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Murdoch Stephens

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Murdoch Stephens (born 1981) is a New Zealand author, researcher and refugee advocate. He is founding editor of Lawrence & Gibson publishing and previously wrote under the name Richard Meros.[1] In 2013 he founded the Double the Refugee Quota campaign that led to the doubling of New Zealand's refugee quota in 2020.[2][3]

Stephens was raised in South Otago[4] and attended South Otago High School,[5] before studying at the University of Otago.[6]

Advocacy and academic work

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After living in Syria, prior to the Civil War, and finding a series of photos of Afghan refugees, Stephens began the Double the Quota campaign in 2013.[3][7]

By the time of the 2017 election, the campaign had gained prominence with civil society, media and political parties.[8] His experience of the campaign was published as a book by Bridget Williams Books in 2018.[9][10] Stephens also campaigned against race-based restrictions in New Zealand's refugee quota,[11] which were removed in late 2019.[12]

Stephens completed a PhD, which was published as an academic book in 2018.[13] He lectured at Massey University[12] before becoming a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS).

Fiction

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As Richard Meros

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Richard Meros is a pseudonym used by Stephens, as well as appearing as a character in another of his novels, released under the name Nestor Notabilis.[14] Prior to the revelation of his identity, it had been speculated that Meros' real persona was either Stephens, actor Arthur Meek or one of the other members of Lawrence & Gibson publishing.[15]

First published in 2005, On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover, received favourable reviews in New Zealand[16] and international press.[17] The book, often shortened to OTC&POHCTMAHYL, asked why Helen Clark, the Prime Minister at the time would want a young lover and then why the young lover would be Meros. The book is a work of metafiction as it concludes that the greatest likelihood of Meros being taken as a young lover would be if he wrote a book on the conditions and possibilities of being taken as a young lover.[18] The Guardian described it as 'decidedly lascivious'[17] and the NZ Listener called it a 'mock philosophical treatise' before praising it as 'the underground publishing hit of the decade'.[18]

The book was reissued and adapted into a play of the same name in 2007,[19] touring nationally and was nominated for theatrical performance of the year.[20] For his role as Meros, Arthur Meek was awarded the most promising male newcomer of 2008 at the Chapman Tripp Awards.[21] In 2015, the book was once again adapted into a play that substitutes Hillary Clinton for Helen Clark.[22]

In total, Stephens has released eight books under the Meros pseudonym through Lawrence & Gibson in New Zealand, including novels and political/cultural satire, though none have achieved the success of On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover.[23][24] These other books include two adapted for theatre, both of which toured widely:

  • In 2007 Stephens released Richard Meros salutes the Southern Man, a pastoral account of the cultural persona of a male from the south of New Zealand's South Island. This was adapted by the same team that made on the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover and toured to positive reviews winning best touring production at the Dunedin Theatre Awards.[25][26] The book was reissued for the theatrical tour with an introduction by Duncan Sarkies.[27]
  • When Privatising Parts was released in 2011, it was viewed by New Zealand media as a follow up to on the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover.[28][29] This book was adapted into a play that toured New Zealand and Australia in 2012 and 2013.[30]

As Meros he has also written for a wide range of publications in New Zealand from current affairs magazine NZ Listener[31] and daily newspaper the Dominion Post to arts publications White Fungus[32] and Pantograph Punch.[33] In 2015, he was a recipient of Eleanor Catton's Horoeka Grant. In response he wrote the essay 'New Bourgeoizealand'.[34]

As Murdoch Stephens

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In 2020, he released his first novel under his own name, Rat King Landlord, with Lawrence & Gibson.[35] The book was well received featuring on best of the year lists[36] and was subsequently praised as "last year's surprise literary hit".[37] The novel led to some public commentary on the problems with New Zealand's housing market,[38][39] and a 2023 partnership with Renters United to re-release ten thousand copies of the novel in tabloid format with launches and events around the county.[40][41]

In 2022 he released Down from Upland, which was long-listed for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2023.[42][43] Writing in Landfall, Craig Cliff, said:

Just as the content of the novel revolves around maturity, how teenagers seek it and Millennial parents shirk it, Down from Upland feels like a confident stride towards a new, fully-fledged form for Murdoch Stephens.[44]

In addition to being an author he maintains his role of an editor at Lawrence & Gibson publishing[45] and regularly writes for a range of news media including the Spinoff[46] and Stuff.[47]

Selected publications

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Novels

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As Murdoch Stephens:

As Richard Meros:

  • On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover Lawrence & Gibson (2005) ISBN 978-0-473-10248-7
  • Richard Meros salutes the Southern Man Lawrence & Gibson (2007) ISBN 978-0-473-12429-8
  • Beggars & Choosers: The Complete Written Correspondence between Richard Meros and Creative New Zealand volume one Lawrence & Gibson (2008) ISBN 978-0-473-14005-2
  • Privatising Parts Lawrence & Gibson (2011) ISBN 978-0-473-18475-9
  • Zebulon: A cautionary tale Lawrence & Gibson (2011) ISBN 978-0-473-18836-8
  • Easy Whistle Solo Lawrence & Gibson (2012) ISBN 978-0-473-21922-2
  • $30 Meat Pack: The Complete Written Correspondence between Richard Meros and Creative New Zealand volume two Lawrence & Gibson (2012) ISBN 978-0-473-22900-9
  • Dating Westerners: tips for the new rich of the developing world Lawrence & Gibson (2014) ISBN 978-0-473-27501-3

Non Fiction books

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  • Doing Our Bit: the campaign to double the refugee quota Bridget Williams Books (2018)
  • Critical Environmental Communication: How Does Critique Respond to the Urgency of Climate Change? Lexington Books (2018)

Essays

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  • 'On the birth of TEZA'[48] an essay on special economic zones and the TEZA art project.
  • 'New Bourgeoizealand'[49] an essay for the Horoeka Grant.

References

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  1. ^ Catherall, Sarah (5 August 2022). "Inventing a new name helped author Murdoch Stephens with writer's block". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ "New Zealand to raise refugee quota in 2020". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 19 September 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Lang, Sarah (14 September 2015). "What drives refugee campaigner Murdoch Stephens?". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (28 December 2021). "Murdoch Stephens essay: Just a couple of Haybales, all summer long". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (7 June 2022). "Reads like teen spirit: Murdoch Stephens introduces his new novel". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ^ Francis, Oscar (6 May 2023). "Book highlights renting horrors". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Murdoch Stephens: Fate of refugees shouldn't be a lottery". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Political Roundup: Increasing the refugee quota to 60,000". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. ^ Mulligan, Jesse (9 August 2019). "Double the Quota: How to campaign". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (2018). Doing Our Bit: The Campaign to Double the Refugee Quota. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books. doi:10.7810/9781988545233. ISBN 9781988545233.
  11. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (28 May 2019). "A short history of New Zealand's racist refugee policy". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b Graham-McLay, Charlotte (4 October 2019). "Under Pressure, New Zealand Ends a Refugee Policy Branded Racist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (2018). Critical Environmental Communication: How Does Critique Respond to the Urgency of Climate Change?. USA: Lexington. ISBN 978-1-4985-7087-9.
  14. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (14 July 2020). "Meros is dead. Long live Murdoch". The Spinoff. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Playing Favourites with Richard Meros". Radio New Zealand. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  16. ^ Somerset, Guy (2005) "Review" Dominion Post, August
  17. ^ a b "Shortcuts". The Guardian. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Mystery man – Uncategorized – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  19. ^ Laurie Atkinson (2008) Slick, wicked poke at politics, Dominion Post(reprint in Theatreview.co.nz), 17 January
  20. ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards – 2008". Chapmantripptheatreawards.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Exploring possibilities". Otago Daily Times. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  23. ^ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective". lLawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  24. ^ "Landfall Review Online: Generation Xperimental". landfallreview.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  25. ^ "Free-entry 'Play' earns theatre awards". Otago Daily Times. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  26. ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  27. ^ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective: Richard Meros". Lawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  28. ^ "Privatising Parts by Richard Meros and Getting Under Sail by Brannavan Gnanalingam review – Books – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  29. ^ Burgess, Malcolm (2011) 'Small and Cheekily Formed' Dominion Post, 11 May.
  30. ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  31. ^ "'Give me back my sandals' – Travel – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  32. ^ "A stone's throw from Afghanistan". Stuff. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  33. ^ Stephens, Murdoch. "Writing on the Wall? Fascism and Antifa Presence on the Streets of Eastern Europe". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  34. ^ "'New Bourgeoizealand' by Richard Meros | the Lancewood Foundation".
  35. ^ Adams, Josie (16 August 2020). "My flatmate, the rat". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Book review - Best of 2020 - New Zealand books". RNZ. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  37. ^ Newton, Dileepa Fonseka and Kate (26 January 2021). "Rents soar after Covid-19 freeze ends". Stuff. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  38. ^ "Rent spike after Covid-19 freeze lifted". RNZ. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  39. ^ Borissenko, Sasha. "New Zealand: The struggle to find a 'decent home'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  40. ^ Books, The Spinoff Review of (16 February 2023). "Rat King Landlord: Why Renters United is releasing a free edition of the cult novel". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  41. ^ Stephens, Murdoch (7 June 2023). "Taking the Rat King on tour". Overland literary journal. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  42. ^ Mabey, Claire (2 February 2023). "Behold: The longest Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist... ever!". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  43. ^ "Sexual harassment, the novel". Newsroom. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  44. ^ "The Kids are Alright, For Now". Landfall. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Murdoch Stevens - Behind the Scenes of a Publishing House". RNZ. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  46. ^ Stephens, Murdoch. "Murdoch Stephens". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  47. ^ "How I write: Murdoch Stephens and the soundtracks to his books". Stuff. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  48. ^ "On the birth of TEZA". Letting Space. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  49. ^ "New Bourgeoizealand". Horoeka Reading. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
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