As the spring rains and a cool southerly settled on Willis St on the evening of Thursday 20th Oct, Unity Books Wellington was aglow with the spirit of familial celebration at the launch of The Collected Poems of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. Fergus Barrowman of Victoria University Press was joined in introducing the tome by Campbell’s biographer Nelson Wattie, who spoke warmly of his personal memories of the legendary wordsmith.
Alistair Te Ariki Campbell’s five children were all present to pay tribute to their late father’s life and work, sons Gregory, Andrew and Aurelian reading poems, and daughters Josie and Mary joining in song, ensuring not a soul among the packed crowd remained unmoved.
The Collected Poems of Alistair Te Ariki Campbell is available in store and from our online shop here.