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Novelist, poet and academic C K (Karl) Stead will be honoured tonight for his contributions to literature.
Auckland City mayor Dick Hubbard will honour Professor Stead with a distinguished citizen award.
Prof Stead was a Professor of English at the University of Auckland for 20 years before retiring to write full-time in 1986.
His work includes novels, poetry, short stories and literary criticism.
He received a CBE in 1985 and was admitted to the country's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in 2007.
The award is Auckland City Council's highest honour. Past recipients have included Sir Hugh Kawharu, Professor Peter Gluckman and Jenny Gibbs.
- NZPA
