Bruce Stewart
Encyclopedia
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born fiction writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and dramatist of Ngāti Raukawa
Ngati Raukawa
Ngāti Raukawa is a Māori iwi with traditional bases in the Waikato, Taupo and Manawatū/Horowhenua regions of New Zealand. In 2006, 29,418 Māori registered their affiliation with Ngāti Raukawa.- Early History :...
Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
descent. Stewart's work is marked by expressions of the anger, confused loyalties and spiritual aspiration of late-twentieth-century Māori. Recently, Stewart has written a poem to express his concern for the future of Te Raekaihau Point
Te Raekaihau Point
Te Raekaihau Point is a rugged coastal landform in Wellington, New Zealand, adjacent to Princess Bay, between Houghton Bay to the west and Lyall Bay to the east on the south coast. One meaning of the name is "the headland that eats the wind"...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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Background
Stewart was born in HamiltonHamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, and grew up in the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
and was educated at Wairarapa College. He has lived mainly in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, where he successfully set up the first work trust and founded Tapu Te Ranga Marae
Tapu Te Ranga Marae
Tapu Te Ranga Marae is a "living" marae in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It is the home of author Bruce Stewart, his family and various friends. The Marae is listed as a heritage site....
at Island Bay, creating a centre for debate and education in Māori culture and protocol and for the redevelopment of native bush. He was president of Nga Puna Waihanga (Maori Writers and Artists Society) in 1982.
Published and Televised
Broken Arse was published in Into the World of Light (1982) and Stewart later rewrote it as a playscript, which was performed in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 1990, televised and published by Victoria University Press
Victoria University Press
Victoria University Press founded in the 1970s, is the book publishing arm of Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.It publishes new fiction and poetry and specialises in New Zealand history, biography and essays.-Sources:...
in 1991. In that dramatic form, the strength of the rebellious prisoners stomping and chanting in unison became even more powerful as haka
Haka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
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Style
The writing frequently moves outside conventional narrative prose and is particularly strong in the oral dimension.Marae
Tapu Te Ranga MaraeTapu Te Ranga Marae
Tapu Te Ranga Marae is a "living" marae in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It is the home of author Bruce Stewart, his family and various friends. The Marae is listed as a heritage site....
is located in Island Bay, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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Poetry
- On a clear winters day to the East there is often a sprinkling of fresh snow on the Orongorongo...
- to the south in the foreground, Tapu Te Ranga Motu and far far beyond The White peaks of rise out of the horizon…
- Every now and again it all comes together…
- extreme beauty...
- ahhh it is indeed absolute beauty beyond words…
- if only I were a painter...
- it is so close to get so far…
- I go there often to refuel the soul…
- these days as I can no longer fish and dive or even walk…
- I wind down the window so I can hear and smell and feel this special place where surf, sand, seagulls, and the sky play together.
- I let the healing winds of Te Rae Kaihau wash over me…
- sometimes I snooze…
- it is my outdoor Cathedral.
Te Raekaihau Point
Te Raekaihau Point is a rugged coastal landform in Wellington, New Zealand, adjacent to Princess Bay, between Houghton Bay to the west and Lyall Bay to the east on the south coast. One meaning of the name is "the headland that eats the wind"...
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Books
- Tama, and Other Stories. Auckland : Penguin, 1989.
Reviewed by;
- Eggleton, David. Evening Post p.31; 27 May 1989.
- Mackrell, Brian. New Zealand Wildlife 11(88):32; Spring 1989.
- King, Michael. Metro 9(96):184-186; June 1989.
- Taylor, Apirana. Dominion Sunday Times p.17; 4 June 1989.
- Duggan, Sally. NZ Herald 2:6; 19 Aug 1989.
- Faith, Rangi. Listener 124(2572):71; 24 June 1989.Z
- McEldowney, W.J.. Otago Daily Times p.24; 5 July 1989.
- Broken Arse. Wellington : Victoria University Press, 1991.
Reviewed by;
- Dale, Judith. New Zealand Books 1(4):8; March 1992.
- Cooke, Patricia. Dominion Sunday Times p.20; 29 Sept 1991.
Performance
Reviews of performance at Depot Theatre- Evening Post p.24; 26 Feb 1990.
- Budd, Susan. Dominion p.11; 6 Mar 1990.
- Cooke, Patricia. Dominion Sunday Times p.18; 11 Mar 1990.
- Welch, Denis. Listener 128(2634):108; 10 Sept 1990.
Review
- The author discusses his play;
- ' Broken Arse on at Depot'. Evening Post. p.24; 26 Feb 1990.
- Autobiographical.
- 'Ko wai ahau?' Mana : the Maori news magazine for all New Zealanders. 1:94-95; Jan/Feb 1993.
- Interview with Stewart, Neville Glasgow, Directions (1995).
Related Published Material
- McLauchlan, Gordon. 'A new beginning for Maori writing?' Auckland Metro 10:21; April 1982.
- Galloway, Penny. 'Waitangi writings.' Listener 120(2502):8; 6 Feb 1988. Includes comment on Stewart.
- McNaughton, Iona. 'Tales of an angry young Maori.' Dominion p.10; 27 May 1989.
- O'Hare, N. 'Faith and work.' Listener 125(2594) Sup.p.85-87; 20 Nov 1989. Interview.
- Lucas, J. 'Stewart's marae threatened.' Evening Post p.1,3; 25 May 1991.
- Wevers, LydiaLydia WeversLydia Wevers is a New Zealand literary critic, English language literary historian, editor, and book reviewer.Wevers moved to New Zealand from the Netherlands in 1953....
. 'Short fiction by Maori writers.' Commonwealth : Essays and Studies 16(2):26-33; Spring, ::1994. Includes comment on Bruce Stewart. - Donaldson, Lana Simmons. 'Willing to conform only to nature.' Kia Hiwa Ra : National Maori Newspaper 58:8, 24; Nov 1997. Profile.
- Heim, Otto. Writing Along Broken Lines: Violence and Ethnicity in Contemporary Maori Fiction. Auckland: ::Auckland University Press, 1998.
- Collins, Heeni. 'Heroes on the hill.' Evening Post p.13 25 Sept 1999. Discusses statue erected by Stewart ::on Tawatawa Ridge, Island Bay, of Te RauparahaTe RauparahaTe Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
and Te RangihaeataTe RangihaeataTe Rangihaeata , was a Ngāti Toa chief, nephew of Te Rauparaha. He had a leading part in the Wairau Affray and the Hutt Valley Campaign.-Early life:...
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See also
- Te Raekaihau PointTe Raekaihau PointTe Raekaihau Point is a rugged coastal landform in Wellington, New Zealand, adjacent to Princess Bay, between Houghton Bay to the west and Lyall Bay to the east on the south coast. One meaning of the name is "the headland that eats the wind"...
- Te RangihaeataTe RangihaeataTe Rangihaeata , was a Ngāti Toa chief, nephew of Te Rauparaha. He had a leading part in the Wairau Affray and the Hutt Valley Campaign.-Early life:...
- Te RauparahaTe RauparahaTe Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
- Nga Puna Waihanga
- Tapu Te Ranga MaraeTapu Te Ranga MaraeTapu Te Ranga Marae is a "living" marae in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It is the home of author Bruce Stewart, his family and various friends. The Marae is listed as a heritage site....