Whanganui Regional Museum is delighted to host the launch of Salt Quilt, the latest collection of poetry by acclaimed Whanganui author Airini Beautrais, on Thursday 9 July.

Published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, Salt Quilt is a highly anticipated collection that reflects on memory, place, and the significance of everyday objects. Unlike the author’s previous themed collections, Salt Quilt brings together an eclectic range of poems written over many years, including commissioned works, collaborations, and more personal pieces.

The launch has a special connection to the Museum. The quilt featured on the book’s cover was created by Kathleen Lockett around 1930 and is held in the Whanganui Regional Museum collection. Made from salt bags stitched together and filled with sheep’s wool gathered from fencing wire, the quilt reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Depression-era families who made do with whatever they had to hand. The quilt also inspired one of the poems in the collection, creating a unique link between the book, its imagery, and a treasured local artefact.

Airini Beautrais is amongst Aotearoa New Zealand’s celebrated contemporary writers. Her debut work of fiction, Bug Week, won the prestigious Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. She is also the author of four previous poetry collections, including Secret Heart, which received the Jessie Mackay Award for First Book of Poetry, and the essay collection The Beautiful Afternoon.

The launch event will feature readings from Salt Quilt by Airini Beautrais, alongside reflections on the cover quilt from Lesley Stead of Paige’s Book Gallery. Lesley Stead will share the story of the quilt’s maker, Kathleen Lockett, who was her aunt, and discuss its journey from a family heirloom to an important object in the Museum’s collection.

The quilt itself will be on display during the event. Airini is looking forward to being reunited with the object that inspired both a poem and the title of her collection, saying, “I love that quilt – I always feel very happy when I see it.”

“Salt Quilt felt like a good grounding piece for the title because there is something salty about the whole book, and there is something patchwork about it. The quilt is a lovely image because it’s a patchwork of different things that have been brought together. It’s a comforting thing as well.”

The event is presented in partnership with Paige’s Book Gallery and Lit. Whanganui Booklovers Festival, highlighting the strength of Whanganui’s literary community and its connection to local history and collections.

Airini believes hearing poetry performed live offers a special experience for audiences. “I think it’s always fun to hear people read from their own work because you hear it in the writer’s voice, and I think there is something quite magical about live poetry.”

Following the presentations, guests will be invited to enjoy refreshments, purchase copies of Salt Quilt, and have books signed by the author.

The event is free to attend, with koha appreciated. As spaces are limited, bookings are recommended.

Event Details

5.30pm, Thursday 9^th July, 2026
Davis Lecture Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum
Price: Free. Koha is always appreciated
Bookings: Email info@wrm.org.nz or phone 06 349 1110