We are proud to welcome Gladys Henderson (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa) to the Queenstown Writers Festival Board of Trustees.
Gladys’ background as a highly accomplished business and financial professional and her deep-rooted cultural understanding make her an invaluable asset to the festival team.
Literacy and oratory skills were highly valued by Gladys’ whānau, instilling in her a profound appreciation for the power of words. Surrounded by prolific readers and skilled speakers from a young age, she developed a deep-seated love for language and storytelling. This love has shaped her career and continues to influence her approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
Gladys’ intellectual pursuits extend well beyond business and finance. She is keenly interested in policy analysis, regularly engaging with government policies and legislation. Moreover, she possesses an intimate understanding of the Waitangi Tribunal’s processes and decisions, demonstrating a strong commitment to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Her profound engagement with Waitangi Tribunal settlements and their implications underscores her commitment to social justice and advancing Māori rights.
Currently completing her PhD thesis, Mātauranga Māori Financial and Economic Modelling, Gladys demonstrates a unique blend of practical expertise and theoretical background. This research, which will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the field, showcases her curiosity and dedication to exploring the intersection of indigenous knowledge systems and modern economic principles. Her work promises to challenge conventional paradigms and offer new perspectives on economic modelling within a Māori context.
Gladys’ firm cultural grounding will enrich perspectives on the Board and her commitment to incorporating indigenous voices will enhance the Festival’s programming, further strengthening our goal to showcase New Zealand’s literary landscape in all its richness.
When it comes to reading for pleasure, it is no surprise that Gladys tends to reach for non-fiction. All the same, she looks forward to exploring contemporary fiction as we start to collate our ideas for the 2025 festival programme.
Are you compelled more by a book’s cover or its blurb?
Blurb
What’s one book you think every New Zealander should read?
Decolonizing Methodologies – Linda Tuhiwai Smith
What was the best book you read over the summer?
I read The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley
Which book do you most clearly remember studying at school?
True story – my mum met a writer when she started teaching in the 70s and he gifted her his first written book. It was called Sons for the Return Home by Albert Wendt and I took it to school for my book review. Needless to say my teachers were not impressed (it was the 70s) and preferred I had read Gulliver’s Travels (yawn).
Nau mai rā, e Gladys!
