Phillip Graham (Phil) Kawana

Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Kahungunu

1965 -

Phil Kawana was born in Hawera and lives in Masterton. He has worked as a cook, scrubcutter, forestry worker, model, mill-hand, storeman, retail manager, door-to-door salesman, appliance salesman, receptionist, office manager, computer consultant and author. He began writing in the early 1990s; he writes songs, poems and short stories. Some of his stories have been broadcast on Radio New Zealand. He won the Huia Publishers’ 1995 Te Kaunihera Award for best short story by a published author and won the Huia Publishers’ 1997 Telecom Award for best short story in English by a published writer. In 1997 he received a Creative New Zealand grant.

Biographical sources

  • Correspondence from Kawana on 25 June 1998.
  • Kapiti Poems 7. Ed. Meg Campbell, Helen Durey and Maxine Montgomery. Pukerua Bay, N.Z.: Rawhiti Press
  • Whitireia
  • and Daphne Brasell, 1994. 107.
  • Sport 14 (1995): 160.
  • Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 262.

    Biography

  • "Body Parts." Growing Up Māori. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. Auckland, N.Z.: Tandem Press, 1998. 193-196.

  • Fiction

  • "The Zone." Sport 14 (1995): 134-138.
  • A science fiction story with religious connotations.
  • "Stand on a Cloud." Huia Short Stories 1995. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1995: 85-89. Rpt. in Te Ao Mārama: Contemporary Māori Writing. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 5: Te Torino: The Spiral. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1996. 262-265.
  • A story powerfully depicting the cumulative effects of dysfunctional home life and post-war syndrome.
  • "Dead Jazz Guys." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 7-19.
  • A story of a cross cultural romantic encounter on the edge of fantasy.
  • "Moko Carved in Rimu." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 21-24.
  • Andrew and his grandfather Karu discuss questions of identity.
  • "Redemption". Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 35-39.
  • In this story Jaffa and the narrator find various ways to diminish the wounds of domestic violence until the palliative of drug abuse takes its grim toll.
  • "The Scheme." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 41-46.
  • A story highlighting the mindless futility of a work scheme for the unemployed.
  • "Alana." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 47-52.
  • A story about the depersonalised world of fifteen-year old Alana whose longing for relationship remains unfulfilled.
  • "Floyd." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 53-59.
  • Joy grapples with her ambivalent feelings towards her ex-boyfriend.
  • "Saving Dave." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 61-66.
  • When Dave starts attending church and has a ‘born again’ experience, he is confronted with a sense of isolation in the largely Pakeha culture of the church.
  • "The Making of a Town Loony." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 73-81.
  • A story of an eccentric father and son: Manuel, the father, assumes the persona of a Mexican, while Elmore, the son, takes on a Chinese identity.
  • "Aunty Huriata and the Seven Angels." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 79-81.
  • As Aunty Huria retells her encounter with seven angels, Cherry nervously awaits her sex change operation.
  • "The Farewell Place." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 83-88.
  • Kahu gradually come to terms with the death of his koro.
  • "Swimming." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 89-03.
  • The narrator recalls an intimate and sensuous evening with Cindy at the school swimming pool.
  • "Tiri." Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996. 95-98.
  • The narrator speaks of his passion for violence which emerged out of years of being a victim of abuse, racism and ridicule.
  • Dead Jazz Guy and Other Stories. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1996.
  • In Kawana’s first collection of short stories, he explores a wide range of human experience from the lighthearted enthusiasm of friends playing a round of golf or trying to establish a band, to the uncontrolled ravages of abuse, violence, and racism, and the complex machinations of human relationships.
  • "Lethal Golf." ibid. 67-71. Rpt. in JAAM: Just Another Art Movement 7 (1997): 95-98.
  • A story of three amateur golfers coping with various obstacles on their round of golf on the rural golf course.
  • "The Photograph of Uncle Raka." Huia Short Stories 1997. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1997. 73-79.
  • A story of the impact of parental favouritism towards an elder brother, unfair expectations, and disparagement on the life of Bill and his family.
  • "A Day in the Life." Huia Short Stories 1997. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1997. 165-169.
  • Tio’s dream and reality both suggest the revisiting of a past era which is now over. New beginnings are now emerging.
  • "The Rise and Fall of Skankadelica." ibid. 25-33. Rpt. in New Zealand Writing: The Next Wave. Ed. Mark Pirie. Dunedin, N.Z.: U of Otago P, 1998. 149-155.
  • A humorous account of the brief rise and fall of a band called Skankadelica with graphic details of its enthusiastic disorder.
  • Attack of the Skunk People. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 1999.
  • A collection of poems and short stories.
  • "The Land of Ooze." Huia Short Stories 4: Contemporary Māori Fiction. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia, 2001: 141-145.
  • "Himiona’s Knives." Get On The Waka: Best Recent Māori Fiction. Ed. with intro. By Witi Ihimaera. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed Books, 2007. 102-106.

  • Non-fiction

  • "Māori Literature Week." New Zealand Books 11.5 (2001): 19.

  • Other

  • Gilmore, Robert and Gordon McLauchland. "Weekend Books." Rev. of The Other Side, by Warwick Roger. Rev. of Dead Jazz Guys, by Phil Kawana. Rev. of The Ballad of Footrot Flats, by Murray Ball. New Zealand Herald 23 Nov. 1996: G6-7.
  • "Inspiration from His Converted Shed in Carteton." Te Māori News: Māori Weekly Newspaper Dec. 1996: 1.
  • Moore, David. "Reviews." JAAM: Just Another Art Movement 7 (1997): 133-134.
  • Murray, Heather and Margot Schwass. "Books." Rev. of An Anthology of New Zealand Poetry in English, ed. Jenny Bornholdt, Gregor O’Brien and Mark Williams. Rev. of Dead Jazz Guys, by Phil Kawana. Evening Post 31 Jan. 1997: 5.
  • Crerar, Annabel. "Poetry, Straight Up." Rev. of Sweet Banana Wax Peppers, by Jenny Powell-Chalmers. Rev. of Unfamiliar Legends of the Stars, by Kate Camp. Rev. of AUP New Poets Series, by Sarah Quigley, Raewyn Alexander and Anna Jackson. Rev. of Shoot, by Mark Pirie. Rev. of Attack of the Skunk People, by Phil Kawana. Loop 1.7 (1999): 24.
  • Worthington, Kim L et al. "Books." Rev. of After Robert, by Sarah Quigley. Rev. of Attack of the Skunk People, by Phil Kawana. Rev. of Don’t Let It Get You, by John O’Shea. Rev. of Girls and Women, Men and Boys: Gender in Taradale, 1886-1930, by Caroline Daley. Evening Post 20 Aug. 1999: 5.
  • Taylor, Apirana. Deceptive Understatement." New Zealand Books 10.1 (2000): 20.
  • Bilborough, Paola. "Palate Cleaners." Rev. of The Violinist in Spring, by Anna Smaill. Rev. of Hourglass, by Sue Wootton. Rev. of The Devil in My Shoes, by Phil Kawana. New Zealand Books 16.4 (2006): 10.
  • Roberts, Hugh. "The Uses of Poetry." Rev. of Three Regrets and a Hymn to Beauty, by Ian Wedde. Rev. of The Devil in My Shoes, by Phil Kawana. Rev. of Scarab: A Poetry Documentary, by Vivienne Plumb. Listener 28 Jan. 2006: 40-42.
  • Locke, Terry. "The Devil in My Shoes." English in Aotearoa 63 (2007): 83-84.

  • Poetry

  • "Untitled (#79)." [Somebody should tell those/young people’ First line] Kapiti Poems 7. Ed. Meg Campbell, Helen Durey and Maxine Montgomery. Pukerua Bay, N.Z.: Rawhiti Press; Whitireia; and Daphne Brasell, 1994. 55. Rpt. in Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. Ed. Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2003. 106.
  • A satirical poem on the stereotypical portrayals and perceptions of young Māori.
  • "Breeder Boy." Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. Ed. Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2003. 104-5.
  • "Dogs & Dinghies." Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. Ed. Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2003. 105.
  • "The Instant of a Smile." Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. Ed. Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2003. 105.
  • "Hongoeka Bay." Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English. Ed. Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2003. 107
  • "The Falling." Bravado 4 (2005): 18.
  • "Self-portrait." Dominion Post 11 Nov. 2005: B10.
  • The Devil in My Shoes. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 2005.
  • "Expectations." Mana: the Māori Magazine for All New Zealanders 70 (2006): 28.

  • Reviews

  • "Rough Around the Edges." Rev. of Camilla Vanilla, by Nick Hyde. Rev. of The Gospel According to Cole, by Rhonda Bartle. New Zealand Books 11.3 (2001): 10.
  • "Politics and Culture Between the Sheets." Rev. of Huia Short Stories Five: Contemporary Māori Fiction. Rev. of Without Reservation - Indigenous Erotica, ed Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm. New Zealand Books 14.2 (2004): 14.

    Other

  • Allan, James, "Stir It Up." Listener 21 Dec. 1996: 25.
  • "Author on Cloud Nine." Wairarapa Times Age 27 July 1995: 5.
  • "Dead Jazz Guys." Pu Kaea (Dec. 1996): 7.
  • Duffield, Miriam et al. "Writing on Writers: Five Students Meet Four New Zealand Writers," English in Aotearoa 46 (2002): 67-74.
  • "Phil’s One of the Exciting New Generation of Māori Writers." Kokiri Paetae (Jan. 1997): 612.