Robert Sullivan is the new Poet Laureate
Today’s Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day festivities are further elevated by the announcement of Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu) as New Zealand Poet Laureate for 2025–2028, an honour conferred this morning by the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.
Today’s National Poetry Day festivities are further elevated by the announcement of Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu) as New Zealand Poet Laureate for 2025–2028, an honour conferred this morning by the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.
Robert’s recent collection, Hopurangi — Songcatcher: Poems from the Maramataka (Auckland University Press), was recently shortlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards—a reflection of his ongoing impact on the Aotearoa literary landscape.
Over his celebrated career, he has been recognised with the Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award, the Lauris Edmond Memorial Award, a Montana New Zealand Book Award, and more.
Acting National Librarian Te Pouhuaki, Gina Smith, describes him as “a poet who amplifies Māori and Pacific voices with thoughtful engagement in complex cultural narratives … he holds considerable mana and leads with grace and humility.”
On his appointment, Robert reflects: “I’m very grateful for this laureateship. It recognises the continuum of Māori poets publishing such rich, vibrant work . . . they inspire me—through seeing our tūpuna in their soulful words.”
Robert will be marking Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day by joining Otago poets at The Athenaeum & Mechanics’ Institute in Dunedin this evening, and he’s among featured writers at the inaugural Northland Writers, Readers & Poets Festival in Kerikeri next weekend.
See more from Robert on the official Poet Laureate blog.