Allen
Curnow was one of the defining voices of 20th-century New Zealand literature, with a
career spanning six decades, and a strong local and international following for
his work.
Kiwi Records was a saviour of New Zealand composers. The label, started by publisher A.H. & A.W. Reed in 1957, was one of the few local outlets for recording classical music.
The forties and fifties were favourable times for poets and poetry, and lively communities of poets sprang up in the main centres, particularly Wellington and Auckland. Debate about the nature of poetry led to some heated exchanges.
