Friday 28 August is National Poetry Day. Check out the National Poetry Day website to see what's happening in Ōtautahi Christchurch and Canterbury.
National Poetry Day competition
Write your own! In celebration of National Poetry Day, we are running a Poetry competition. Winners will have their poem printed on a tote bag and published on this very website!
Entries are open from 17 to 31 August. Find out more.
More Poetry
New poetry books coming soon
I'm looking forward to two new poetry books on their way in August and September:
- Dynamite by Megan Clayton, published by Sudden Valley Press
- Hide: a manuscript Rebecca Hawkes, published by ngā pukapuka pekapeka
Poetry at WORD Christchurch Festival
WORD Christchurch Festival 2026 is on from 1 to 6 September. Check out the Poetry lineup to see all the good poetry stuff that's happening including:
- Ōtautahi Youth Poetry Slam
- The Poetry Powerhouse
- Sonic Tonic: Words and Sound
- and a poetry workshop with local poet Joanna Preston.
Watch our interview with Apirana Taylor
Last year, 2024's winner of the Prime Minister's Achievement Award for Literature in the category of poetry, Apirana Taylor, appeared at an event at Tūranga. In this interview he talks with librarians Ngapiu and Julia about how came to poetry, how he works, and why he describes his poetry as being "like shaking someone's hand with one hand and slapping them in the face with the other" (35 mins).
Shout out for the NZ Poetry Shelf
If you like poetry, I highly recommend subscribing to poet, author, reviewer and anthologist Paula Green's wonderful NZ Poetry Shelf.
Here are some New Zealand poetry books published in 2025 and 2026, and a selection of the choice titles they contain. National Poetry Day 2026 is on Friday 28 August.
If you happen to walk down Victoria Street, you will be lucky enough to see Ōtākaro to Victoria by Hinemoana Baker.
Even more Poetry
Our poetry page including Aotearoa New Zealand poetry
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