On the surface, Gregory the Kiwi is a charming children’s book about an adventurous Te Kūiti kiwi.
Bevan and Niki Aymes
However, the story behind the story – written by a Te Awamutu couple – reveals it is also about a talented Te Kūiti Kiwi.
In 2023, artist Gregory Saunders’ life took a devastating turn. He was badly affected by a stroke and no longer able to draw. The 74-year-old lives in a Te Kūiti rest home.
But a selection his artwork is living on through a new book by his nephew and niece-in-law, Bevan and Niki Aymes, and is helping raise funds for Stroke Aotearoa.
“It’s a rhyming book,” Niki said. “The first page is about a kiwi going through the Waitomo glowworm caves with a flashlight on his head – the moral is that Gregory the kiwi is so brave – and it goes from there. It took a really long time playing on words and all that sort of thing to get it exactly how we wanted it.”
Gregory the Kiwi front cover
Gregory, who was born in Te Kūiti, often portrayed local life in and around the King Country region.
“When Gregory sees the book, I think he’s very much with it. He will run his fingers along the pictures, and you can tell it uplifts his spirit,” Niki said. “Writing the book was about showing the world his amazing drawings and supporting Stroke Aotearoa at the same time.”
Niki and Bevan gained permission from Gregory’s sister, Bevan’s mum Carol, before putting pen to paper.
Gregory the kiwi
“He gave Carol some of his drawings over the years – she had four or five framed and hanging in her laundry. Then, when cleaning up his house, we found another small pile of drawings, maybe 15 to 20 and it went from there,” Niki said.
“Gregory was an incredible freehand artist who never rated his work too highly. Bevan has very strong childhood memories of his uncle who would draw things from the news and caricatures. Bevan was amazed at how quickly he could produce these wonderful drawings.”
Bevan and Niki’s four sons discovered just how skilled their great uncle was as their parents worked on colouring photocopies of the drawings.
“They just absolutely loved it. They still talk about Gregory most days and they know the book off by heart.”
Each sale of the $20 book raises $2 for the stroke foundation.
See: Learning Matters
Gregory and his great nephew, Benji, reading Gregory the Kiwi
