chris Price, and Ruby Solly at the National Library. Should be a lively night!
Times Literary Supplement June 20
August 15, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Times Literary Supplement June 20
Moonshot, Wellington, right now
August 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Moonshot, Wellington, right now
Gina Butson (MA23) at the Wellington launch of her debut novel The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds tonight, with live music from Hihi and the Stitchbirds and a crowd that included members of Gina’s book club for the past 20 years! 🥂🥂🥂
July 23, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Gina Butson (MA23) at the Wellington launch of her debut novel The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds tonight, with live music from Hihi and the Stitchbirds and a crowd that included members of Gina’s book club for the past 20 years! 🥂🥂🥂
Great news that Ralph Hotere’s monumental Black Phoenix is back on show at Te Papa: check it out for Matariki! In celebration of its return here’s a poem about it from Chris Price’s 2016 collection, Beside Herself
June 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Great news that Ralph Hotere’s monumental Black Phoenix is back on show at Te Papa: check it out for Matariki! In celebration of its return here’s a poem about it from Chris Price’s 2016 collection, Beside Herself
Congratulations to Hannah Marshall, whose debut YA novel was launched at Unity last night! 💐🥂
June 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Congratulations to Hannah Marshall, whose debut YA novel was launched at Unity last night! 💐🥂