National Poetry Day – Interactive, Multi-dimensional and Fun!

New Zealand throws itself into the arms of bards on Friday 27 July – National Poetry Day.

Now in its 15^th year, National Poetry Day sees poets - both fledgling and award-winning - take to the streets, cafes, auditoriums and class rooms all over the country to read, rap, dance and sing.

The breadth and diversity of this year’s National Poetry Day performances are cause for celebration says event organiser and published poet, Siobhan Harvey.

“More than ever before the shows are interactive and visual, and there are some truly creative events using multi-media.

“There’s something for everyone. National Poetry Day isn’t just for established poets; it’s also for people who simply want to give poetry a go. So if you harbour a desire to perform a piece of your own, this is the day to throw caution to the wind.”

Audiences can enjoy performances from well known poets such as Poet Laureate - Ian Wedde, Bill Manhire,  Stephanie Johnson and Michele Leggott in addition to their own local poetry heroes.

A few of National Poetry Day’s highlights this year are:

• Auckland - Howick. Uxbridge Creative Centre. Korero Exhibition: bringing poetry and art together. From Friday 13^th July. An exhibition of 18 artworks produced in response to 18 poems. Free.

·       Auckland – Newmarket. Chalking Newmarket. Noon – 1pm, Friday 27^th July 2012 Station Square. An opportunity for poets, known and unknown to write their poetry on the paving of the square. Free.

• Auckland – Eden Terrace. Art Hotel. 7 p.m. onwards, Friday 27^th July at Split/fountain, 3C/ 23 Dundonald Street. A collaboration between poet and writer Wystan Curnow and architect Dino Chai, Art Hotel explores phenomenology, memory and the poetics of space. Curnow will present a poetry reading within an installation by Chai designed especially to stage the event.
• Katikati. Having Fun with Poetry visits local primary schools getting children involved with different forms of poetry. Friday 27 July. Omokaroa Point School 10.30 -11.30am, Matahui Road School 1.30 – 2.30pm.
• Tauranga. Loose Canons. 6.30 p.m. onwards, Friday 27^th July, No 1 The Strand. Marcel Currin,  Shona-Ellen Barnett,  Owen Bullock readings and open mike night.
• Taupo. Poetry Day with Vivienne Plumb. Friday 27^th  July. Midday – 1.30 pm:  Taupo Postshop Readings, Postshop, Horomatangi Street. A free event featuring Vivienne Plumb reading from her work, along with readings by members of the Live Poets Group.
• Hawke’s Bay. Live Poets Society’s Live Poetry Readings. Taradale Senior Citizens Lounge, off White Street. 11.15am – Midday, Friday 27^th July.  Four Hawke's Bay poets: Ian McQuillan, Dorothy Wharehoka, Fraser Duncan and Laura Morris will read their work.
• Palmerston North. Poetry Picnic Lunch. Midday onwards, Friday 27^th July, 2012. Ground Floor, Palmerston North City Library. A picnic lunch with invited poets reading, food and food related poetry. Free.
• Upper Hutt. An evening with New Zealand’s Poet Laureate, Ian Wedde. 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm, Friday 27^th July, Rotary Lounge, Upper Hutt City Library.
• Wellington. Best New Zealand Poems ll. 12.15 - 1.15 p.m., Monday 23^rd July. The Marae, Level 4, The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. A curtain raiser for National Poetry Day, Chris Price introduces a baker’s dozen of the 25 poets whose work was chosen by last year’s editor, Bernadette Hall, for the online anthology Best New Zealand Poems 2011. We welcome Hera Lindsay Bird, Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle, Janis Freegard, Rob Hack, Dinah Hawken, Anna Jackson, Helen Lehndorf, Kate McKinstry, Bill Manhire, Harvey Molloy, Marty Smith, Ranui Taiapa and Tim Upperton.
• Wellington. Capital Poetry Marathon. 9am – 5pm, 27^th July. Bucket Fountain, Cuba Mall. Eight hours of non-stop poetry - YOU, the public are the stars. Just turn up with your poems and perform! It’s FREE to watch and FREE to perform.
• Nelson. Poetry Afternoon Tea. Friday 27^th July. Page & Blackmore Booksellers, 254 Trafalgar Street. Have afternoon tea with us, and read your favourite poem. Poems can be old, new, borrowed or your own. Open mic session - all welcome.
• Greymouth. Poems for all Seasons. 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm, Friday 2^7th July Grey District Library. A community poetry reading featuring original ‘Seasons’ poems by West Coasters. Free
• Christchurch. Poets Respond to the Quake. 12.30 – 1.30 p.m. Friday 27^th July Canterbury University Bookshop. Participants are invited to submit a poem of between 10 and 20 lines on the theme My Quake Nightmare. Entries dropped off in person or posted into UBS Canterbury by 20^th July. There will be 10 winners. The first 5 win $50 book vouchers and the next 5 each win a copy of Shaken Down 6.3. The winners of the poetry competition will be invited to read their poems at a Poets Respond to the Quake event.
• Dunedin. Poetry Portal. 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m., Friday 27^th July. Port Chalmers Library. Enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles in the company of six Dunedin poets. MC – Emma Neale.

For a full list of National Poetry Day events go to www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz.

New Zealand Post Book Awards – Poetry category finalists.

This year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards judges’ convenor, Chris Bourke says National Poetry Day contributes to poetry’s increasing popularity in New Zealand.

“There were 24 poetry collections entered in this year’s Awards, almost as many as the number of submitted novels. They each underline local publishers’ commitment to quality writing and to maintaining a strong poetry presence.

“Such quality made the selection of a shortlist extremely tough,” says Mr Bourke.

The finalists in the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards Poetry Category are: The leaf-ride by Dinah Hawken (Victoria University Press), Shift by Rhian Gallagher (Auckland University Press) and Thicket by Anna Jackson (Auckland University Press).

All three poetry category finalists are taking part in National Poetry Day events as well as this year’s NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry winner, John Adams. 

The Poetry Category winner will be announced together with all other Category winners, the People’s Choice Award winner and the overall New Zealand Post Book of the Year at a gala dinner to be held at the Auckland Museum on Wednesday 1 August 2012 .

New Zealand Post’s sponsorship of the national book awards reflects their long-standing support for literacy and education.   They maintain that focus throughout the year with initiatives such as ReadWriteGrow.co.nz, creative writing contests for school students, and the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards which they have sponsored for the past 16 years.  That commitment to promoting literacy, excellence in writing and the joy of reading sees New Zealand Post play a key role in supporting other champions of literature, such as Booksellers NZ, to promote and reward local literary talent.

The 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards are also funded by Creative New Zealand. The Awards are managed by Book Awards Governance Group, administered by Booksellers NZ and supported by the New Zealand Society of Authors and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd.