Centre of Modern Writing - Shadbolt House

19 September, 2007

Centre of Modern Writing - Shadbolt House

Waitakere has ensured that the legacy of one the country’s most well-known authors - Maurice Shadbolt - will live on while simultaneously helping create an environment to nurture New Zealand's future writers.

The Waitakere City Council today formed a partnership with the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to develop a Centre of Modern Writing at Shadbolt House in Titirangi.

Waitakere’s arts manager Naomi McCleary says that the decision is a victory for the cultural heritage of Waitakere – and just as importantly, is a serious investment in its future.

“The decision to go ahead with a Centre of Modern Writing at Shadbolt House not only recognises and helps preserve the huge impact Maurice Shadbolt had on literature in this country but the partnership with AUT is a prudent way to progress the project," she says.

'It has turned out to be a great synthesis of AUT's plan to develop a Centre of Modern Writing and council's desire to honour the late Maurice Shadbolt with a site of excellence in writing – in the very location that almost the entire canon of his work was produced.

“It is also a very fiscally responsible move – not only will the Centre of Modern Writing bring students and jobs into the city but in the coming year an independent trust will be set up and will be tasked with part-purchasing the property from council.”

The council bought the late Mr Shadbolt’s Titirangi property in September 2006 - he and his family had lived for 42 years in the home, where he produced such acclaimed works as “One of Ben’s”, “Season of the Jew” and “Monday’s Warriors”.

The School of Modern Writing is expected to open in 2008.

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