Competition Calendar
Welcome to the 2024 Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day
Competition Calendar
Get ready for an exciting year of poetry! Here you'll find all the details for our 2024 competitions - regional, nationwide, and online, for both children and adults. Get ready to unleash your creativity and share your poetry with the world!
NATIONWIDE
Bell Hill Apartments Dunedin 2024 Poetry Competition
This year’s theme is “WILD WEATHER AT BELL HILL”. $200 prize, sponsored by www.bellhillapartments.co.nz & www.newheritage.co
Entry Details: Free entry. Poem to be 150 words maximum, A4 page, double line spacing. Open to people residing in New Zealand. Submit one original entry only. Entries will be blind judged by 2019-2022 NZ Poet Laureate David Eggleton. Judge’s decision is final, no further correspondence entered into.
Include: Title, poet name, email address, phone number, word count on same page – NB: these will not be included in poem word count. Winning entry will be added to the Bell Hill Apartments Welcome Book with poet acknowledged. Winning poem to be announced National Poetry Day, 23 August 2024.
Submission Dates: Open from 1 July 2024 – closing 5pm, 29 July 2024.
Contact Details: Email entry as PDF to: hello@nola.org.nz
Further Info: Promoted on Twitter @newheritage.co and @LiteratureAlive
Leap Poetry for Children Competition
In the lead-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2024, The Poets XYZ are running a nationwide competition for adults who write poetry for children.
Theme: “Leap” – to be interpreted as widely and wildly as entrants like.
First Prize: $50 and your poem made into a digital printable poster designed by award winning illustrator Vasanti Unka. Second Prize: $35 book voucher. Third Prize: $20 book voucher. The competition is run by The Poets XYZ—a trio of New Zealand writers, Elena de Roo, Kathryn Dove, and Melinda Szymanik, who are keen to see poetry for children flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand and to develop a network of children’s poets. Judge: Renowned children’s writer and poet, Bill Nagelkerke.
The winning poem will be announced on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, Friday 23rd August 2024.
Entry Details: Entry is free and open to anyone in New Zealand aged 18 years and over. Send in up to three poems aimed at 5–12 year olds. There is a 25-line limit per poem and poems should be previously unpublished (including not on private blogs, websites, social media). Poems should be all your own work and not have any AI generated content. Any poems found to have AI generated content will be disqualified. Poems should be written in English. Previous winners are welcome to enter
Submission Dates: Opens 29th June 2024, closes midnight Friday 2nd August.
Contact Details: email thepoetsxyz@gmail.comwith ‘Leap Poetry Competition Entry' in the subject line.
Further Info: visit the Poets XYZ
Given Words
Given Words returns for Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2024. On 1 August we will publish in Given Words five words from a word-video project by students of Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch, and guest artists. You then have until National Poetry Day 23 August to send us your poem, which must include the five words. The words can be in any order and verbs can change tense. The Best Poem and Best Poem by Under-16s, selected by Sophia Wilson, Pat White and Charles Olsen, will receive prizes courtesy of The Cuba Press and Massey University Press. There is also a Class plan available for teachers to use with their students.
Entry Details: Free entry. Open to all NZ citizens and residents. Maximum length 200 words. One poem per person. Submit your poem by email including your full name and town of residence to nzgivenwords@gmail.com
Submission Dates: 1 August to midnight on 23 August
Contact Details: Charles Olsen – nzgivenwords@gmail.com
Further Info: nzgivenwords.blogspot.co.nz | Instagram @givenwords
Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook Student Poetry Competition 2024
The Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook Student Poetry Competition is the award that has sent so many young poets on their way. Entries will be judged by Yearbook editor Tracey Slaughter, and the winning poems from each year group will be published in the 2025 edition of the Yearbook. Thanks to the University of Waikato, there is a monetary prize for the first, second, and third prize winners of each year group: $500 (first place), $300 (second place), and $100 (third place). Each winning poet and their school will also receive a copy of the book.
Entry Details: Free to enter. Open to Year 11, Year 12, or Year 13 students at a New Zealand school.
Submission Details: Please send us up to three previously unpublished original poems in either Word or PDF format to editorial@masseypress.ac.nz. Poems can be of any length, any style, and about any subject. Please name your school and year level.
Submission Dates: Entries are now CLOSED. The winners will be announced on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, 23 August 2024.
Contact: Cadence Galt, editorial@masseypress.ac.nz
Further Info: Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook Student Poetry Competition 2024
NORTHLAND
Ranui-on-Hokianga Poetry Prize for Tamariki
Calling for entries from our beautiful young poets 12 years and under. This 2024's theme, or word is 'Stars".
Poems can be in any of New Zealand's official languages and must be no longer than 30 lines.
Entry is open now until the 13th of August.
Email entries to kohukohulibrary@gmail.com
Details at https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897324727766
Kohukohu Library Poetry Prize
Kohukohu Library volunteers are thrilled to invite poets to enter this 2024's poetry competition. Our judge this year is the incomparable Glenn Colquhoun.
Poems must contain the word 'though' and be no longer than 30 lines.
Entry is free and poets may enter up to 3 poems.
Entry is open now and closes 11.59pm on August 13th. 1st prize is $150 + 2 prizes of $50.
Send entries to kohukohulibrary@gmail.com
Details at https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897324727766
AUCKLAND
Blackout Poetry Competition
Mt Albert and Epsom Libraries invite poets and others to get out their black markers and old books!
Give blackout poetry go – blacking out parts of sentences on a page to form a new poem from the remaining words – and submit them to the competition. Go into the draw to win spectacular poetry prizes for both children, and youth & adults.
There will be a randomly selected winner as well as a ‘librarian’s choice’ winner in both adult/youth’s and children’s categories. Everyone has a chance to win, so give it a go!
Entry Details: Free to enter. Two categories – children’s (up to 14yrs of age) and youth & adults (16 & over). Enter by submitting your poetry at the front desk of your chosen library.
Submission Dates: 1st August – 20th August.
Mt Albert Library: Chloe Pope, Chloe.pope@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Epsom Library: Sarah Choi, Sarah.choi@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Library Connect (ask for which library you would like to contact): 09 377 0209
Further Info: Facebook.com/MtAlbertLibrary | Facebook.com/epsomlibrary
Poetry and Psychoanalysis on: ‘A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN’
The New Zealand Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (NZIPP) is participating in National Poetry Day with the 5th Poetry Competition and Event on Poetry and Psychoanalysis. The theme will be based on Virginia Woolf’s quote: “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”.
Psychoanalysis deals with unconscious, preconscious and conscious processes. Poetry deals with the art of creating poems. Both psychoanalysis and poetry appear to be driven by a sort of unknown matrix towards using words to communicate something about oneself, an inner truth, a hidden reality, a memory, something unknown, a feeling, a thought, a moment of beauty, a traumatic event, …
Up to 3 poems can be sent by 18th August 2024 to: NZIPPandPoetry@gmail.com
Winners of the competition will be announced at the event organised by NZIPP.
All participants are invited to attend and to present the poems submitted to the competition.
Poems will be published on NZIPP Website http://www.psychotherapy.co.nz/ and social media
Entry Details: $ 20, students $ 10 Please register before 20th August on: https://events.humanitix.com/poetry-and-psychoanalysis-a-room-of-one-s-own
Date/Times: Friday 23 August 2024 at 7 - 9:30 pm
Location: Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland
Contact: Dr Gloriana Bartoli gloriana.bartoli@gmail.com
Further Info: http://www.psychotherapy.co.nz/
WAIKATO
Whaingaroa Poetry Writing Competition
Write a poem (28 lines maximum) using the photo of the hourglass as inspiration.
Entry forms must be signed by either a parent/guardian or a school representative as an assurance this is the student’s original work. By signing this, permission is granted to publish the story on Whāingaroa Raglan Writer Facebook and Old School Arts Centre website, and to be displayed at their Raglan Old School Arts Centre Poetry event.
Winners will be announced, and awards presented, at The Wharf Restaurant at 6pm on National Poetry Day. The awards presentation will be followed by a Poetry Slam Evening. Students and parents are welcome to attend.
Send/deliver entries to Raglan Old School Arts Centre, 5 Stewart Street, Raglan 3225, by 4pm Friday 16th August 2024
Contact: Ann Neville, annlneville@gmail.com
Further Info: Raglan Old School Arts Centre, 5 Stewart Street, Raglan
https://www.raglanartscentre.co.nz/
BAY OF PLENTY
Cringefest 2024
You could enter The Cringefest Poetry Hall Of Shame!
Following the huge success of this event at Fringe Festival, Cringefest 2024 is open to poets who can make the crowd cringe. Poets compete for the lowest scores with the worst poems. We mean hilariously terrible, entertainingly cringe-worthy poetry.
3 judges will be selected from the audience. Performers have 2 minutes to present their first poem. After the first round, 6 poets with the lowest scores will go to the second round to perform a second poem.
Then 3 poets go to the final round to find the Winner - The next person to enter The Cringefest Poetry Hall of Shame.
Entry Details: Entry to this R18 event is free. You can enter at Cringe Fest Submissions | the-incubator (theincubator.co.nz)
Submission Dates: Entries are open now and close on 2nd August.
Contact: Nigel Gregory. promo@theincubator.co.nz
Further Info: www.theincubator.co.nz
GISBORNE
Lytton High School - Earworm
Celebrate National Poetry Day with Y11 ENGUY for Riatna’s 2024 poetry competition. Simply write a poem with an 'Earworm' theme and enter it by Tuesday 20 August (conditions apply). The winning poem will be announced on Friday 23 August in the School Notices. As a prize the winner will be treated, along with a friend, to morning tea with their favourite teacher.
Entry Details: No entry fee. Maximum of 150 words and up to two entries per person.
Submission Dates: Aug 01 - Aug 20
Contact: Kōkā Charlie / Ms. Holland
Further Info: Visit A23 or email hl@lyttonhigh.net
MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI
Guyton Street Poetry Trail Competition
Write a poem in any form, submit to Guyton Group Trust at Paige’s Book Gallery, 60 Guyton Street, Whanganui. Alternatively email your entry to hello@paigesbooks.com. Entries must be received by 31 July, 2024.
Two categories: Junior (13 years and under). Open (any age). $75 for both winners.
Winners announced NZ Poetry Day, Friday 23 August, at Whanganui District Library.
Some entries will be selected for the Guyton Street Poetry Trail.
WELLINGTON
Kāpiti Coast District Libraries 12th Annual Poetry Competition
Celebrate Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day by writing a poem on the theme “Reflection/Pūmahara”. As usual, the theme can be interpreted anyway you like.
All entries will be published as a print book and eBook. Winners will be announced on National Poetry Day at the Open Mic Night at Paraparaumu Library on Friday 23 August, 5.30 – 6.30pm.
Entry Details: Entry is free and open to anyone in the Kāpiti community. You may submit one poem per person of no more than 10 lines.
Enter by clicking one of three age groups in the link below
Child 6 – 12 years
Teen 13 – 18 years
Adults 19+ years
Submission Dates: Monday 10 – midnight Sunday 30 June 2024. ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED
Entries may be in English or Te Reo Māori. Please read the guidelines and conditions of entry. By submitting your poem into this competition, you agree to these conditions.
WEST COAST
Grey District Library Poetry Competition
Join fellow poetry lovers in a competition to celebrate Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, 2024. The writer of the most engaging poem within each age category will win a prize. Winners will be announced at a Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day warm-up event hosted by the Grey District Library at 5.00 on Wednesday 21 August. Prize winning poems will be read aloud at two local rest homes on Phantom Billsticker National Poetry Day, 23rd August.
Entry details: Free. Open to Grey District residents only. Age categories are up to 8 years old; 9 to 13; 14 to 17; and 18 years and over. Poems can be on any topic. One poem per person. Submit your poem, age range, address and contact details by email to poetrycompetition@greydc.govt.nz no later than 4pm Friday 16 August, 2024.
Submission dates: Monday 29 July to 4pm Friday 16 August, 2024.
Contact details: Rachael Flannagan rachael.flannagan@greydc.govt.nz or 03 768 5597
Further info: Facebook event
OTAGO
Landscapes of Otago
This year’s competition is open to residents of Otago-Southland with categories for primary school, high school and adults. You can write about anything you like, or use our suggested theme for this year, Landscapes of Otago.
Two categories: experienced poets, emerging voices and young writers are welcome to submit!
Judges: Majella Cullinane (adult category) and Jillian Sullivan (youth category)
The competition and event are sponsored by Dunedin Public Libraries in partnership with the Otago-Southland branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors, as well as the Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature.
Entry Details: Free to enter
Submission Dates: Open through July 31, 5pm
Contact: Ali Boyne, Ali.Boyne@dcc.govt.nz
Further Info: https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/articles/national-poetry-day-competition-2024-landscapes-of-otago