A celebrated poet, musician, performer and educator, Hinemoana Baker was born in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and raised in Whakatū (Nelson) and Whakatāne. Known for her power on the page and stage, her wry humour and deep sense of cultural and personal inquiry, Hinemoana's work spans poetry, performance, sound and song. She has published multiple acclaimed poetry collections and performed widely in Aotearoa and internationally. In 2015 Hinemoana received the Creative New Zealand Berlin Writer’s Residency and lived for almost a decade in Germany. In that time her Ockham-shortlisted collection ‘Funkhaus’ was published in translation in German and Polish. Hinemoana is now completing a PhD in creative writing at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University, writing a new collection called 'Exhaust World', and exploring how reading and writing Indigiqueer poetry can be a rongoā for queer Māori/takatāpui. She continues to contribute to creative communities as a mentor, collaborator and facilitator.
Chair of the Frame Trust Pamela Gordon said that Janet Frame had directed her executors to use her ongoing copyright income to support and encourage New Zealand writers just as Janet Frame herself had benefited from timely boosts both to her morale and her bank account. The trustees acknowledged Hinemoana Baker's years of brilliant and courageous mahi, and hoped the award would affirm and support her as she continued on her creative journey of word and song.
Hinemoana responded:
"It’s so extraordinary to be chosen in this way for such a gift. An amount like this makes a huge difference in the life of an artist. Friends have spent sums like this on many different things -- dental or eyesight procedures, a decent bike, rent. More than anything it buys us time to write. As well as this, even to be obliquely connected to the legacy of Janet Frame and her luminous work is that much more of an honour. Of course I didn't know Janet, but I walk past her every day at the IIML, the creative writing department of Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University here in Wellington. Her portrait hangs just inside the front door, near the desk she used which was given to her by her friend Charles Brasch, fellow poet and long time editor of the literary journal 'Landfall'. Her simple and powerful poem 'Before I Get Into Sleep with You' is right outside the door of the kitchen, a couple of floors down. I'm sure I'm not the only one who offers a little mihi to her on our way up and down the stairs, in and out of the cold, carrying books or stacks of paper or a cup of tea or instant coffee or a palm full of big, green grapes left over from the M A workshop. I hope wherever Janet is she feels even some small measure of the joy and delight she has offered to those of us fortunate enough to receive this koha over the years."
More details about the Janet Frame Literary Trust Awards and former recipients:
https://janetframe.co.nz/index.php/awards
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