New Zealand Writers
GADD, Bernard
‘a prolific writer and editor, notable as a pioneer in work with a multicultural emphasis for high school students’
GADD, Bernard (1935-2007 ) wrote fiction, poetry and plays. He is an educator, editor, publisher and book reviewer.
Bernard Gadd was born in Hamilton. He was educated at Auckland University College, Auckland Teachers College and Massey University. Gadd was, for most of his working life, a high school teacher and ESOL tutor.
Gadd is a prolific writer who has been published in a host of literary journals including Landfall and the Listener. He is an anthologist, editor and reviewer. He is also a publisher; in 1981 Gadd set up a small press called Hallard.
Since his retirement in 1995, Gadd has focused his attention on poetry. By his own description, he is a poet drawn to ‘historical topics and first-person recreations of real or invented character, and to satire against dominant orthodoxies of the mind.’
Gadd’s collections of poetry include Melissa (Hillary, 1980), Childsong & Other Verses (Hallard,1981), Two poems (Hallard, 1981), Light (Hallard, 1985), Oracle Bones (Hazard, 1992), Pity Mr Hash (Hallard, 1995), Catullus at the iron gate (Hallard, 1995), Too Right Mate (Hallard, 1996), Stepping Off from Northland (Sudden Valley Press, 1997), I imagines serifim (Hallard, 19990, Signs of the new right (Hallard, 2000), Prognostications of the apricot (The Poets Group, 2000), Our Bay of Ensigns & other ‘race’ relations (HeadworX, 2002), Debating Stones (Sudden Valley Press, 2002) and Pokeno Opposes the Kaiser (Hallard, 2004).
Gadd is perhaps best known for his pioneering work in the classroom, and this work is reflected in the many books for young readers he has published. Gadd has edited a number of anthologies, many of which were designed for young adults, specifically but not exclusively, for young Maori and Pasifika readers. Gadd’s commitment to multi-culturalism has enabled him to bring emerging Maori and Pacific writers into the classroom.
Gadd’s anthologies include: My New Zealand Senior (Longman Paul, 1973), People Are People (Hodder and Stoughton, 1973), My New Zealand Junior (Longman Paul, 1974) and others. Gadd has also edited literary anthologies including Other Voices (Brick Row/Hallard, 1989), Other Voices 2 (Brick Row/Hallard, 1991), Catching the light (Brick Row/Hallard, 1992) and Read Fire (Square One Press, 2002).
Gadd has written a number of books for young adults; his fiction includes: Who wants to be Lillian Plotnick’s mother? with Flossie Lewis (Hallard, 1981), Where to go? (Heinemann, 1981), It started with a scream (Brick Row/ Hallard, 1990), Blood of Tainui (Brick Row/ Te Ropu Kahurangi, 1990), Just like you said it would be (Brick Row/Hallard, 1992), The New Bike (Wendy Pye, 1995) and Thornend (Hallard, 1995). His plays for young people include the anthology Generations (Longman Paul, 1993) and the single works Bone City (Longman Paul, 1995), Last Javelin of the Romans (Hallard, 1997), Warrior from the Lord Wulah (Hallard, 1997) and Rushie’s Rush Chow Down (Hallard, 1998).
Gadd’s interest in New Zealand history has seen him write a number of local histories and two biographies. In addition, he has also written a handbook for teachers: Cultural Difference in the Classroom (Heinemann, 1976) and one for students, Journalism: a practical introduction (Longman Paul, 1989).
(LK)
Updated Information
The Unbelievable Lightness of Eggs also featured some of Gadd's more recent pieces (Hallard Press, 2006).
Gadd had a poem included in Shards of Silver (Steele Roberts, 2006), a book investigating the interplay between photography and poetry.
End of the Snapshots (Sudden Valley Press, 2007) is a new collection of poetry by Gadd, featuring a gallery of snapshots from the past and present. From Keisha Castle-Hughes to Phar Lap, nothing is missed by this "observer with a steady gaze".
Bernard Gadd, father, teacher, author, anthologist and letter-writer, died suddenly at his Papatoetoe home on 11 December 2007.
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