Another Great New Zealander passes

Hone Tuwhare, one of New Zealand's most celebrated poets, passed away in hospital on Wednesday afternoon following a long illness but apparently in good spirits right to the end.
Prime Minister Helen Clark says Tuwhare made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand literature.
"Hone Tuwhare was a distinguished poet, playwright, and writer of short fiction. His poetry contained powerful imagery of our land, sea, and legends, and often expressed strong views on contemporary issues," Clark, who is also Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage said in a statement.
Hone Tuwhare's Tangi will be held in Kaikohe but a service will also take place in Dunedin. He is survived by three sons and many grandchildren.
Source (including picture credit)and full story: ONE News

Hone Tuwhare had his own website with news, poems and history at http://www.honetuwhare.co.nz/.
The New Zealand book council site also has a comprehensive biography of Hone Tuwhare and you can search the Rodney District Libraries catalogue here for the books we have in our collection.

Here is one of his poems from his 2005 collection entitled "Oooooo.....!!!

Just thinkin', and dreaming

I cannot cajole
the threatening herd
of clouds
in the sky, to
'back-off', nor
the rising insanities
of wind-whirls, and
an up-beat song
of blues tainted

morning-moanings,
rising
from my gravel-ly
Maori throttle -
just like a blues
song and comedic
solo, by my favourite
interpretive vocalist
horn-blower - Louis
Armstrong!!! O, yea!!! Bring it on
LOUIS... Bring
it on, Man!