“It might be a week or even a couple of weeks where you’re on

the outside looking in - and then one morning you’re on the inside and

the story is your familiar. You’re intimate with the subject matter at

that point and it’s a complete shift; you’re now working inside the

thing. That’s a great feeling, but it’s only time that gives you that

change. That for me is where the excitement is, because then the

unexpected happens."

Kennedy Warne, 59, started in publishing in 1980 at the newly launched Hauraki Herald newspaper in Thames. After stints in advertising and PR, he co-founded New Zealand Geographic in 1988 with John Woods, serving as editor for 15 years. He is now a freelance writer for New Zealand Geographic and National Geographic,

and has a fortnightly spot on RNZ's Nine to Noon show, discussing

adventure, the outdoors and environmental matters. His books include Let Them Eat Shrimp, a book on the world's disappearing mangrove forests, and Tuhoe: Portrait of Nation,

with photographer Peter Quinn. He lives in Auckland. Here he talks

about inspirations, frustrations, the importance of place in writing,

how running helps his writing, and the feature writing landscape today.

Links:

Rising seas threaten these Pacific Islands, but not their culture, National Geographic, October 2015

That sinking feeling, New Zealand Geographic, Nov/Dec 2004

Will Pacific Island nations disappear as seas rise? Maybe not, National Geographic, February 2015

Check out more work at www.kennedywarne.com