How to Run a National Poetry Day Event
Would you like to be part of National Poetry Day? Whether you're planning a poetry reading, workshop, competition, exhibition, open mic or something completely original, National Poetry Day is all about celebrating New Zealand poetry and poets in your community.
The 2026 Guidelines Pack is still available here. It includes step-by-step guidance on planning, registering, promoting, and running a National Poetry Day event.
Registrations for National Poetry Day 2026 have now closed. Thank you to everyone who registered an event this year. We invite you to explore our Calendar of Events and Competition Calendar to discover the wonderful poetry celebrations taking place across the motu.
Celebrating with our Future Poets!
Do you have a class or group you would like to involve in National Poetry Day? A keen small wordsmith? We have enlisted Aotearoa's much-loved children's poet, Paula Green, to provide guidance on the type of events you could run, the types of poem that young learners like, and a list of poetry resources from Aotearoa that you can use in your classes. Click here for the Schools Guide.
