Hansell receives Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency

19 June 2018 Books+Publishing

New Zealand musician, writer and artist Jessica Hansell, also known as Coco Solid, has received the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency, which will see her produce a body of writing at the University of Hawaiʻi this August.

The annual residency, which is valued at NZ$30,000 (A$28,070), is for a mid-career or senior New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage to work on a creative writing project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Center for Pacific Islands Studies for three months.

Hansell said she hopes to ‘provide a work that grounds and speaks to my creative Māori and Pasifika communities, especially those challenging the narratives we have been given throughout history and those living in urban upheaval and change.’

‘I am looking forward to having access to the amazing Center for Pacific Islands Studies resources, a true Polynesian nerd dream,’ she added.

Hansell is also working on an animated cartoon for television, as well as writing for New Zealand director Taika Waititi and comedian Jemaine Clement’s forthcoming television show Wellington Paranormal.

For more information, visit the Creative New Zealand website here.

Category: Local news