Cottage

Randell Cottage – Dates to hold

Randell Cottage – Dates to hold

Posted on by Randell Cottage

As we move past the shortest day of the year and look optimistically towards Spring and Summer, here are two dates for your calendars:

Annual Open Day

Sunday 25 October from 1 to 4 pm: Annual Open Day at Randell Cottage, 14 St Mary Street, as part of the Wellington Heritage Festival.

Come along on the Sunday of Labour Weekend to visit the Cottage, enjoy delicious home-made afternoon teas under the garden gazebo and listen to a full programme of readings by our current writer-in-residence and other authors and poets. Relax in our pretty garden and hope to win a parcel of books in our raffles.

You can also join the Creative and Historic Cottages Walk around Thorndon. Make a day of it and see the Katherine Mansfield House and Garden in the morning, stop in one of the local cafes for a snack and then make your way to Randell Cottage, Rita Angus Cottage and Lilburn House during the afternoon.

Randell Cottage Writers Evening

Wednesday 25 November 6-7 pm with light refreshments from 5.30: Randell Cottage Writers Evening in the Archives Library NZ auditorium

This is your chance to hear from our exciting new writer, essa may ranapiri, who is living in Randell Cottage with their family from July to December.

We’ll also share the two latest videos, made as permanent records of the style, aspirations and experiences of our recent French and New Zealand residents.

More to come closer to the time!

Titaua Peu’s video launched

Titaua Peu’s video launched

Posted on by Randell Cottage

A video recording Tahitian writer Titaua Peu‘s stay in Wellington was launched on 3 December.

French Cultural Counsellor, François Bockel

Titaua describes the explorations she undertook during her residency in Randell Cottage on the historical and cosmological links between Indigenous peoples of Polynesia. She foreshadows her planned dystopian trilogy, beginning with the forthcoming novel Disruptive – a tantalising prospect.

French Cultural Counsellor, François Bockel, shared the first showing of the Embassy’s video at a Randell Cottage writers’ event at the National Library.

Watch Titaua’s video

 
The occasion also featured the video of 2024 New Zealand writer in residence, Hinemoana Baker, commissioned from Godwit Films. It is accompanied on the website by Hinemoana’s reading of her poem ‘Placard: Te Ahumairangi’.
 
 
These recordings are designed as oral history records of the writers – both French and New Zealand – who have made Randell Cottage their home and a base for creative writing, in residencies that free them from the daily pressures of rent and living costs.
An evening with Saraid de Silva and previous Randell Cottage writers

An evening with Saraid de Silva and previous Randell Cottage writers

Posted on by Randell Cottage

Don’t miss the highlight of our Randell Cottage writing year!

Come along to the National Library on the evening of Wednesday 3 December to hear from our fascinating current writing Fellow, Saraid de Silva, as she shares early glimpses into her second novel, following the critical acclaim of ‘Amma’.

Saraid de Silva and Titaua Peu

You’ll also meet the new French Cultural Counsellor, François Bockel, who’ll introduce a video capturing the experience of our first resident from French Polynesia, Titaua Peu.

For those whose memories are still vivid from last year’s evening with Hinemoana Baker, you’ll love seeing her again in our video in which she reflects on time well spent at Randell Cottage.

Join us from 5.15pm for light refreshments, raffles, and conversation, with the main event running from 6 to 7 pm.

6–7pm, Wednesday 3 December
National Library Auditorium, Wellington

Friends of Randell Cottage are reminded that there will be a brief Special General Meeting in the auditorium immediately afterwards.

RSVP: info@randellcottage.co.nz by 5.30pm, 1 December.
Koha (suggest $5 pp) would be appreciated. Please bring cash for book raffles.

A Zoom link is available here.

See the attached flyer for more details and send us your RSVP.