The Poetry Powerhouse

Nam Le is the author of The Boat, On David Malouf, and 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem. His writing has won numerou

Poet and essayist Kate Camp was born in 1972 and lives in Wellington. She is the winner of many prestigious awards, incl

Ariana Tikao is a Kāi Tahu writer, musician and New Zealand Arts Laureate. Her work spans poetry, music and interdiscipl

Sara Qasem is a Palestinian New Zealand poet, writer, community advocate and educator based in Ōtautahi. Currently compl

Joanna Preston is a Tasmanaut poet, editor and ringmistress of The Poetry Class. Her second collection, tumble, won the

Rebecca Hawkes is a queer painter-poet from sheep and beef country near Methven. Her first book Meat Lovers (Auckland Un

Erik Kennedy is the author of three books of poems, most recently the Ockham-shortlisted Sick Power Trip (2025). Origina

Thursday, 3 September — 7:00pm – 9:30pm

The Ōtautahi Poetry Slam returns to WORD Christchurch! Poets will be throwing down like their lives depend on it, raisin

Wednesday, 2 September — 7:00pm – 9:30pm

Celebrate our rangatahi, what they have to say and the stories they want to share. Expect the voices of youth to speak t

Friday, 4 September — 8:30pm – 9:30pm

In Leather & Chains: My 1986 Diary, poet Kate Camp interrogates her teenage accounts of sex, drugs, and risk-taking. See