In the first episode of Season Two of our NZSA Oral History Podcast Series we hear from Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. Arriving in New Zealand as an orphan from the Cook Islands, Alistair went on to be one of New Zealand’s most important twentieth century writers, reflecting his European and Pacific heritage in his work, leading the New Zealand Society of Authors as President in 1976, and being awarded an Office of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Alistair was probably best known for his poetry but he had success in many genres including play-writing, fiction and publishing for children at the School Journal. He discussed all these in an interview with Sarah Gaitanos in 2004 before his death. New Zealand broadcaster, NZSA member and author Karyn Hay takes us into the interview as host of the NZSA Oral History Podcast Series.

You can listen to the NZSA Oral History Podcast Series, hosted by Karyn Hay, on our website, Soundcloud, Stitcher, iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also use these links to listen to Season One episodes featuring Lauris Edmonds, Gordon McLauchlan, Dame Fiona Kidman, C.K. Stead, Kevin Ireland, Bernard Brown and Dame Christine Cole Catley.

Want to know more about the NZSA Oral History Podcast Series? Read the NZ Herald article about the series.