National Poetry Day - Events 2010

The Great Wall of Words
9am Friday 30th July 2010 (for unveiling, with the wall remaining in place for recreational recitations July 30th - August 14th, 2010).
STORYTIME, The Strand on Vine, Whangarei CBD 
 
The Great Wall of Words is built out of your poems. This year’s theme is ‘Lovely, Lively Limericks’ and poems can be submitted from all over Northland and beyond and will be on display in the main window of STORYTIME.  Entries must be received on an A4 piece of paper by July 19th 2010, and chosen entries will form bricks in the wall for display.  Be present for the wall’s unveiling on National Poetry Day, 9am. In the days following, visit to view and give voice to the varied verse! 
 
Please contact STORYTIME on 09-438-4406 or by email storytime@clear.net.nz for more information.

See http://northlandpoetry.wordpress.com

Northland celebrates National Poetry Day this year with a series of collaborative events hosted by the Whangarei Writers’ Workshop and the NZSA Northland, in collaboration with Whangarei's Mid Winter Arts Festival.
 
Workshops, readings, performances, and contests from July 24th – 30th July include:

1) Poetry Contests with cash awards – two categories: Old Hat Poets (published) and New Hat Poets (unpublished). Submissions deadline July 10th. Submissions by email: npdnorthland@gmail.com; .doc or pdf files only; submit title only, not author name.

2) Poetry Contest winners announced at July 29th Poetry Night honouring Rosalie Carey at the Nectar Café, 5-8pm, with late-night poetry at the Butter Factory, 8pm til… Performances and awards.

3) Voices in Action workshop: poets speak out! Saturday July 24th, Old Library, 10 am – 4 pm.

4) Poetry and Prose workshop and collaborative community poetry, Friday July 30th

For further information on all workshops and poetry readings, please email Michelle Elvy from Whangarei Writers Workshop on npdnorthland@gmail.com
 

More information on the competition website http://nzpdpa.blogspot.com/ or contact us on the competition email rodneylibraries@yahoo.com.au
 

Poetry Reading at Wellsford Library
5.15pm – 6.30 pm, Friday 30th July 2010
Wellsford Library, 120 Rodney Street, Wellsford
 
Local poets will recite their works, other attendees are encouraged to read their favourite poems, or just come along and listen.
 
Entry is free and open to all to attend. Free drinks and food provided.

Hibiscus Coast Poetry Evening    
7.00 – 9.00 pm, Friday 30th July 2010
Walnut Cottage Café, Orewa

A charming local café has agreed to host this inaugural Poetry Day event for Hibiscus Coast. We are contacting all local book clubs, writing clubs and Libraries to promote the event, along with the local book stores. It will be low-key, with people registering to present poems (their own or others) and others will come to enjoy the poetry.

Contact Bronwen on bron_aotearoa@yahoo.co.nz for further information   

A lunchtime feast of poetry with established poets Riemke Ensing, Kevin Ireland and Stephanie Johnson in conversation poet and National Poetry Day Coordinator, Siobhan Harvey. Come hear the quartet read their poems and talk about their poetic influences and inspirations.
 
Entry is free and open to all to attend. So bring your lunch and come enjoy an hour of poetry readings and discussion. For further information, contact Auckland Art Gallery on 09 307 4540.
 

Poetry Live, Auckland’s longest running live poetry event, honours their favourite living New Zealand poets and celebrates their connections. Poets from the community are invited to perform work inspired by or actually be their favourite living New Zealand poet as part of open mic. Well known New Zealand poets including Albert Wendt and Kevin Ireland will read their work and a poem by one of their favourite living poets as part of the feature event. Prizes will be given out for best performance and best poem.

Entry to the reading is open to all 18 years and over. Cost – koha. Email poetrylive@gmail.com for further information.
 

Mt Albert Library is coordinating the annual poetry writing competition open to members of Auckland City Libraries.  Entries can be submitted via our website www.aucklandcitylibraries.com or by collecting an entry form and depositing it with your poem at any Auckland City Library by 16th July.  There will be 3 categories - under-14 years, 14-18 years and adult (over 18) with prizes in each category.
N.B. poems will not be returned so do keep a copy of your own. 

The poems will be judged by a committee of librarians including Iain Sharp.  Finalists’ poems will be bound into a book and added to the Auckland City Libraries collection.  At Mt Albert Library on National Poetry Day each finalist will receive his or her own bound copy of the publication, and the winner in each category will be announced, and prizes presented.
 

Guerrilla Poets in the Street
11.30 am – 2 pm, Friday 30th July 2010
Karangahape Road, Auckland.

Come join the Guerrilla Poets for a poetry chalking event in the central city to celebrate National Poetry Day 2001.
 
Email Miriam Barr on miriamtbarr@gmail.com for further information.

In conjunction with Auckland University Press and National Poetry Day we bring you a chance to share your love of poetry. Hang your poems from our in store Poetree from Friday 23rd July. Also hear poet Bob Orr and guests reading their own work and sharing the life and stories it represents.
 
Entry is free and open to all to attend. Free drinks and food provided. Email Andrew and Russell on ponsonby@dymocks.co.nz for further information and to register your wish to attend for catering purposes.
 

Auckland Central City Library will host an evening of readings by young people from all around Auckland who took part in the "A million poems for Matariki" Community Poetry Project, and from poets Michele Leggott, Selina Tusitala Marsh and Paula Green who worked with them. Special guest Cilla McQueen, New Zealand Poet Laureate, will start the evening with a reading of her own.

Entry is free. Email Karen Craig on Karen.Craig@aucklandcity.govt.nz for further information.
 

The Divine Muses Poetry Reading marks its 7th birthday with a line-up of 9 stellar poets reading their work and their favourite poems. This year’s line-up includes 2010 Buddle Finlay Sargeson fellow Sonya Yelich, poet, editor and academic Harry Ricketts, poet and Poetry New Zealand editor Alistair Paterson and poets Riemke Ensing, Stu Bagby, Sarah Broom, Gus Simonovic, Kirsten Warner and Siobhan Harvey.

All welcome. Entry is free. Seating provided. There’ll be a free poetry prize draw. For further information, please contact Auckland Art Gallery on 09 307 4540 or, to reserve a seat, email Siobhan Harvey on siobhanhrvy@gmail.com.
 

The theme of National Poetry Day this year is poetry in the community — how poetry engages with people on the street, in their homes, work-spaces and community centres. Come along and engage with our line-up: Selina Tusitala-Marsh; Kevin Ireland; Raewyn Alexander; Doug Poole; Courtney Meredith; Mark Pirie; Janet Charman; Daniel Larsen; Ross Brighton and Ila Selwyn with music by John Ellis, Lance McNicole and Denny Boreham as the Treetop Trio.

This event is always a sell out so book early, 817 8087 x201 or email info@lopdell.org.nz. $10 entry.
 

The Library invites all to come to hear and read poetry. The public are invited to read their own poetry or recite from a favourite poet of their choosing.

Please contact Claire Brooking from the Library on CBrooking@mpdc.govt.nz for further information.
 

Loose Canons begins at 6.30 pm when the stars come out. Words and music from visiting poets and musicians. Northern Horde’s re-enactment of Beowulf’s slaying of the monster Grendel. Sign up for open mike presented by Bravado with prizes and surprises. Gold coin entry.

For more information contact Tauranga Writers - tel 07 576 3040, txt 027 316 31 93 or email twinfo@clear.net.nz.)
 

Follow the clues and find the lost poem, line by line. If you find a line, bring it into the Waikato Museum to claim a small reward. For more information, check out the Waikato Times on Thursday, July 22 or visit www.waikatomuseum.co.nz.
 

Poetry in Our Place – Taupo
3.30 pm Thursday 29th July to 1 pm Friday 30th July 2010
Various Venues – See Programme Below

1) Coffee and Cake with Chris Price
3.30 pm – 4.30 pm, Thursday 29th July.
 Bookshop, Tongariro Street

2) Poetry and You
10 am – 11 am, Poetry Day: Friday 30th July.
Taupo Library
Chris Price and 3 local poets discuss and perform their work.

3) Poetry in the Workplace
12 pm – 1 pm, Friday 30th July.
NZ Post Shop, Horomatangi Street
Personalities and poets read originals and favourites

4) Competition: Poem on a Postcard
Entry forms at Taupo Library, and NZ Post Shops: Taupo and Turangi

All events free and welcome to all. For further details email Patricia McKenzie at dsign@actrix.co.nz.

Gaye Hemsley Children's Dance Teacher & author will visit two schools in Western Bay of Plenty. She will do sessions with juniors getting the children acting out her 'Dance a Poem' books which are set to music. She will also read poems she remembers from her childhood. The upper juniors will play rhyming games and create their own poetry. On the program will be introduction to haiku and limericks.

The small town of Katikati has a well known Haiku Path. All the adults have to do is take a walk in the Haiku path and write down one of the poems, post this to Gaye to go in the draw to win a bottle of wine and box of chocolates.

For further information, please contact Gaye Hemsley by email on gaye@christinaproductions.co.nz

Sam Hunt Encore Concert
All Day, Friday 30th July, 2010
Pipi Café, 16 Joll Road, Havelock North

On National Poetry Day last year a small audience at Pipi was privileged to experience the incomparable live talents of Sam Hunt. Those lucky enough to be in attendance at the show described it in glowing terms, earning the envy of those who had missed out. Accordingly it is with no small amount of pleasure Pipi Cafe announces that Sam Hunt has agreed to return - with an encore concert on National Poetry Day 2010. Those unfortunate enough to have missed out on Sam Hunt's last show will now have the opportunity to experience firsthand the exceptional live performance that had the audience captivated. This year appearing with Sam will be his dear friend Barry Saunders, lead singer of the legendary Warratahs.

Please contact Pipi Cafe and Poesy Bread, 16 Joll Rd, Havelock North on 06 877 8993 or see their website www.pipicafe.co.nz for further details.

Poets to the People Poetry Day Vigil
7 pm - 9.30 pm, Thursday July 29th, 2010
Paraparaumu Library, Rimu Road, Paraparaumu.

A celebration and reading of New Zealand poetry. Guest poets Adrienne Jansen and friends will perform poetry with poems to music; in foreign and sign language. Open mic. competition first for your own poems of no more than ten lines. Prizes by secret audience ballot. Other poetic activities and New Zealand poetry books for sale.

Free entry, wine, juice and nibbles provided. All welcome. Come along and celebrate poetry!

Information: gillii@paradise.net.nz

Whitireia Poetry Reading
10 – 11 am, Friday 6th August
Mana College, Porirua

Poetry at Mana College: Whitireia students and tutors read and talk about their work with poetry enthusiasts at Mana College.

Contact Mary-Jane Duffy on Mary-Jane.Duffy@whitireia.ac.nz for further information.

Read a poem to win a chocolate fish, recite a poem from memory and win two
chocolate fish. (Poems in Te Reo or English)   Two sessions: 1pm to 2pm, and 4pm to 5pm.

For more information, contact Mary Buckner on MaryB@library.mstn.govt.nz or check online at www.library.mstn.govt.nz
 

National Poetry Day Readings from local poets: Anna Livesey and Ingrid Horrocks
Noon to 1pm Fri 30 July
Hedleys Booksellers, 150 Queen St, Masterton

Make next Friday a whole lot better.
Bring your sandwiches and have a tea or coffee courtesy of Hedleys.
Anna and Ingrid will read from their works and sign copies on request.

Ph 06 3782875, email: sales@hedleysbooks.co.nz

Annual Upper Hutt Poetry Competition
Heartland Poetry - Poems about your Community
Entries Close: Friday 16th July 2010

The National Poetry Day theme is ‘Poetry in the Community’; we are looking for your poems about your community.  We welcome the widest interpretation of community — not just the neighbourhood or city you live in but any community that is important to you — a sporting community perhaps, or an academic community or even a virtual community.

Prizes:  Book tokens for the best three poems: 1st $200.00; 2nd $100.00, 3rd $50.00.  Each prize-winner will also receive a year’s subscription to Valley Micropress, a monthly poetry magazine, and local finalists will be invited to read on National Poetry Day.  Winners announced Friday 30th July 2010 at evening poetry event.  Subsequently, a selection of poems will be published in the form of a commemorative booklet.

Entry forms from www.upperhuttcity.com  or  www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz
Contact Tennille Maxey at Upper Hutt City Library – (04) 527 2132.

We are privileged to have Jenny Bornholdt visit us as part of our Poetry Day celebrations. One of New Zealand’s first five Poets Laureate, Jenny Bornholdt is a well-regarded poet and anthologist. This visit to Upper Hutt is long overdue!
 

Continuing the regular meetings of ‘Poets’ Corner’, we are taking advantage of the renovations at the Library to hold this meeting next door in the foyer of Expressions. Linking in with the featured display - a statue of James K Baxter around a camp fire – we are creating our very own camp-fire experience!

This is an open invitation to bring along your own poems and your favourite campfire poems and read them to the group. The session will be fronted by Tony Chad, who will supplement the group’s poems with a wide range of work by New Zealand and international poets. The wonderful Library staff will serve their normal coffee and tea, but will also have milo with marshmallows and breakfast sausages in bread with lashings of tomato sauce!
 

Upper Hutt holds a Community Poetry Reading to mark the 10th celebration of holding Poetry Day events.  Our favourite poet Sam Hunt, who has performed for six of the ten years in Upper Hutt, will send us a recorded message of congratulations to share with the audience. We will have readings from up to 10 local finalists from the annual competition, and the audience will have a chance to vote for their favourite performer - “The People’s Choice”. This winner will receive a special prize.
Mayor Wayne Guppy is expected to make the presentations.
 

Come and hear some great poets, including David Geary, Adrienne Jansen and others in an imaginative fund-raiser for Tawa-Titahi Bay Pacific group, Pumanawa Rangatira. We’ve been invited to Hawai'i, to the Pu’ukohola, a four-day celebration of tradition, history, geneaology and language. Enjoy good poems, tasty finger-food, and find out more about us. 

For more information contact: Puawai Swindells: 027 747 5478
 

Bill Manhire will launch DUETS - a series of books that pairs poets from New Zealand and the United States.  Poetry reading featuring James Brown, Joan Fleming and Sam Sampson.  

Entry is free and there will be a complimentary glass of wine on arrival.  Books will be on sale.  Please RSVP to ackmiller@gmail.com

As a curtain-raiser for Poetry Day, the International Institute of Modern Letters presents readings by writers whose poems appear in the 2009 edition of Best New Zealand Poems www.vuw.ac.nz/bestnzpoems (edited by Scottish Poetry Library director Robyn Marsack), including Geoff Cochrane, Lynn Davidson, Lynn Jenner, Gregory O’Brien, Chris Price, Marty Smith, Tim Upperton, Louise Wallace, Ian Wedde and Ashleigh Young. Jenny Bornholdt introduces them.

This event is part of Victoria University’s Writers on Mondays http://www.victoria.ac.nz/modernletters/about/events/writers-mondays.aspx series.  Entry is free, all welcome.
 

Book Launch - Lives of the Poets & Dear Sweet Harry
6-7.30pm, Friday 30 July 2010
Unity Books, Wellington

Auckland University Press and Victoria University Press invite you to celebrate National Poetry Day 2010 and the publication of:

LIVES OF THE POETS by JOHN NEWTON, published by Victoria University Press and
DEAR SWEET HARRY by LYNN JENNER, published by Auckland University Press

A special invite has been made to all the worthy Ballroom Café Poets to read at this event to celebrate New Zealand Poets. First, several children will share their poems and then it’s the adults’ turn to read in the Open Mic section. Free entry.

For further information contact: Neil at ballroompoetrycafe@gmail.com or Marie at marie.murdoch@paradise.net.nz
 

The first winners of the junior and senior Newlands College Poetry competition will be announced at a poetry reading in the library to celebrate National Poetry day.

Local poet and fiction writer Tim Jones will announce the winners. The winners will read their own work and there will also be readings from a selection of well-known poets.

Entry is free and open to all to Newlands College students and their families to attend.
Attendees will also be able to order a copy of a poetry zine featuring competition entrants which will be launched in early August.
 

Come to Poetry at OUR Edge of the Universe for a free evening of poetry performance, music, art, audience competitions and costume characters.
Hosted by the award-winning Bettys, you will be treated to performances from jazz/rock band Freaky Meat and celebrated poets James Brown, Hinemoana Baker, Ingrid Horrocks and Anna Livesey while poetry is projected on the walls. Wandering IIML Masters poet characters will await you for up-close-and-personal poetry readings - choose from, the Minstrel, Wood Nymph, Salvadore Dali, a Geisha Madam, Warrior Princess or Wartime Belle. Have more than one...or find the ‘plain-clothes’ poet for a free drink.

Let your inner poet out to play in the audience poem competition - bring a poem or write one on the night; winners will be awarded prizes and invited to read.

All are welcome and entry is free, mark 30th July in your diary, or email Simone at misskaho@hotmail.com for more info.

In the week leading up to National Poetry Day, we invite you to help build up our Poetry Wall. Come into the shop and add a poem of your choice. It can be anything – from Winnie-the-Pooh to a Shakespearean sonnet or James K Baxter - or one you knocked up in your lunch-time. We want the wall completely filled.

On the day, come and join us for a feast of poetry, including the launch of a new poetry book, Guarding the Cellar Door by Linda Connell (Steele Roberts) and performances by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Roger Hickin, Tusiata Avia, Micah Timona-Ferris and writers from the School for Young Writers.

Tea and coffee provided – bring your sandwiches and join us in celebrating a very special National Poetry Day.
 

You are invited to a celebratory evening of poetry and victuals to warm your “vitals”. Entry is free. Poets and listeners of all stages and ages welcome! (Food sponsored by Airing Cupboard Women Poets).

 For further information, email Mck-H@hotmail.com.
 

Meet Brian Turner
2.30 pm onwards, Friday 30 July, 2010
Oamaru Library, Oamaru

Oamaru Library hosts a poetry reading and discussion with National Book Award: Poetry finalist, Brian Turner. Brian will speak about his wide-ranging interests including his finalist collection Just This.

For further information contact Jean Rivett on jrivett@waitaki.govt.nz.