When Hone Tuwhare passed away on January 17th last year, New Zealand lost one of their most gifted and accessible poets. Born in Kaikohe in 1941, Tuwhare's poems and short stories served to conjure up powerful images of Aotearoa's land, sea, legends and of its people. The accolades Tuwhare received were justifiably many and included honorary doctorates from Otago and Auckland Universities as well as being made a Te Mata laureate in 1999. Hone moved to the small Catlins community of Kaka Point in 1992 and it is from here that a small collection of around 15 works on paper and photographs which A+O will offer in its New Collectors' Art Sale on April 22nd have come from. Many feature wonderfully personal inscriptions to Hone from friends and artists and offer outsiders a unique insight into one of New Zealand's great literary figures and genuine characters. Be sure to come and check it out.
