It's National Poetry Day!
This year’s programme is packed with inventive events for every kind of poetry lover. Libraries across Aotearoa are leading the charge, with open mics, poetry competitions, workshops, slams, book launches and opportunities to write, swap and share poems.
Beyond the library walls, poetry will appear in windows, under a full moon, alongside music, and in conversations about the issues shaping Aotearoa. From spoken-word sessions for rangatahi to evenings with acclaimed poets, there are countless ways to join in.
'Poetry can be loud on street corners and billboards, or quiet in notebooks and living rooms,' says National Poetry Day Coordinator Gill Hughes. 'Whether someone is scribbling, performing or simply taking a moment to read, National Poetry Day is a chance for poetry to shine and for everyone to celebrate it in their own way.'
Explore the full programme on the National Poetry Day website, and celebrate today!
For poetry inspiration, check out these interviews with the four finalists in the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards:
Sophie van Waardenberg, author of Bad Apple
Anna Jackson, author of Terrior, Warrior
Erik Kennedy, author of Sick Power Trip
Nafanua Purcell Kersel, author of Black Sugarcane and Winner of the 2026 Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
