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Early career:
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Librarian
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1960s
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Freelance journalism. Mentored by Bruce Mason and William
Austin in theatre and radio theatre. First short stories appeared In ‘Te Ao Hou’, ‘Arena’, ‘Landfall’. |
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1970–80
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Media writer, radio producer and critic (winner Ngaio Marsh Award for television writing 1972)
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1972–75
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First Administrator NZ Book Council, founded for UNESCO International Year of the Book
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1975–80
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Producer of ‘Writing’ Programme, Radio New Zealand
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1977–88
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Part-time lecturer in Creative Writing Center for Continuing Education, Victoria University
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1981
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Awarded New Zealand Scholarship in Letters
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1981–83
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National President PEN (New Zealand) Centre
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1985
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Won Mobil New Zealand/ Outlook Short Story Award (Judge Fay Weldon)
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1987
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Won NZ Book Awards, for the novel The Book of Secrets
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1988
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Writers’ Fellow, Victoria University
OBE for services to literature Arts Council Award for Achievement |
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1992–95
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President of New Zealand Book Council. Founded Words on Wheels (WOW) (tours for writers), Writers Visiting Prisons
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| 1994 |
Awarded New Zealand Scholarship in Letters
Appointed Patron Cambodia New Zealand-Aotearoa Trust (re land mine Victims) |
| 1995–2002 |
Founded Fiona Kidman Creative Writing School (now part of Whitireia Writing Programme)
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| 1997 |
Lifetime President of Honour New Zealand Book Council, to mark 25 anniversary
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| 1998 |
Awarded Dame Commander New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM). Chaired Peppercorn Press which publishes review periodical NZ Books
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| 2001 |
AW Reed Award for Lifetime Achievement
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| 2001 |
The Face of the Writer Portrait series with Glenda Randerson
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| 2002 |
Trustee, Randell Cottage Writers Trust
Wellington Writers Walk Committee and founder member |
| 2003 |
Appointed Patron NZ Poetry Society
Appointed Patron Refugee and Migrant Reunification Trust |
| 2006 |
Meridian Energy Katherine Mansfield Fellow
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| 2006 |
Member of Les Belles Etrangères (The Beautiful Strangers) tour of France
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| 2008 |
Creative New Zealand Michael King Fellow
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| 2009 |
Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters — French)
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| 2009 |
Légion d’Honneur (French Legion of Honour)
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| 2010 |
Wellington Writers Walk text sculpture
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| 2011 |
Kidman Street named in Rolleston
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| 2017 |
Led Select Committee submissions for Pike River Mine Inquiry, Parliament
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