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Emily Writes Weekly

I know some of you are feeling really low about what’s happening in Wellington right now. I wish I had some words for you to make it better…but I don’t unfortunately….

I’ll just tell you what I’m doing - I’m trying to flip the switch. I’m reminding myself that 95% (at least) of the population want to protect each other. I’m reminding myself that people are still getting their first vaccination. I’m reminding myself that I have friends and loved ones who have chosen not to take public transport and not to work in the office and not to go to big events so they can limit their risk and hang out with me and my family. I’m reminding myself that people I love are organising outdoor play dates or coffees for us and other families with medically fragile kids.

I can’t do anything about what’s happening out there. But here, here it’s a big old love fest and we are as safe as we can be during a global pandemic.

I’m reminding myself that I’m lucky and privileged to be able to act as a kaitiaki, a protector, of others. We’ve all been called upon and we are all providing different responses to that call. And yeah, some of those responses really upset me. BUT - flipping the switch means recognising most people are responding to this call with: Yes, I can protect my neighbour. Yes, I accept my responsibility. Yes, this duty of care is one I can take on. For this period of my life I am more than willing to show up for our vulnerable communities.

I remind myself that one day my mokos will ask me what we did to keep each other safe. I want to be proud of the answers I give them.

So, right now - for those reasons, and for our precious Eddie - we are at home and being very careful about where we go and what we do. I’ve left the house twice this week for the supermarket, the post office, and a coffee outside.

I’ve been thinking of ways to support the arts industry that I love and to stay entertained in my four walls. So, that’s the theme of today’s newsletter.

Here’s a mix of things to sign up for…I hope it helps to entertain you during the next few weeks! And when we come out of the other side of this I’m going to throw a party.

(Also, I’m aware the Government and other people want us to ‘act normal’ but lots of us can’t do that or won’t do that and so this post is for those people…I also think that even if you’re not semi-locking yourself down, it’s not a good idea to go into the city with protestors being the way they are…just my two cents! Once they’re gone, I’ll feel better about heading out and you might feel the same. There’s no right answers here.)

Thursday 17 February

7am-7.40am - Feel like starting your day with a stretch and guided relaxation inspired by our beautiful local coastline?! Ingrid of Yoga Haven is offering a FREE online Yoga class tomorrow on Zoom 7am-7.40am. Free. More info here.

6pm - Whittaker's x Kitchen of Treats. See what magic the wonderful Kitchen of Treats creates with the new secret block of Whittaker’s. Free. More info here.

Friday 18 February

6pm - Enrich your Friday evening with excerpts from the winning entries to the 2022 Peter Wells Short Story Contest. Free. Tickets here.

7.30pm - Same Same But Different opening night gala. Flash fiction writer Jack Remiel Cottrell is joined by poet Rebecca Hawkes, writer and curator Tendai Mutambu and poet essa may ranapiri. Prepare yourself for a night of new writing that will inspire you – to read, to write or maybe just to live a little more loudly. Free. Tickets here.

Saturday 19 February

10.30am - Renowned comedian Eli Matthewson, rapper and songwriter Randa, activist Shaneel Lal and journalist Murphy to speak to the importance of varied forms of writing, and how their writing moves, shapes, performs, influences and excites. Chaired by the irrepressible Sam Te Kani. Free. Tickets here.

12-Midday - Join insightful essayist Rose Lu, ‘peddler of horny fiction’ Sam Te Kani, new novelist Rebecca K Reilly and spoken word poet Takunda Muzondiwa for an hour of stimulating discussion. Chaired by award-winning poet Chris Tse. Free. Tickets here.

2pm - As part of the Samesame but Different festival, a discussion of writing about difficult personal topics with a panel of incredibly talented LGBTQI+ writers. Free. Tickets here.

3.30pm - A conversation with award-winning poet and writer Courtney Sina Meredith. Free. Tickets here.

4pm - Free Zoom Dance Party.

5pm - The Peter Wells Lecture: Gina Cole. Part of the Samesame but Different Festival. Free. Tickets here.

6pm - Book launch: Shelter by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins. I’ve read this book and it’s amazing. Free. Tickets here.

7pm - The Saturday Night Special is a celebration of the new groundbreaking anthology, Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa. It is a birthday party of sorts: a celebration of our past and an imagining of our future through the words and careers of writers current and to come. Free. Tickets here.

Sunday 20 February

11am - This is the ultimate Sunday morning - grab your coffee and snuggle up with your beloved / your cat / your perfectly satisfactory self and just listen in! Sam Orchard and Melbourne-based, New Zealand author Rob McDonald will meet online and discuss all things queer and Nancy Drew. Free. Tickets here.

3pm - Gentle Yoga for Terrible Times. I just love the name. Free. Tickets here.

5pm - Therapeutic Art Workshop. Free. Tickets here.

7.30pm - Ask Dr Marion: Omicron, Masks & More. Free. More info.

If you enjoy the Samesame but Different events please consider giving koha.

Next week (21 February - March)

21 February at 1pm - Meri Haami presents her doctoral thesis, 'He whiringa muka: The relationship between the Whanganui River, marae and waiata, as part of the Tā Te Rangatira Kai seminars series. Free. More info here.

22 Feb at midday - Playgroup at home. Join us for songs, stories and interactive play activities every Tuesday and Friday at 10am. Free. More info here.

22 February at 7.30pm - BIG FAT NUDES: A History of Flesh on Canvas. Part of the Feminist Lecture series. Free. Tickets here.

22nd February at 7:30pm - Join an women's health expert panel Caitlin Day, Physio and owner of Unity Studios, Dietitian Sara from Your Monthly and Sex Therapist Jo Robertson as they take you through post-natal care and share practical tips for navigating this important chapter as you transition into parenthood. More info here.

23 February at 8pm - Menopause - Your Questions Answered. Free. More info here.

25 February - All about neurodivergency - showcasing a diverse range of speakers and subjects from across the globe and the Neurodiverse community, academia, and industry. Free. More info.

3 March at 7.30pm The Future of Food and Energy with Dr. Mike Joy. Free. More info here.

3 March - onward at 7.30 pm Ethical fashion series with Ethically Kate. “Is sustainable fashion too expensive for you? Are you sick of your wardrobe? Perhaps you have joined the #wardrobefreeze2022 challenge and need some inspiration...” More info here.

6-18 March - Run Round The Bays virtually. Yes virtually lol. Round the Bays 2022 Virtual allows you to complete the 8.6km from anywhere in the world, with your course mapped out like you were participating around Auckland’s waterfront.

You don’t want to miss Clementine Ford!

NZ Arts Festival - These events are available over the course of a week in February and March.

10 March - Writer, broadcaster and feminist Clementine Ford joins ME to discuss How We Love, Clementine’s latest book on the complex, terrifying, beautiful and transformative state that is love. Info here.

• Omar Sakr talks with Chris Tse about poetry, Australia, and writing in the time of global dialogue about just about everything. Two amazing people. Omar Sakr is the first Arab-Australian Muslim to win the prestigious Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award (in 2020 for The Lost Arabs). Info here.

• Airini Beautrais (Bug Week) speaks to Melody Thomas (Bang! podcast on RNZ) about sex and death. This is going to be good. Info here.

• Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Tainui) is freakin amazing. Whiti speaks with Pip Adam (also freakin amazing) about subverting the traditional and writing from the perspective of a villain, imagining the voice of the marginalised, archetypal ‘bad’ woman. Info here.

• Three literary powerhouses of Aotearoa letters come together to reflect on the books that shaped them. What stories still ignite the fires of interest? Which of their own books return to their minds? How deeply do the books of others impact the work of a writer? Join Patricia Grace, Dame Fiona KidmanP and Renée for an hour as they discuss and discover the books that keep curiosity alive, with host, Michaela Keeble. Info here.

• Patricia Lockwood (No One Is Talking About This) talks with our own Pip Adam about writing this astonishing book. Info here.

• Chamber Music Spectacular features two of the most iconic and monumental chamber music works ever written, Mozart’s Gran Partita for 13 Winds and the String Octet by Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu. Info here.

• New Zealand String Quartet with musicians from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform Bach by candlelight. Online. Info here.

• Te Ahu Taiohi (Online) After five weeks of deep creative exploration of self, culture and identity, our rangatira taiohi (young leaders) share with you their ideas, dreams and experiences in a large-scale, electrifying performance of movement and storytelling that will leave you reflective and inspired. Info here.

• Join Mariana Mazzucato, one of the most influential economists in the world and the acclaimed author of Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism, for a conversation about the future of economics. What does our future look like from this vantage point of a global pandemic, the climate crisis, and increasing wealth inequality? How can a radical new approach to capitalism tackle such challenges to humanity? Info here.

• Author of Things I Learned At Art School Megan Dunn speaks to Olivia Laing, author of Everybody: A Book About Freedom. Info here.

• Can writing make a difference in the world? Mandy and Nicky Hager are both award-winning authors of books that have shaped Aotearoa. The siblings join writer Danyl Mclauchlan to share where their drive for writing about things that matter came from, what books they are most proud of, and what issues we need to read and take action on, next. Info here.

I couldn’t include every online event but you can see them all here!

Other stuff viewable online…

• A fantastic anti-racism series - Let's Talk... Conversations on Race, Equity, & Belonging. They will send you the recordings if you register.

• Watch the LiveStream of Exotic Hypnotica Canberra. This is a burlesque theatre extravaganza exploring what it means to be labelled "exotic".

• Join London Drawing Group for a class dedicated to Louise Bourgeois. They send you a recording after the live event.

• All Together Now runs non-auditioned choirs in Auckland and Tauranga, but since they can’t meet at the moment, they’ve set up a new initiative called Pop-Up Choir.  It’s free for people to access music with instructions and support for learning it.  What a beautiful initiative! Check it out.

Enjoy! And if you know of other cool online things - let me know in the comments.
Arohanui Em x Feel free to share this post far and wide! x