Story: Taranaki places

Roadside Stories: Kings of Hāwera

Author Ronald Hugh Morrieson famously once commented that he hoped he wouldn’t be discovered after his death – but, sadly, that was exactly what happened. Never popular in his home town of Hāwera – which was recognisably skewered in his novels – Morrieson gained a strong following after his death in 1972. Hāwera is also home to Kevin Wasley, a dedicated Elvis Presley fan who runs a museum celebrating ‘The King’ – and sometimes dresses as his hero.

Listen to a Roadside Story about Morrieson, Wasley and Hāwera. Roadside Stories is a series of audio guides to places around New Zealand.

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How to cite this page:

Ron Lambert, 'Taranaki places - Hāwera', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/35267/roadside-stories-kings-of-hawera (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Ron Lambert, updated 1 Sep 2016