Until 1986, Otago poet Brian Turner spent most of his life juggling his writing around work as a customs officer, publisher's rep, journalist, managing editor of a publishing firm, work in sawmills, construction sites and even as a rabbiter in Central Otago.
So it was a "pleasant surprise" for the 65-year-old when he was presented a 2009 Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement at Premier House in Wellington last night.
"If you told me 45 years ago that something like this would happen to me, I would have said you were nuts.
"I'm humbled by the award. Not many people get an award like this," he said.
Mr Turner was recognised for his contribution to New Zealand poetry, along with C. K. Stead for fiction writing and Dr Ranginui Walker for nonfiction.
Each writer received $60,000.
Prime Minister John Key said it was a pleasure to honour the three great writers.
"As New Zealanders, we should celebrate success more. I am proud to acknowledge the legacy and continued involvement of these well-deserving recipients," Mr Key said.
Mr Turner is the fourth Otago writer to receive the award since it was established in 2003, following Janet Frame (2003, fiction), Hone Tuwhare (2003, poetry) and Philip Temple (2005, non-fiction).
Mr Turner said he had never written with awards in mind.
Rather, he had always written because he needed to, or wanted to.
"I've always seen writing as work, and something that needs to be worked at if you are going to produce something worthwhile.
"It's taken me a very long time to have faith in my abilities as a writer."
Mr Turner paid tribute to publisher John McIndoe, who published Mr Turner's early poetry collections when he worked for him.
"If it hadn't been for his willingness to publish collections of my poems, I might not have continued my writing," he said.
Brian Turner, poet
Turner, a former New Zealand hockey player, poet, writer, angler and conservationist, has been publishing poetry since the 1960s.
1978: Wins Commonwealth Poetry Prize for his first volume of poetry, Ladders of Rain.
1984: Robert Burns Fellow at University of Otago.
1993: New Zealand Book Award for Poetry for his collection Beyond.
1994-95: Arts Council Scholarship in Letters.
1997: Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury.
2003-05: Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate.
2008: Publishes Into the Wider World: A Back Country Miscellany.
2009: Publishes Just This, his latest volume of poems.
