The Listening Library

Great New Zealand books to listen to whenever you want them.

Produced by Duncan Smith

Cover image with olive green and cream tones featuring the text 'The Listening Library' in bold white serif font, and 'Audiobook Collection' in smaller text above. Stylized vertical book spines line the right side of the image.

RNZ exclusive

This podcast is only available on the RNZ website and apps, ad‑free and uninterrupted.

Harbouring (Part 1) by Jenny Pattrick

From the Centre (Part 1) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 1
A memoir. Patricia Grace begins with her grandparents and parents and takes us through her childhood, her education, marriage and up to the present day in this touching and self-deprecating story of her life.
Book cover

From the Centre (Part 2) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 2
Patricia turns over her earliest memories living close to Wellington zoo in the years before world war two.

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From the Centre (Part 3) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 3
It wasn't till Patricia started school that she realised that she was maori.

From the Centre (Part 4) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 4
Patricia finds that she feels most at home when she visits Hongoeka bay

From the Centre (Part 5) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 5
Patricia wins a scholarship to St Marys College, Wellington and finds that she is one of only two maori in the school.

From the Centre (Part 6) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 6
Patricia and Dick become engaged and soon are married. Their life together gets underway both doing their country service teaching in rural schools.

From the Centre (Part 7) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 7
Patricia is impressed by Noel Hilliard's Maori Girl and sets out on the path towards becoming a writer herself.

From the Centre (Part 8) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 8
Patricia is greatly pleased to finally see the opening of the new wharenui Te Heke-mai-raro at Hongoeke marae.

From the Centre (Part 9) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 9
Patricia digs into the development of her novel Cousins.

From the Centre (Part 10) by Patricia Grace

Season 11 / Episode 10
Patricia explores the writing process for her novel Chappy but is distracted by the declining health of her mother and the need to hold firm to land which was being earmarked for roading.

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