Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2025 celebrations: (Top L-R) Waiheke Poetry on the Pavement; Robert Sullivan’s poem on CBD building; Blackout Poetry at The Open Book, Ponsonby. (Centre L-R) Scots College students in Wellington; Poetry & Pizza in Levin; Open mic at Tawa’s Rangituhi/Writings Across the Sky; essa may ranapiri at One for the Road; (Bottom L-R) Paraparaumu Library crowd; poem by Harfateh, Glenbrook School; McAuley High School student; winning U18 Blackout Comp entry; Botany Downs Primary School’s magnetic board

Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2025 lit up Aotearoa like never before, says national coordinator Gill Hughes.

“After a lively week of warm‑up events, the celebration reached its crescendo on Friday 22 August, when poems blossomed in classrooms, spilled into streets, filled libraries and pubs, and shimmered across social feeds.”

More than 110 events unfolded nationwide — some small and intimate, others swelling to 200 voices — and everywhere the feeling crackled with energy.

Organisers and participants captured the mood:
“Love it! Got so much joy and connection from it this year.”
“An awesome celebration of poetry around Aotearoa.”
“A highlight of the year.”

Young voices were front and centre. Schools and libraries buzzed with blackout poems, scavenger hunts, slams, zines, and storytimes. Bookshelves became canvases through the inaugural Great NZ Poetry Display-Off Challenge, turning quiet corners of libraries and bookshops into vibrant showcases.

A constellation of highlights shone bright: the electrifying Wordcore Wayfinders showcase in West Auckland dazzling a 100-strong crowd; Invercargill Public Library’s week-long festival; Tawa’s welcoming multigenerational open mic; a jubilant 200 poetry lovers gathering at Paraparaumu Library; Scots College in Wellington staging an inventive library takeover; and a moving tribute to Central Otago poet Brian Turner that drew a devoted audience of 100 in Alexandra.

Adding to the day’s glow was the announcement of Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu) as New Zealand Poet Laureate 2025–2028 — a moment that captured national media attention and sent another powerful surge of delight across the motu.

And organisers, once again, found the words:
“It felt like this year had a lot of good energy … we thrive on collaboration and it felt like that was everywhere.”
“Wonderful to see so many events across the motu, including schools. It had a much higher profile this year with a huge number of events.”
And perhaps most fitting of all: “Can’t wait to do it again next year.”

We can’t wait either. The 2026 Calendar of Events will be revealed mid-year.