New Zealand Poet Laureate

The New Zealand Poet Laureate Award was established in August 2007. It is funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by the National Library of New Zealand. The New Zealand Poet Laureate Award is based on the Te Mata Estate New Zealand Poet Laureate established in 1996, which it superseded.

Te Mata Estate New Zealand Poet Laureate Award – Te Mata website

New Zealand Poet Laureate 2009-2011

Bluff poet Cilla McQueen is the current Poet Laureate. Her appointment was announced in July 2009.

More about Cilla McQueen's appointment

You can learn about Cilla and her activities on the New Zealand Poet Laureate blog.

Inaugural Poet Laureate, 2007-2009

Michele Leggott was the first New Zealand Poet Laureate. Michele recorded her experiences as Poet Laureate on the New Zealand Poet Laureate blog.

Role of the Poet Laureate

The role of the New Zealand Poet Laureate will be shaped by the skills and experience the appointed poet brings to the position.

The Poet Laureate will:

Have made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand poetry
Be an accomplished and highly regarded poet
Be able to adequately fulfil the public role required of a Poet Laureate
Be a strong advocate for poetry.

The Poet Laureate may create work in any or all of the official languages of New Zealand.

Key accountabilities include:

Producing a collection of poems of publishable quality
Hosting, as required from time to time, poetry-related functions/activities
Seeking to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry
Archiving creative/work processes with the National Library of New Zealand
Time spent at the National Library in Wellington during the laureateship, this may include using the collections and facilities and/or hosting events.

Administration of the Award

The National Library of New Zealand administers the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award. The total value of the Award is $100,000. The Laureate will serve a term of two years and receive a substantial portion of the monetary value of the award along with a stipend of Te Mata wine from the Te Mata Estate and a tokotoko from the National Library. For the period 2009-2011, the Laureate will receive a minimum of $70,000 before tax.

The balance of the monetary value of the Award will be held by the National Library and used to support the cost of events, associated internal travel, the laureate's tokotoko, promotional activity, and related initiatives. Any money remaining unspent in the Poet Laureate budget at the conclusion of each year will be made available to the incumbent following a review of expenditure.

Tokotoko

The carved matua tokotoko (ceremonial walking stick), presented to the poet when their appointment is announced, is a distinctive element of the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award. The National Library holds this tokotoko as a symbol of the Award, and will display it at the Library when it is not required for ceremonial occasions.

Laureates will also receive an individual tokotoko.

Tenure of the Award

The two-year tenure is based on the government financial calendar, from 1 July to 30 June.

Eligibility for the Award

A nomination process will be held for the Award every two years. Candidates must currently reside in New Zealand. Past Te Mata poet laureates are eligible for nomination.

Nominations for the Award

Nominations for the Award are sought by the National Librarian/Chief Executive of the National Library from representatives of New Zealand libraries, universities, creative writing programmes, arts bodies and professional organisations. The National Librarian/Chief Executive appoints the New Zealand Poet Laureate after reviewing nominations and seeking further advice as necessary.