Ian Wedde
Ian Wedde ONZM has authored 16 collections of poetry, nine novels, a collection of stories, three books of essays, art monographs and a memoir.
Ian was NZ Poet Laureate from 2011-2013. His awards and fellowships include the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement (poetry) in 2014. He was born in Blenheim in 1946 and now lives in Auckland.
2022 festival sessions
An Hour with Ian Wedde
- in conversation with Paula Morris
Ian Wedde reflects on his life story from Blenheim boyhood to acclaimed literary career with time to discuss his latest novel 'The Reed Warbler', which spans six generations and is haunted by Ian’s own family history. The novel plays with the reliability of our memories and the stories we tell about each other about our families.
Ian Wedde Poetry
- in conversation with Cliff Fell
Ian has been a major presence in New Zealand poetry since the late 1960s.
The Little Ache, his recent collection of journal poems, offers deep insight into his wide-ranging interests and influences, while his 2017 Selected Poems is a generous selection of nearly five decades as a poet. They are the perfect wellspring for a discussion about how poetry has shaped his life and work.