Resident 2011
Kevin Ireland (1933 – 2023) was a much loved New Zealand poet, short story writer, novelist and librettist who had published prolifically over the lifetime of his career. Kevin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by Massey University and received the Prime Minsters Award for Literary Achievement. He has awarded an OBE for his Services to Literature and in 2006 he received the A W Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature, recognizing him as a writer who has made an outstanding contribution to the New Zealand Literary Community. Other acknowledgements include the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry for Literary Cartoons; Writer in Residence at Canterbury University; the Buddle Findlay Fellowship; the Grimshaw-Sargeson Fellowship; University of Auckland’s Writing Fellow; the New Zealand Commemoration Medal; and the Montana Book Award for History and Biography.
While in Residency Kevin worked on the writing and revision of a book of 62 poems entitled ‘Dreamy Days & Nothing Done’ published Steele Roberts, Aotearoa 2012. He also worked on first drafts of many of the poems in Feeding the Birds’ published Steele Roberts, Aotearoa 2014.
Kevin donated several of his books to the Henderson House Art Collection.