Panel a 'box of delights' for audience

Shamubeel Eaqub. Photo/file

We all know what it means to be a New Zealander, right? But when the people tackling the question are of different ethnicities, ages and gender the answer might not be obvious.

Tauranga Arts Festival literary programmer Sandra Simpson says that's what she loves about Our Place to Stand, on Saturday at 11.30am.

"It's a box of delights - six speakers with seven minutes each. There's no knowing if there will be any intersection or commonality, which is the fun of a panel like this. It's a lucky dip for people who like to think."

Taking part are Toi Ohomai tutor and marae chairman Que Bidois, organic farmer and former politician Jeanette Fitzsimons, actor and writer Helene Wong, historian Vincent O'Malley, novelist Paula Morris and Bangladesh-born economist Shamubeel Eaqub.

Eaqub and Fitzsimons return on Sunday at 11.30am, joining business journalist Rod Oram to examine the state of this country with Guyon Espiner. Witi Ihimaera appears on Saturday at 2.30pm with Hemi Kelly to discuss 'Sleeps Standing', which comprises Ihimaera's novella and Kelly's translation into te reo, plus translations into English of Maori eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Orakau, which took place near Te Awamutu in 1864, and photos.

On Sunday at 10am Ihimaera appears with Helene Wong to talk about their respective memoirs - Maori Boy and Being Chinese.

Lovers of history - fiction or non-fiction - are well catered for on Saturday with Vincent O'Malley talking about 'The Great War for New Zealand' at 10am, while at 1pm Karyn Hay and Lindsey Dawson discuss their well-researched novels, both largely set in 19th century Tauranga.

Speaker sessions finish on Sunday at 1pm with Phil Gifford focusing on men's health. Looking After Your Nuts and Bolts was published earlier this year.

Witi Ihimaera

the fine print
What: Writers at Carrus Crystal Palace
Where: The Strand
When: From 10am on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets: At the door.