Minnie Dean: Villain Or Victim?

Authors Amaury da Cunha and Karen Zelas in conversation with publisher Mary McCallum about their shared fascination and research into Minnie Dean the infamous ‘baby farmer’ in Southland.

Baby farmer and child murderer, or hardworking wife and mother?
Amaury da Cunha, the French writer in residence at Randell Cottage in Thorndon, has spent much of his time working on a book about Minnie Dean the infamous ‘baby farmer’ in Southland, his research connecting him with Karen Zelas, the Christchurch author of ‘The Trials of Minnie Dean: A Verse Biography’, which is being developed into a one-woman play.

Both authors will be in conversation with publisher Mary McCallum at Vic Books Pipitea Campus, talking about their shared fascination and their research, which included use of the Alexander Turnbull Library and National Library archives.

First and only woman hanged in NZ
Minnie Dean’s story continues to fascinate people. She was the first — and only — woman to be hanged in New Zealand. But was she a baby farmer and child murderer, or hardworking wife and mother, supporting her family by caring for unwanted children in a society that shunned her?

Panel discussion led by Mary McCallum, Mākaro Press.

Free public talk
Don’t miss this free public discussion. Books on sale too!
Image: Detail of newspaper article ‘The Winton Child Murders’, Otago Daily Times, Issue 10455, 3 September 1895. CC BY-NC-SA