Nafanua Purcell Kersel (Satupa‘itea, Faleālupo, Aleipata, Tuaefu) is a writer, poet and performer born in Sāmoa and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She holds an MA from the International Institute of Modern Letters and won the 2026 Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for Black Sugarcane. She lives in Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay.

What first drew you to poetry, and what keeps you coming back to it?

I started writing poetry as a teen in the 90s so what first drew me to it was popular culture — slow jams, rap and John Singleton's film Poetic Justice. I mean, who could resist Janet Jackson, Tupac, and Maya Angelou's poetry all in one film? So, I was trying to be cool and discovered that true to the movie, poetry was a useful tool for working through my emotions, observations, and angst. That's how it all started, but it's the catharsis, fun, and love of language that keep me coming back.

Tell us about your shortlisted collection. What inspired it, or what do you hope readers discover in its pages?

I was inspired by all the stories that I’ve carried in my life and wanted to create somewhere for the stories to live so that my children and ‘aiga could carry them too. I hope that readers find some feeling in the pages as well as maybe some new thoughts and comfort.

National Poetry Day is all about encouraging people to read and enjoy poetry. If you could recommend one poem (or poet) for someone who thinks poetry isn't for them, what would you choose and why?

I reckon people start close to home and experience contemporary, local poetry first. Better yet, get along to a slam or showcase to experience poetry in person. For page based, go for a pick n mix in the form of a journal or anthology. We have some stunning journals and anthologies by insightful editors here in Aotearoa.

Where do poems usually find you? Do you have a favourite place, ritual or unexpected moment when ideas tend to arrive?

I have a long and tangled list of words, ideas, half-sentences and quotes on my notes app. If I’m looking to create, I’ll start there. If nothing comes up, I’ll write by hand or freewrite in five-minute chunks and something usually comes up. Many of the poems from Black Sugarcane came to me as an idea or memory during my long, twice-weekly drives from Heretaunga to Pōneke. Some poems drop in just as I’m falling asleep, those ones are special.

Is there a line of poetry that has stayed with you over the years? We'd love to hear it (and why it continues to resonate).

I love the first stanza of Hone Tuwhare’s Rain
I can hear you/making small holes/in the silence/rain

To me, the pattern of the sounds and short lines feel like rain. Rain can be a romantic or emotionally loaded image/metaphor so I love how this poem is about and addressed to rain itself. There is a sincerity and reverence, and the rhythm of this first line reminds me of how we start a karakia or lotu with ‘e te atua’ or ‘tātou tatalo’.

Now that a little time has passed since the awards, what are you working on next, or what can readers look forward to from you?

I’ve been working on poems for another collection and started a script of Black Sugarcane during my residency at IIML last year. I’m studying theatre and dance producing with Lima Productions this year so I’m looking forward to putting that together with my script to bring Black Sugarcane to stage.