To mark the 20th anniversary of Phantom Billstickers National
Poetry Day (NPD), 20 leading Kiwi poets were asked to select one of their own
poems, something they felt spoke to New Zealanders now. They also chose a poem
by an emerging poet, writers they feel make essential reading for us in 2017.
The result is the 20/20 Collection – 40 poems by New
Zealand poets who represent the diversity and vibrancy of talent in our
contemporary national literature. The list includes Poet Laureates, Ockham New
Zealand Book Awards winners, and strong new voices from recent collections and
anthologies.
NPD has been running continuously since 1997 and is
always celebrated on the last Friday in August. Poetry enthusiasts from all
over New Zealand organise a feast of events – from poetry slams to flash and
pop-up events – in venues that include schools, libraries, bars, galleries,
surf clubs, and parks. This year’s NPD will be held on Friday 25 August.
Launched today, the 20/20 Collection will be published in groups of ten
poems between now and NPD. Featured poets are: Jenny Bornholdt and her pick,
Ish Doney; Paula Green and Simone Kaho; Vincent O’Sullivan and Lynley Edmeade;
Apirana Taylor and Kiri Piahana Wong; Alison Wong and Chris Tse; Tusiata Avia
and Teresia Teaiwa; Kevin Ireland and Gregory Kan; Diana Bridge and John
Dennison; Andrew Johnston and Bill Nelson; Michael Harlow and Paul Schimmel;
C.K. Stead and Johanna Emeney; David Eggleton and Leilani Tamu; Elizabeth
Smither and Rob Hack; Richard Reeve and Michael Steven; Robert Sullivan and
Ngahuia Te Awekotuku; Bill Manhire and Louise Wallace; Selina Tusitala Marsh
and Reihana Robinson; Cilla McQueen and David Holmes; James Norcliffe and
Marisa Capetta; and Brian Turner and Jillian Sullivan.
Paula Morris, NPD spokesperson for the New Zealand Book Awards Trust,
said that she was “excited to see the range of voices selected here, and the
ethnic and geographic diversity in the poets chosen by our twenty established
writers. This list speaks to a 'new' New Zealand literature, and reflects how
much our culture is changing and growing.”
Many of the poets featured in the 20/20 Collection will take part in
events on 25 August, Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2017. Event
organisers are encouraged to register their poetry event online as soon as
possible: http://www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/how-to-register-your-event/.
Now into their second year of naming rights sponsorship of National
Poetry Day, Phantom
Billstickers will support NPD and 20/20 on the ground, online and in print,
with funky billstickers that celebrate our nation’s poets. Business Development
Manager Kelly Wilson says, “If given a platform, poetry speaks to
people. We are very proud at Phantom to support National Poetry Day and
provide platforms all around the country for the poetic voice of New Zealand.”
Phantom Billstickers National
Poetry Day is proudly administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust.
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