Home-made Poetry

Little Red Car, written by Elizabeth Smither, read by Sandra Phillips

Elizabeth Smither is a poet, novelist and short story writer who was the 2002 Poet Laureate. Her most recent award came in 2018 for her collection ‘Night Horse’, which won the poetry category of the 50th Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, while her novel ‘Loving Sylvie’ was longlisted for this year’s Acorn Foundation Prize. Elizabeth, who has lived in New Plymouth all her life, became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004. She was a guest at the 2011 Tauranga Arts Festival.

Sandra Phillips has worked at Phillips Garage on Fraser St since 1983. Her father John founded the business in 1946 and Sandra took over ownership of the business in 1991. A member of the Motor Trade Association (MTA), Sandra was a branch executive committee member of the MTA for 19 years, has been both vice-president and president of it, and also established the MTA women’s network. She is now a fellow of the Motor Trade Association and a life member of its Tauranga branch. Sandra also has a passion for woodwork and for playing the drums, and has been a top soccer player, a coach and a past president of the BOP Women’s Football Association. She plays table tennis and loves boating and fishing.

Evensong, written by Leonard Lambert, read by Brother Andrew McKean

Leonard Lambert was born in Britain and came to New Zealand as a child. He was educated in Tauranga but then lived in several places before returning to Tauranga in 1990. Both a poet and a painter, Leonard moved to Napier with his wife, also a poet and artist, in 2007. His most recent publication is ‘Somewhere in August’ (2016), a selection of his poems from almost 50 years of writing. See Leonard’s artwork here.

Andrew McKean is a member of the Anglican Franciscan community and the ecumenical chaplain for students and staff at Waikato University, including at the Tauranga campus in Durham St. Brother Andrew belongs to the Waikato Interfaith Council, and has a Bachelor of Theology and a DipGrad in Religious Studies. Born in England, he came to New Zealand with his family at the age of 14. Waikato University is a Gold Sponsor of the Tauranga Arts Festival.