Award winning author Marlene J. Bennetts MNZM (Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui) will release her autobiography Whakaaetanga/Acceptance in June, telling her story of overcoming adversity to become an accomplished writer. She aims to encourage others facing challenges to overcome, and will donate 95% of the proceeds to support disabled Māori through Whānau Ora initiative Hei Whakapiki Mauri.
Marlene speaks about her new book Whakaaetanga/Acceptance.
Born in 1938, Marlene knew the Aotearoa of 1.5 million people. She grew up in various places in the North and South Islands with her mother, father and two brothers. She always considered herself a writer and storyteller, starting when she was a child by making up stories as to why her younger brothers needed to do as they were told. Coming from a family of sawmill workers and under the impression that all writers needed degrees in literature, writing for a career felt out of reach. Her family moved every other year and after attending 15 different schools, Marlene left high school to accept a job as a secretary in Pahiatua, Wairarapa.
When Marlene was 34 years old, her husband encouraged her to pursue her writing because he had witnessed his mother’s limitations due to taking care of his siblings. At the time, Marlene had three young children in tow and was still working as a secretary. Over the next eight years, Marlene worked on correspondence classes during the day while her children were at school.
As her studying came to an end, Marlene didn’t feel like she was advancing, and when the family moved to Auckland, she started attending writing seminars and joined the New Zealand Pen Women’s Writers Club, as well as joining 20 different clubs around the world and participating in many writing competitions. “In writing, the awards you win and competitions you enter become your CV”, she says. Marlene’s first published piece was ‘Just Mum’ in the Women’s Weekly in 1985 for which she was paid $3, followed by another poem published in the same magazine. She remembers using her first payments to purchase three pewter monkeys; see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Now, an award-winning author and poet based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Marlene has spent most of her career writing poetry, which has been published in several countries, and children's books that range from stories of New Zealand endangered species to stories about the resilience of spirit. Her awards include the Delores Boccanera Poetry Prize, awarded by the British literary magazine Dandelion, and in 2003 she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in recognition of her services to literature.
Image: Marlene Bennetts at home in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
One of her most treasured memories is the day she found out she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit: “Going to Government House and seeing how proud my husband was; I was sharing it with him. He and I did it together. He earned it as much as I did. He should’ve walked up with me because I think of all the times he pulled my work out of the rubbish bin! How supportive he was when I was rejected.” After the ceremony when she spoke to her writing mentor, her mentor said: “I didn’t like to tell you that you would never be a writer but I’m glad I’ve lived long enough for you to prove me wrong”.
Marlene’s autobiography Whakaaetanga/Acceptance.
Marlene has often used her life experience and ancestral stories in her storytelling and it’s only fitting that she’s been inspired to write an autobiography to share her experiences gathered over her 83 years of life. Her latest book Whakaaetanga/Acceptance includes her trials and tribulations, and how she’s learnt to overcome and accept. “I’ve always wanted to write to help others. I feel that maybe what I’ve been through with ups and downs with disabilities may help others to overcome.” Marlene says.
One of Marlene’s challenges described in the book is having one leg shorter than the other; her body has compensated for this throughout her life. In 2005, she had surgery on her hip and an accident that changed the length of her leg. The adjustment meant it took her 3.5 years to be able to walk 300m with her walking frame and she’s relied on her walking frame since. The biggest struggle for Marlene through all of this was learning to overcome the frustration of what had happened and how her life had changed. In her wheelchair, she felt like people looked past her and “talked to her like a child”. For someone who was so used to helping others, she felt useless. When she recognised that this frustration wasn’t helping her or anyone around her, she began to reframe her mindset and become grateful that she still had everything else in life.
To publish her story, Marlene applied to Te Pūtahitanga o te Waipounamu for funding and then got involved with Hei Whakapiki Mauri, a Whānau Ora initiative that supports disabled Māori. The Hei Whakapiki Mauri whānau has supported her along the journey and she says she has learned more about her whakapapa and has enjoyed the supportive, trusting and enthusiastic company of Kaiwhakahaere Ruth Jones, Gary Williams and whānau. Having learned more about Ruth and Gary’s kaupapa – raising the mauri of disabled Māori and their whānau – Marlene decided to donate 95% of funds raised by the sales of her autobiography to Hei Whakapiki Mauri, saying: “I believe I’ve been given the gift of writing to help others, especially those with all manner of disabilities and problems”.
Writing her story about overcoming, Marlene feels that one of the biggest things she’s learnt to overcome is learning that she can do as well as any able-bodied person. Marlene is often inspired by proverbs told to her by her mother, and frequently refers to one in particular: “To not live for tomorrow because it hasn't come, not to live for yesterday because it’s gone, to just live today, in the now.”
As Marlene was writing her autobiography, she was able to reflect on all the things she’s been through, recognising how fortunate she’s been to have had some of her experiences which now allow space for her to empathise with others from a place of understanding. Marlene can share how her pains became her greatest strength and use that power to inspire others. Through her autobiography she hopes to encourage people who may be thinking that they can’t overcome something, to hold on and have a little hope and remember that good will always come from bad.
When asked what tips Marlene would share with others to help with their overcoming and acceptance journeys, she says: “not to compare yourself to others. You’re as unique as your fingerprints. The word ‘impossible’ means ‘I’m’ ‘possible’, even if your mind is flash carding all sorts of doubts and despair, remember that you are somebody.”
Marlene’s book ‘Whakaaetanga/Acceptance’ will be released in June and is available for $40.00, with proceeds being donated to Hei Whakapiki Mauri. Click here to order your copy. The book will be formally launched at Te Pūtahitanga in early June.