Tony Simpson

Tony Simpson is an award-winner writer who has published seventeen books of New Zealand history. He’s a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was also president of PEN NZ during the turbulent 1980's. In this interview from 2005 he opens up about his experiences with PEN NZ, being forced out of the Arts Council, fighting with Robert Muldoon and about his personal life. He has clear opinions on his contemporary writers, politicians and publishers. It's a fascinating and moving episode.