Eleanor Catton is standing firm, making it clear she will continue to speak freely and express her opinion.

The award-winning author says she has been doing so to foreign journalists ever since she was first published overseas.

In a statement, she says she has criticised the Key Government, neo-liberal values, and a culture of anti-intellectualism many times.

She says the truly shocking thing would be the writer who only spoke in praise of her country

Catton says in future interviews with foreign media, she will of course discuss the inflammatory, vicious, and patronising things that have been broadcast and published in New Zealand this week.

She says she will also speak about what she terms a "frightening swiftness with which the powerful Right move to discredit and silence those who question them, and the culture of fear and hysteria that prevails".

However she says she will hope for better, and demand it.