Articles

ArticlesNgā Atikara

Immerse yourself in feature stories on books and authors from Aotearoa. Dive into author interviews, articles, extracts, essays and more.

Tēnā, rukuhia ngā paki hirahira o ngā pukapuka me ngā kaituhi nō Aotearoa. Rukuhia ngā uiui kaituhi, ngā atikara, ngā tīpakohanga, ngā tuhingaroa, aha atu, aha atu.

Listen

Three heartwarming reads

Catherine Robertson recommends three new feel-good reads from New Zealand authors.

22 April 2025

Extract

Extract: The Cinderella Service, by Lynda Taylor

In the midst of World War Two, New Zealand faces a labour shortage as its men leave to serve overseas. To fill the gap, young women are called upon to work the land, becoming the n...

22 April 2025

Interview

'The intersections between poetry and music': Rachel O'Neill

In Tell All Thursday, writer, filmmaker and artist Rachel O'Neill explains to Kete the connections between music and words in her recent poetry collection SYMPHONY OF QUEER ERRANDS...

17 April 2025

Extract

Extract: Human Error, by Patricia Dunmore

It is late in the evening when a fully-loaded Dreamliner begins its final approach to Auckland airport after a long flight from Hong Kong. But then it vanishes into thin air over t...

13 April 2025

Listen

Naomi Arnold on walking south to north

Naomi Arnold talks to Jim Mora about her experience of the Te Araroa trail.

9 April 2025

Interview

Feature: Catherine's Adventures in Romance-Land, by Catherine Robertson

Catherine Robertson, author of the Flora Valley romance series (HarperCollins), gives Kete the lowdown on the biggest genre out there, romance.

7 April 2025

Extract

Extract: Unveiled: A Story of Surviving Gloriavale, by Theophila Pratt

Theophila Pratt was born Honey Faithful in Gloriavale, the fundamentalist Christian community that has been at the centre of decades of allegations of sexual and physical assualt, ...

31 March 2025

Interview

Enzo the cat for young feline lovers: Belinda O'Keefe

in Tell All Thursday, author Belinda O'Keefe gives Kete the rundown on observing her cats' behaviour when researching TALES THROUGH THE CAT DOOR, her second novel for young cat lov...

26 March 2025

Extract

Extract: miss adventure, by Pauline Grogan

miss adventure: healing with music by Pauline Grogan, RRP $35, released 11 March 2025. Extract shared with permission.

23 March 2025

Interview

Interview: Leki Jackson Bourke, playwright and actor

'For him, this meant not wearing cultural attire in public, not speaking his language out loud and keeping a low profile - the typical 'blend in, don't stand out' mentality. Redem...

17 March 2025

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Inangaro Vakaafi, author of Hunt for Niutupu

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2025, guest edited by Victor Rodger, we interviewed four Pasifika writers on their writerly inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they t...

16 March 2025

Interview

Interview: Ockhams judge Jessica Palalagi on judging non-fiction

We caught up with General Manager/ Kaiwhakahaere of The Arts Foundation Te Toi Tumu, Jessica Palalagi, to ask her thoughts about judging the Illustrated Non-Fiction section of the ...

16 March 2025

Interview

Editorial: Hurricane Sia, by Victor Rodger

Victor Rodger muses on Sia Figiel and the redefining of artistic work.

12 March 2025

Extract

Extract: On Call, by Ineke Meredith

The world of surgery is strange, messy and intense. From a man presenting with fishhooks in his stomach to being punched in the face by a patient, it's all in a mad day's work for ...

11 March 2025

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Sean Mallon, author and Senior Curator at Te Papa Tongarewa

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2025, guest edited by Victor Rodger, we interviewed four Pasifika writers on their writerly inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they t...

10 March 2025

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Gina Cole, author of Black Ice Matter and Na Viro

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2025, guest edited by Victor Rodger, we interviewed four Pasifika writers on their writerly inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they t...

9 March 2025

Interview

Creative Inspirations: Rex Letoa Paget, author of Manuali'i

As part of Kete's Pasifika Books 2025, guest edited by Victor Rodger, we interviewed four Pasifika writers on their writerly inspirations, their latest reading, and the book they t...

4 March 2025

Interview

'In love with books': Victor Rodger and Pasifika Books 2025

In his guest editorial for Kete Books' celebration of Pasifika writers, Victor Rodger lays out what books mean to him, and highlights some of the content he's curated to appear in ...

2 March 2025

Interview

Interview: the BOOKS OF MANA editors speak with Kete

Jacinta Ruru, Angela Wanhalla and Jeanette Wikaira have spent six years working on the Te Takarangi project, a list of 150 Māori-authored non-fiction books stretching back to 1815....

19 February 2025

Listen

WONDERLAND, winner of the NZSA Laura Solomon Prize

Louise O'Brien reviews Wonderland by Tracy Farr published by The Cuba Press.

14 February 2025

Listen

Wellington cozy crime writer Rodney Strong

The author of Three Dogs, Two Murders and a Cat joins chats with RNZ's Jim Mora.

14 February 2025