Bruce Bisset

Bruce Bisset is a fifth-generation pakeha (New Zealander of European descent) born a dairy-farmer's son in the Waikato, brought up in Auckland City, prominent later on Waiheke Island, who now lives in Hastings, Hawke's Bay. He was a professional performance poet in his homeland from 1979-86, publishing three volumes of poetry in that time. His first collection, "beginnings" (pub. 1979) was a best-seller in New Zealand, and he performed extensively throughout NZ, from street corners to hotels, universities, clubs, schools, and major festivals such as Nambassa and Sweetwaters, in company with most of the prominent poets and musicians of the time. Bisset has also been a journalist, corporate video writer/director, blues singer, environmental activist and newsletter editor, film and video technicians' guild co-ordinator, café/venue owner/manager (twice), elected local body politician (3 terms), and newspaper columnist. Pre-Covid he was a core organiser for the A/NZ branch of Extinction Rebellion as well as performing with his five-piece band, "Bruce Bisset and the Rural Voters".