"We have this strange cultural phenomenon called 'Tall Poppy Syndrome'," she said. "If you stand out, you will be cut down ... If you get success overseas often the local population can suddenly be very hard on you ... it betrays an attitude towards individual achievement which is very uncomfortable."
Catton said she was uncomfortable with the way her international accolade was regarded in her home country. "It has to belong to everybody or the country really doesn't want to know about it."
There has been speculation whether her comments were sparked in part by sour grapes because The Luminaries did not win the main prize at New Zealand Post Book Awards. This does seem a bit odd on the one hand that a book can win arguably the world's biggest literary prize and then not make the cut in little old New Zealand.
But awards and prizes are notoriously fickle and depend on various different criteria, judges and other competition.
I know that if I was lucky enough ever to win a Booker prize, with that in the bag, I wouldn't be that worried if I missed out on some other accolades.
I would also be happy to be an ambassador for the country if anyone wanted me to. Heck, if I ever won a Booker prize I would be happy to wear a dress cut from a New Zealand flag and tattoo a silver fern on my butt.
What is wrong with the whole country wanting to celebrate and be a part of this great achievement?
You don't hear Richie McCaw moaning about being the country's most popular bachelor. And he is quite good at rugby too apparently.
So it is unsurprising that Catton's comments caused some upset. Radio host Sean Plunket went so far as to call her a "hua" and a "traitor". Others, including previous Booker prize winner Keri Hulme and Once Were Warriors writer Alan Duff, rushed to her defence.
I felt miffed that my erstwhile heroine (as anyone would be who won a Booker prize but Catton even more so being from here) seems to not want a bar of us. But she is perfectly entitled to voice her opinions. I admire her for doing so.
Her comments have ruffled feathers perhaps as they touch on truths that we don't want to admit. I love New Zealand but I agree that part of the culture - in some people - is the Tall Poppy Syndrome, where people are seemingly jealous of success.
Ironically Catton is displaying some of the syndrome herself - cutting down all in her own country, including people like me who just simply admire her and are delighted to celebrate that a New Zealand writer won such a prestigious accolade.
Her attack on the Government - which she dubbed a "neo-liberal, profit-obsessed, very shallow, very money-hungry politicians who do not care about culture" - also has elements of Tall Poppy Syndrome given the success of the Government on the economic front.
And whatever your politics, John Key's popularity with the people would be hard for a past or future prime minister to beat. I saw this recently in person. I was a few seats down from him at a Katy Perry concert in Auckland and watching a stream of Katycats, young and old, form a queue for selfies with Key was an amazing sight.
My daughters and I joined in, clambouring over our seats, accidentally treading on Bronagh's foot in the process for our much-coveted selfies. Key was on a night out with his family but he took the time to chat to the kids and pose for endless photos. He's an ambassador for his country - of course he has to do it, he is Prime Minister - but I couldn't help feeling proud of New Zealand. What other country could you sit next to a prime minister at a concert and watch him tapping away to Teenage Dream just like the rest of us?
Key's popularity aside, every person in New Zealand, famous or not, has the right and freedom to criticise the Government and this should be welcomed.
I agree with some of Catton's comments about New Zealand's attitude to the arts and culture. In funding, sport is given priority. Sport is emphasised so much in our schools, which is a good thing, but it would make for a richer country if arts and culture were on an equal footing with sport.
Some of it is down to our relative youth as a country, that we do not have centuries of writers and artists to draw upon. But art does not have to be something old or esoteric to be enjoyed. Art is any form of creative expression and New Zealanders have creativity in spades. Take the jandal fence at the Mount. Locals embraced it as their art. Owen Dippie's murals received international attention. The Incubator project is an exciting hub of creativity in our city.
In February, there is a series of talks on public art that coincide with Tauranga City Council's submission period for its draft public art policy. The series presents hot speakers - including Regan Gentry, the artist commissioned to develop the two large works for the Papamoa Interchange.
Making our creative mark on our own city reflects the philosophy of writer Peter Kageyama, whose books For the Love of Cities and Love Where You Live sing the economic, social and psychological benefits of art and events that bring communities together.
Like art and culture, national pride is also a great way of bringing people together. Yes, the Man Booker prize is Eleanor Catton's individual achievement as she says, but I am sure she didn't want to write a prize-winning book that no-one reads.
The way that many New Zealanders got behind Eleanor Catton was simply to go out and buy her book at The Warehouse. Kiwis who might never normally buy a book read it on their smokos or sitting on their decks.
And that, perhaps even more than your prize Eleanor, is something to be really proud of.
