Phil Kawana
Phil Kawana is a short-story writer and poet.
Phil (Ngaruahinerangi, Ngati Ruanui, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane) was born and raised in Taranaki. He is a short-story writer, poet and performer whose work often follows the lives of young Maori characters drifting between urban and rural New Zealand. He won the Te Kaunihera Maori Award for best short story writer in English by a previously published Maori Writer in the inaugural Huia Short Story Awards in 1995. He won this category again in 1997, was a judge in 1999, and a finalist in 2001 (when it became the Maori Literature Awards).
Phil is the author of Dead Jazz Guys (1996) and Attack of the Skunk People (1999), both published by Huia Publishers. His work has been widely anthologised, most recently in Whetu Moana - Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. His first work for theatre, Te Pohewa, a musical based on the Tui-award nominated album by Soul Paua, is due to premiere in Wellington in July 2004. He is also working on four books that he hopes will see the light of day before exhaustion sets in.
In July 2003, Phil joined Honouring Words - 2nd International Indigenous Writers Celebration Tour, Australia. In February 2004, Phil toured with 'On the Bus - Waiariki' a project of Te Ha Contemporary Maori Writers Committee.
His newest collection of poetry 'The Devil in My Shoes' was published by Auckland University Press.
Links
The Devil in My Shoes Auckland University Press (AUP)
Dead Jazz Guys Huia Publishers
Attack of the Skunk People Huia Publishers
A Day in the Life 1997 Huia Short Story Awards.
Phil Kawana NZ Book Council
Breeder Boy New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre