Marlene J Bennetts

Marlene J Bennetts
MNZM
Born
Marlene Joan Anderson

(1938-03-09) 9 March 1938 (age 86)
Westport, New Zealand
Occupations
  • Poet
  • children's author
Spouse
Neville Bennetts
​
(m. 1957)​
Children3

Marlene Joan Bennetts MNZM (née Anderson; born 9 March 1938) is a New Zealand poet and children's author.

Life and career

Bennetts was born in Westport on 9 March 1938.[1] She is of Ngāti Awa and Te Āti Awa descent.[2][3] As a child her family travelled frequently due to her father's work in sawmills, and she attended 15 different schools. In 1957 she married Neville (Hec) Bennetts; they have three children.[3][4]

Her poetry has been published in various anthologies including Katherine Mansfield Centennial Issue (1998), Poetry Kanto (1989), Poets for Africa (1986), and The President's Awards for Literary Excellence (1995).[2] In 1993 the British magazine Dandelion awarded her the Dolores Boccanera Poetry Prize for her poem "Needlepoint Love".[2][3]

She has written a number of works for children, including eleven books which have been translated into te reo Māori and a collection of poetry, Caboodle (2005).[2] She participates in Read NZ Te Pou Muramura's Writers in Schools programme.[2]

In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours, Bennetts was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to literature.[5]

In 2022 Bennetts published her autobiography, Whakaaetanga/Acceptance.[4] She donated 95% of the profits from the work to Hei Whakapiki Mauri, an organisation supporting Māori with disabilities.[4]

Selected works

Poetry collections

  • Return to the Coast (Emjay Publishing, 1990)[2]
  • Coastal Cornerstones (Emjay Publishing, 1991)[2]
  • Beyond the Coast (Emjay Publishing, 2001)[2]

Works for children

  • Caboodle, with Deborah Macowan (Emjay Publishing, 2005)[2]
  • No Ordinary Flower Girl, illustrated by Trish Bowles (Reed Books, 2007)[6]
  • One of the Dambusters, illustrated by Trish Bowles (Penguin Group, 2008)[7]
  • A Statute of Honour, illustrated by Ann McCaw (Emjay Publishing, 2020)[8]

Other works

  • Whakaaetanga/Acceptance (autobiography, Emjay Publishing, 2022)[4]

References

  1. ^ "Interview with Marlene Bennetts". Christchurch City Libraries. 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Marlene J Bennetts". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Marlene Joan Bennetts née Anderson". Komako. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Marlene J. Bennetts: A story of acceptance and overcoming". Hei Whakapiki Mauri. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Books in brief". The Southland Times. 31 March 2007. p. 7. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Heartland feel to funny yarn". Hawkes Bay Today. 5 April 2008. p. S10. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  8. ^ Anderson, Vicki (7 March 2020). "Southern Spotlight: Tanya Jenkins - environmental educator". Stuff. Retrieved 13 May 2024.