Calling all poets aged teens to 25-ish!
YOUNG POETS VIDEO CHALLENGE: "YOUR POEM, YOUR WAY"
Whether you’re a page poet, a performance pro, or just starting to experiment with words, this is your moment to jump in and celebrate the power of poetry on your own terms.
The Challenge
Create a video (90 seconds or less) that brings a poem to life — in your voice, your style, your way.
- Read it, rap it, whisper it, perform it — whatever feels real
- It can be your own poem or a favourite by someone else
- Think creatively: location, lighting, camera angle, outfit, props, editing — all up to you
How to Enter
- Post your video between Monday 18 August and Friday 22 August on your TikTok or Instagram account
- Mention that you're helping celebrate Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day
- Use the hashtag #NZPoetryDay
- Tag us @nzpoetryday
The most creative video will win a bundle of five hot new poetry books, hand-picked for you — worth around $150.
We may also feature standout entries on our own social channels, so your work could end up in the national spotlight.
Want to be featured?
We’d love to amplify your voice. DM us your video or email us a link only (no attachments over 5MB) to poetryday@nzbookawards.nz so we don’t miss it — and we can share it too!
Spread the word
If you're part of a youth poetry group, school lit club, or know a few other writers — invite them to join in! Let’s flood the internet with poetry in the week leading up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day.