Inaugural Resident 2007 with his wife Helen
Sir Vincent O’Sullivan (1937 – 2024) has been described by the Academy of New Zealand Literature as ‘one of New Zealand’s greatest writers’ and it is fitting Vincent was the inaugural resident at Henderson House. He is one of New Zealand’s best-known poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, critic, editor, biographer, and librettist. From 1988 to 2004 he was Professor of English Literature at Victory University, Wellington and is the author of a phenomenal body of work.
He was awarded a DCNZ in 2000 for Services to Literature (re-designated to a knighthood in 2021). He has also been granted the Prime Ministers Award for Literary Achievement and New Zealand Poet Laureate and honoured New Zealand Writer at the Auckland Writers Festival in 2016. Numerous other awards include: NZSA Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry; Katherine Mansfield Memorial Awards (two); Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellowship; the Montana Book Award for Poetry; Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers Fellowship. He has also been awarded a series of writer’s residencies and research fellowships in Australia: University of Tasmania; Deakin University, Geelong; Flinders University, Adelaide; University of Western Australia and University of Queensland.
During his residency Vincent worked on several short stories, all of which were later published, including a book of 14 stories: ‘The Families’ Victoria University Press 2013 and a book of poetry ‘The Movie May be Slightly Different’ Te Herenga Waka University Press 2011. He also spent a large portion of his time researching ‘The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere a Biographical Portrait’ 2020 which won the non fiction award at the Ockham New Zealand Book Award in 2021. He also gave several public talks at Central Stories, Alexandra.
Vincent donated several books to the Henderson House Art Collection.