Kawekaweau tells the story of Viktor, a professor of French literature, who has just moved to Hue, Viet-Nam, with his wife. He receives a parcel from his one-time girlfriend, Lucie, who has died recently. She sends him objects from their time together, many years ago, as well as a challenge: solving the mystery of the kawekaweau, the giant gecko endemic to New Zealand, brought back to Europe by a French expedition in the 19th century. 

Viktor takes up this quest and carries out extensive research, delving into the captain’s log. But, reading through the lines, he realises that something terrible had happened on the voyage, though it went unreported. 

This investigation forces him to examine old photographs and newspapers, objects like an ancient feather box and a jade pendant, that tell of tribal wars and first contacts between civilisations. All this ultimately brings forth his own past with Lucie, so that he finally understands the meaning of the objects she has sent him.

This book was my project for the Randell Cottage Writers Residency in 2014. I had the most wonderful time in Wellington, running in the Botanic Garden, visiting Te Papa Museum and carrying out research at the NZ National Library.