Winner announced - Sarah Broom Poetry Prize 2014

 C.K. Stead (Lett-photo Fairfax) was announced as the winner of the inaugural Sarah Broom Poetry Prize at the Auckland Writers' Festival on Sunday 18 May with  an audience of over 300

Stead is one of New Zealand's most prominent writers and critics, as well as a recipient of New Zealand’s highest honour (the Order of New Zealand), and the 2009 Montana Book Award for his Collected Poems, among numerous other awards.

The iconic New Zealand poet Sam Hunt was guest judge for 2014.  

 "Sitting in judgement on 3000 odd poems by 300 odd poets is a daunting task", says Hunt. "When poems of the voice and presence of Karl Stead’s come along, those hours of reading and listening, become more than worthwhile, they become a total pleasure."

Stead accepted the award via video on Sunday, as he is currently in Europe. "One is always delighted to win a literary prize", he says, "but this a very special one because Sarah Broom was a special person."

"I understand that this was a strong field, so that's reassuring at my age to be told that you are still in business."

 "I am delighted to have won, and I hope that the award continues and that it keeps, along with the poetry itself, the name of Sarah Broom alive to us all."

The Sarah Broom Poetry Prize was established to celebrate the life and work of Sarah Broom (1972-2013), author of Tigers at Awhitu and Gleam. 

 The prize of $12,000 was announced at the Auckland Writers' Festival, where shortlisted poets Emma Neale and Kirsti Whalen also read from their work.