Listen: Elizabeth Knox

28 April 2026 First published RNZ

In just three and a half years, beginning in 2008, writer Elizabeth Knox, and her family, were hit by a series of crises in rapid succession. 

Her sister suffered a psychotic break and was hospitalised against her will, her brother-in law was hit by a truck and died, and her mother was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. 

Ten years ago, she started writing a memoir, Night, Ma, but it took time.

Kathryn Ryan speaks to Elizabeth Knox on Nine to Noon about what prompted her to start writing only a few years after this series of traumatic events.