Ruth Dallas (1919-2008) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most distinguished poets. Among other awards and recognition, she held the Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago, received an honorary Doctor of Literature from the same university, and was awarded a CBE for her services to literature.

Nicola Cummins is based in Ōtepoti Dunedin and teaches on the English and Linguistics Programme at the University of Otago.