Ihimaera wins $50,000 arts prize despite plagiarism row
By Andrew Koubaridis writing in the New Zealand Herald
Wednesday Nov 18, 2009

Witi Ihimaera alluded at the ceremony to the furore. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Author Witi Ihimaera was last night presented with a prestigious arts award and a $50,000 prize - a week after he was caught up in a plagiarism row.
The writer of Whale Rider was embarrassed by revelations that his latest novel, The Trowenna Sea, contains passages by other authors without attribution.
He apologised for the oversight, which he said amounted to less than 0.4 per cent of what had been published, and promised any future editions of the book would include proper acknowledgments.
Despite the controversy, he has been named a laureate by the Arts Foundation. The honour comes with a cheque for $50,000.

Ihimaera made no specific mention of the scandal, but in as speech that lasted about 10 minutes alluded to the furore. "I would rather be someone else this week. Any of you are welcome to be Witi Ihimaera."

Yesterday, Arts Foundation executive director Simon Bowden defended the selection of Ihimaera so soon after the controversy.
"The award itself is for a lifetime of work and is an investment in someone's future ... He's an extraordinary artist."
Mr Bowden accepted the plagiarism was a "serious matter" but said Ihimaera was trying to make things right "as much as he can".
Ihimaera had told the foundation of the plagiarism claim before it became public and it did generate discussion among the selectors.
The full report in NZ Herald.