For the 'Dislocating Shakespeare' conference in Auckland in July 2000, Merimeri Penfold undertook the first-ever translations of Shakespearean poems into Maori. Versions of nine sonnets were published under the title Nga Waiata Aroha a Hekepia (Love Sonnets by Shakespeare), distributed by the University of Auckland's English Department. The following interview with Dr. Penfold leads into two examples of her work, accompanied by close translations back into English. The latter were done by the distinguished scholar Margaret Orbell, in collaboration with Dr. Penfold herself. Dr. Orbell judged Dr. Penfold's Maori versions to be resourceful, multilayered translations of the originals and admirable poems in their new language. She explained that it was not possible to provide 'literal' English equivalents and offered 'close renderings' instead. The Maori of Sonnet 127, which is discussed at the end of the interview, was deemed unsuited to retranslation; so our brief discussion, assuming readers' familiarity with the poem, is a substitute for, rather than an introduction to, a reprinting of this example of Dr Penfold's art.
