The Place Where James K. Baxter Died (544 Glenfield Road)

One of New Zealand’s most famous poets died here in October 1972. James K. Baxter was 46 years old and had been to the nearby doctor’s office with chest pains. Nobody knows what happened at the doctor’s. When he came out, he tried to ring Jean Tuwhare, the friend with whom he was staying, from the nearby phone box. There was no answer. Baxter was obviously desperate. He staggered across the road and knocked on the door of 544. There he died on the couch sometime later. The paper reported:

James K Baxter walked off the street into a young Glenfield motor mechanic’s home on Sunday to die among people he had never met.

Cross Glenfield Road at the crosswalk and turn right.