Calendar of Events
WELCOME TO THE 2025 CALENDAR OF EVENTS!
With over 110 events confirmed across the motu — from city slams to rural rhyme nights — this year’s line-up is a powerful testament to the vitality of poetry in Aotearoa. It’s everywhere, and it’s more accessible than ever.
From verse on soda cans to typewriters on the street, hip hop gigs to inter-arts showcases, regional organisers have pulled out all the stops. There’s an inaugural Writers & Poets Festival in Kerikeri, a full week of celebrations in Invercargill — and so much more in between!
To help you find your nearest poetic fix, use the handy region tabs (below and left) to explore what’s happening near you — or venture further afield. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a curious newcomer, this is your invitation to be part of something big.
On Friday 22 August, let’s come together to celebrate the power of poetry — and watch it shine across the country!
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ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
Join editor and poet Nick Ascroft as he introduces a crackling selection of New Zealand poets from his edition of the annual online anthology Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems.
James Brown, Robin Peace, Simon Sweetman, Stacey Teague, Philomena Johnson, Kiri Piahana-Wong and Zephyr Zhang will read their work, and poems by the late Fleur Adcock, Vincent O’Sullivan and Paula Harris will also be celebrated in this warm-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day*.
Entry details: This event is open to the public and free of charge.
Date/Times: Monday 18 August 2025 | 12.15-1.15pm
Location: Rongomaraeroa, Te Marae, Level 4, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
Contact: katie.hardwick-smith@vuw.ac.nz | 04 463 6854
Further information: Go to the IIML website:https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletters/about/events/writers-mondays
(RE)GENERATION NEXT: THE POET LAUREATE STEPS DOWN
Chris will be joined by poets Ken Arkind, Cadence Chung, Gregory O'Brien, Chris Price, and Ruby Solly.
“I left the doors to the past and the future unlocked ...”
Chris Tse’s three-year term as Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate ends on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, when the next Poet Laureate will be announced.
Date and Time: Wednesday 20 August 2025, 6pm to 8pm
Location: Te Ahumairangi Ground Floor, National Library of New Zealand
Further Information: (Re)generation next: The Poet Laureate steps down | National Library of New Zealand
THE HOLY WAR IN A GLASS JAR: BOOK LAUNCH AND READING
Inshirah Mahal, Artist, Poet, Author will read excerpts from her debut work, The Holy War in a Glass Jar.
She will be joined by Kerry Dalton (WOMAD Poetry Slam Champion, Wellington Spirit of Slam Award). Both powerhouse writers are social activists engaged in making the world a safer place for children and other living creatures. It will be an evening of resonance and revelations with Imon Starr at the helm as MC.
It will be a night to remember!
Entry Details: Koha
Date/Times: August 21st from 5:30-7:30pm
Location: The Undercurrent Bookstore,118 Tory St, Te Aro
Contact: yogirah@hotmail.com
Further info: www.onelight.gallery/
Join us for a day of poetry where booksellers become the bards! Every hour, on the hour, one of our passionate booksellers will read aloud some of their much-loved poems. Whether it be a timeless verse, a forgotten gem or a new local favourite, we’d love for you to drop in, listen, and let poetry surprise you.
Entry Details: Free, no rsvp needed. Event open to everyone of all ages
Date/Times: Friday August 22nd, 9am-7pm
Location: Unity Books, 57 Willis St, Wellington Central. Contact: wellington@unitybooks.co.nz
Further Info: https://www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-events/poetry-day-stop-all-the-clocks
IT'S ALL DIMPLES THIS CITY: POEMS OF WELLINGTON AT UNITY
We are all agreed that there’s nothing like Wellington on a good day and there’s nothing, too, like a hui of Pōneke poets gathered in the city’s living room (yeah that’s Unity) to share their own poems and poems by others they admire that seek to capture the heart of this dimpled wind-blown harbour city.
Join us for a gorgeous and gritty lunchtime event to celebrate National Poetry Day. With Cadence Chung, Michael Fitzsimons, Fiona Kidman, Arihia Latham, Mary McCallum and Jackson McCarthy.
Entry details: Free
Date/Time: Friday 22 August, 12.30 – 1.30 pm
Location: Unity Books Wellington, 57 Willis St
Contact: hello@thecubapress.nz
LETTERPRESS LOVE-IN
Entry details: Free, event open to newbies and seasoned creatives alike.
Date/Times: Friday 22 August, 10am-4pm
Location: Wai-te-ata Press, Room 006 Rankine Brown Library, Gate 3, Kelburn Parade, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Campus, Wellington
Contact: Sydney Shep, wtapress@vuw.ac.nz
Further info: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/wtapress/about/events/national-poetry-day-2025
THWUP AND THE P IS FOR POETRY
Te Herenga Waka University Press brings you an all-star line-up of poets at the Undercurrent for this year’s Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day celebration. Including readings by: Nick Ascroft, Hinemoana Baker, Kate Camp, Leah Dodd, Sylvan Spring and Stacey Teague. Come through or the FOMO will come for you!
Te Herenga Waka University Press brings you an all-star line-up of poets at the Undercurrent for this year’s Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day celebration. Including readings by: Nick Ascroft, Hinemoana Baker, Kate Camp, Leah Dodd, Sylvan Spring and Stacey Teague. Come through or the FOMO will come for you!
Entry Details: Free. Open to all ages.
Date/Time: Friday 22 August, 6–7:30pm
Location: The Undercurrent, 118 Tory Street, Wellington
Contact: Always Becominging (always.becominging@vuw.ac.nz)
NZSA OPEN MIC + POETRY FROM THE WELLINGTON WRITERS WALK
Wellington poets read poetry from the Writers’ Walk PLUS Open Mic.
Entry Details: This is a free event. All welcome. Light refreshments. Sign up for Open Mic from 5:30pm.
Date/Times: Friday 22 July at 6pm
Location: Two/Fiftyseven, Level 2, 57 Willis Street, Wellington
Contact: Gigi Fenster: G.Fenster@massey.ac.nz
RANGITUHI/WRITINGS ACROSS THE SKY
Entry Details: Free, all ages
Date/Times: Friday 22 August. 6pm at Tawa Plaza (between the Main Road and New World) for open-air open mic.
Location: Tawa Plaza (opposite Essex Street), Main Road, Tawa (if the weather is wet, don't worry - we'll gather inside the sliding doors leading to New World)
Contact: Mark Edgecombe, mark.edgecombe@tac.org.nz; 021 204 3030
Further Info: Click here
ONE FOR THE ROAD
An intoxicating night of poetry reading at elixir, Pōneke's most enchanting boutique cocktail bar, featuring a diverse cast of queer poets including special guest essa may ranapiri! Come enjoy some fine food and drink and equally fine writing in the heart of the city, the Sunday after Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, for a classy way to top off a weekend of literary events in style.
Featuring: Alexandra Cherian, Cadence Chung, o(l(i)ve) (bly(th)), Joshua Toumu’a, and Kermit Winona.
Special thanks to Unity Books for having works from our featured readers available to purchase on the night.
Entry details: General Admission $15. Tickets available through Humanitix. Open to all (alcohol will not be served to minors).
When: Sunday, 24th August, 6:30pm. Doors open 6pm, poetry begins 6:30pm.
Where: elixir, 3 Chews Lane, Wellington
Contact: Alexandra Cherian | harshexciting@gmail.com
Further info: Instagram page | Facebook event | Humanitix link
THE GREAT LANDING PRESS QUIZ IS BACK!
📍 Newtown Community Centrem, corner of Colombo & Rintoul Streets, Newtown
🗓️ Sunday, 24 August | 4:00–6:00pm
💸 Entry: $10 + a donation to the Wellington City Mission Social Supermarket
Rally up your team and register by 18 August at landingpressnz@gmail.com (please include QUIZ in the subject line, including your preferred payment method)
MYTHS AND LEGENDS POETRY CHALLENGE WITH ESSA MAY RANAPIRI
essa may will be inspiring QMC students with their poetry based around myths and legends on 22 August
Entry Details: no cost
Date/Times: 22 August, all day in the QMC LIbrary
Location: Queen Margaret College Library
Contact: Jude Grogan
Further info: An anthology of poems collected from Queen Margaret College students will be published after the event.