Titaua Peu

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.

Titaua Peu – 2025

Titaua Peu – 2025

Posted on by Randell Cottage

Titaua is considered one of the principal French-speaking voices in the literature of the Pacific, with her writings focusing on Polynesian society, the impact of colonialism and the place of women.

Titaua plans to use her residency to continue working on a major project comprising three volumes, presenting a near future marked by a reverse migration, in which inhabitants of Aotearoa have migrated north to the island of Mangareva following a great war. Combining a futuristic situation with social realism, the narrative will also feature Mā’ohi cosmogony and explore the links between Indigenous peoples of Polynesia, notably Mā’ohi and their Māori descendants.

Titaua is the first-ever Randell Cottage laureate from French Polynesia.

Further reading

Watch Titaua Peu’s video of her stay in Wellington, launched on 3 December 2025