The Ngaio Marsh Awards, in association with Nelson Public Libraries, invites Top of the South booklovers to a criminally good evening with four talented and terrific Kiwi storytellers.
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) who grew up in Ngātīmoti and is the only person to win Ngaio Marsh Awards for both fiction and non-fiction, returns to the Top of the South for a thrilling korero with fellow Ngaios Best First Novel winner Chris Stuart and Motueka policeman, filmmaker, and thriller writer Stef Harris for a discussion on how they craft page-whirring tales full of memorable characters, and incorporate real-life themes into their novels. Writer, performer, and arts curator Donna McLeod (Te Āti Awa) will keep the peace and prosecute the offenders.
WHEN: Friday, 6 June 2025
WHERE: Elma Turner Library, 27 Halifax Street, Nelson
WHEN: 5.30pm for a 6pm panel
Michael is an award-winning filmmaker and novelist (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Whakaue) who has Ngaio Marsh Awards for both nonfiction and fiction - for his books IN DARK PLACES, detailing the story of Teina Pora, and BETTER THE BLOOD, the first Hana Westerman mystery. He is co-writer of Irish-NZ crime drama The Gone, and his crime novels have been translated into several languages, won the Beltie Prize in the USA, and been shortlisted for the Acorn Prize for Fiction and several other awards on four continents. His latest Hana Westerman crime thriller is CARVED IN BLOOD.
Chris is an award-winning Nelson crime writer with a social conscience. She was born in Christchurch as the eldest of nine siblings, and after training as a nurse and postgrad degrees in Art History, and International and Community Development, she spent 20 years working overseas with the Red Cross, Oxfam, UN and AusAID. She began writing while working in Sudan, and after settling in Nelson ten years ago, has published two crime novels, FOR REASONS OF THEIR OWN and THE GLASGOW SMILE.
Stef is a Motueka-based filmmaker, author, and frontline police officer who has served over 30 years in Wellington, Christchurch and Nelson. His film adaptation of his debut novel, THE WAIKIKAMUKAU CONSPIRACY, won four best film awards around the world including the Screen Directors’ Guild Best Feature Film. His third novel, the crime thriller DOUBLE JEOPARDY, was longlisted for the 2024 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. His latest book is THE GIRL FROM SARAJEVO.
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