Author hits out at columnist's Cup comments

Kerre Woodham. Photo / Nigel Marple

After 25 years in near seclusion, Keri Hulme has finally written again - to the Herald on Sunday.

The reclusive author of the bone people has taken issue with an article last week by columnist Kerre Woodham about the Rugby World Cup spend.

Booker Prize winner Hulme was incensed Woodham had told those knocking a predicted $500 million loss from the tournament to "put on your party faces or push off".

Hulme rarely speaks publicly but after her initial letter, she emailed the Herald on Sunday, saying: "It's one thing to urge support for an event/series of events, and quite another to tell everybody who isn't a supporter to shove off.

"Especially when the RWC is going to cost a huge amount of money - that we can ill-afford to spend in these straitened times - for little in return.

"I can think of a wide range of much better uses for half a billion dollars than wasting it on a few games of rugby."

Hulme has not written extensively since her Booker Prize win in 1985.

Woodham said although the letter was nothing to be flattered about, she was a huge fan of Hulme's work.

"I'm absolutely delighted to read anything Keri writes and if I've been a catalyst for her to put pen to paper, I'm delighted."

On the Rugby World Cup, she said: "We can't do anything about it now except enjoy it and make it a success."

Art commentator Hamish Keith said politicians had not been honest about Cup spending projections. "How does that help the 27 per cent of children below the poverty line?"

The Government has a budget of $133m for arts, culture and heritage.

The original letter

Kia ora. you are so wrong in so many ways ... who are you to tell me to "push off" because I loathe ALL team sports?

And really really object to government spending of half a billion dollars on ephemeral crap? When there are a HUGE number of matters that could be addressed with that amount of money?

I think you are maybe thinking you are someone important, and saying something relevant.

Rest assurred: you arnt, and arnt - now, bugger off into the outermost dark wherein you belong.

Sincerely, Keri Hulme