Ihimaera awarded laureate
Kristine Walsh
FACING accusations of plagiarism relating to his new novel has been a rough storm to weather, says writer Witi Ihimaera.
But the former Gisborne man last night enjoyed a welcome ray of sunshine when he was among five artists to receive one of the richest arts awards in New Zealand.
Ihimaera, carver Lyonel Grant, photographer Anne Noble and musicians Richard Nunns and Chris Knox were last night named the Arts Foundation of New Zealand’s 2009 Laureates, each receiving a $50,000 prize “to celebrate their past achievements and invest in their future”.
“The laureate awards are about recognising senior New Zealand artists,” says foundation chairwoman Ros Burdon.
“It’s about supporting those who have a substantial track record of excellence, and who still have plenty of creative juices left in the tank.”
When Ihimaera received his laureateship in Auckland last night, it was to a resounding welcome. Award-winning East Coast kapa haka group Whangara Mai Tawhiti was on stage to offer powerful acknowledgement of his achievement.
There were two reasons for that, says the Arts Foundation. Not only is leader Derek Lardelli a 2004 laureate, but many Whangara Mai Tawhiti members also trace their whakapapa to Paikea, the legendary ancestor who inspired Ihimaera’s 1978 novel The Whale Rider.
For his new novel The Trowenna Sea, however, the writer had looked further afield, to Australia, and it was historical tracts relating to that region that prompted the accusations of plagiarism.
Ihimaera last night told The Gisborne Herald that he and his publisher Penguin had “implemented the appropriate apologies and acknowledgments, which will appear in the second edition of The Trowenna Sea, due out in 2010”.
Though he admitted that the process had been painful, Ihimaera said support from back home had made it easier.
“When looking over the hills at Waituhi at storm clouds coming, my father would say ‘we had better find shelter until the storm has passed’,” he said.
“I have found such shelter in the aroha and support of many whanau and friends from Gisborne, some of whom from Whangara Mai Tawhiti are here at the celebration tonight.
“But I have to say, also, that on a personal level I’m pretty indomitable, and have my own integrity and moral compass which comes from all of our ancestors.”
Whanau members will once again be at the writer’s side when, in January, he returns to his home marae Rongopai to formally accept the most prestigious prize Te Waka Toi — the Maori arts arm of Creative New Zealand — has to offer, Te Tohu Tiketike.
The presentation has been timed to coincide with the Wi Pere Trust’s 110-year anniversary when more than 700 Wi Pere descendents, including Ihimaera, will be gathered for the occasion.
Meanwhile, Witi Ihimaera said the Laureate funding would help him write a further three novels, two being similar in scope to the epic Trowenna Sea.
The cash will certainly come in handy. Back in June — months before the current accusations — he had already decided to give up his position as Professor of English at the University of Auckland to concentrate full-time on creative projects.
There will be plenty to keep him busy.
As well as the novels, he is co-writing the script for a multimillion-dollar film adaptation of his 1994 novel Bulibasha: King of the Gypsies, one of seven Ihimaera works to have been optioned for feature films (the others being Nights in the Gardens of Spain, The Uncle’s Story, The New Net Goes Fishing, Medicine Woman, The Matriarch and Dream Swimmer).
He is also working with Wellington artist Charlotte Yates on a musical project due for release in 2011.
“So my father was right,” Ihimaera said. “The storm clouds have already passed, I am back on my horse and there is work to do.”