First butterfly of the season. If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Terrific performance last night at the Town Hall of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Umberto Clerici for a programme of Anthony Ritchie's 'Remember Parihaka,' Mozart's Paris Symphony, and best of all Mozart's Requiem.

For 25 years I've had an ongoing interest in the Irish writer Frances Browne (1816-1879), "the blind poet of Ulster." This year I've been invited to speak at the Frances Browne Literary Festival in Stranorlar and Ballybofey, and to give a workshop on working with 19C letters.

Sea lion among the drift wood catching some rays at St Kilda beach this morning.

My latest for The Listener, in which an art auction find leads to a fascinating moment in NZ colonial history. I've since donated the watercolour to the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/c…

Thanks to Leah at Frances Browne Literary Festival for putting together this video. Hope it doesn't scare off too many festival attendees😂

Mussenden Temple, near Castlerock, Northern Ireland. Built in 1785 for the Bishop of Derry, and meant to hold a library.

100 Dunedin dog walk views 27: Sunday adventure in the woods near Warrington Beach.

I had the most wonderful time in Ireland last month. Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Giant’s Causeway, Stranorlar, Donegal, and Sligo (pictured here). I can’t wait to get back. And now back to your regularly scheduled election programming (and yes, I did vote).

This was such a wonderful surprise. Thanks to everyone at Frances Browne Literary Festival for making me feel so welcome in Donegal. otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/…

Very pleased to be one of 33 new professors at Otago. Many thanks to everyone for their support over all these years, and especially to those scholarly colleagues who wrote in support of this promotion, and to Grace and Felix for being my people. otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/…

Happiest of holidays from Maggie and her people.

The latest from Grace Moore in The Conversation US on fire and literature, from George R. Stewart to Amitav Ghosh and Richard Flanagan. theconversation.com/how-the-litera… via The Conversation U.S.

Winter beach walk, Dunedin May 2025.

Young sea lion at Lawyers Head, Dunedin June 2025.

I gave my University of Otago Inaugural Professorial Lecture on 25 September. It's now available for viewing on YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=zib_SF…

My latest article for the Listener, on a fascinating 19C painting in Timaru. The online version requires a subscription. nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/c…

That Wānaka tree, 28 September 2025.