The Arts Foundation of NZ Laureate Awards last night produced five new recipients of $50 big ones each to ‘take their creativity to new heights’ with the help of Forsyth Barr. We were supposed to be there, but due to chundering children were confined to quarters. These things can sometimes be very hard to take, but of course (grit teeth here) I would rather have been with my ralphing five year-old.

LeafSalon’s heartiest congratulations must go to Bill Manhire – a most fitting recipient of such an accolade. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with. Also to Neil Ieremia (Black Grace founder), Julia Morison (visual artist), Simon O’Neill (operatic tenor), and Ronnie van Hout (visual artist – he's being interviewed on Kim Hill's National Radio show tomorrow morning at 11.25 incidentally, just before Greg O'Brien does his poetry thing). Go forth and proliferate, all of you.