Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2024 celebrations: (Top L-R) Poet Laureate Chris Tse (centre) at Te Marae with poets featured in Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems. All Tomorrow's Poets at Time Out in Mount Eden. (Bottom L-R) The Great Grey Lynn Poetry & Pizza Congress. A brave young poet takes to the mic in Tawa. The Snow Queen enchants young writers at Porirua Library, where Grace explores written poetic form. A young poet captivates the audience at Paraparaumu Library.

Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day was a massive success this year, with a strong focus on tamariki leading the way in many events around the motu.

In Northland, the Kahui Ako Poetry Festival brought together young voices for an event that concluded with a fantastic display of children's poetry in the local library.

The excitement continued nationwide, with events like Poets XYZ Kids Poetry Day in Auckland and the Write On School for Young Writers in Kaiapoi offering workshops, readings, and book launches that sparked creativity in kids.

Libraries like Porirua also embraced the magic of the day, with the Snow Queen enchanting young poets, gifting tiny poems, and creating a warm, creative space for young writers like Grace (pictured), who explored various poetic forms with dedication.

“These events created a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration and learning,” says NPD coordinator Gill Hughes, “ensuring that the future of poetry in Aotearoa is in good hands.”

Other National Poetry Day highlights included:

• In Tawa, Rangituhi/Writings Across the Sky brought together poets of all ages for a workshop and a vibrant open mic session in the evening. It was a heartwarming display of community, with participants ranging from primary school kids to retirees.
• On Waiheke Island, the Poetry on the Pavement event turned heads, as poems written in chalk drew attention from the wider community, with passing drivers honking their horns in support and curious passersby joining in.
• In Pōneke, Cuba Press’s event Love: True, Tried, and Toxic attracted over 50 attendees, showcasing a diverse group of poets sharing their musings on life’s complexities.
• Poet Laureate Chris Tse hosted the Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems event at Te Papa’s Te Marae, where everything from a fifteen-second poem to seven-minute-long pieces filled the room with emotion.

Social media also buzzed with excitement on 23 August, generating incredible engagement across all platforms. Chris Tse kicked things off with an inspiring call to action early in the day. MP Jenny Salesa marked the occasion by sharing a poem from Queen Sālote Tupou III. Paul Henry, a passionate poetry fan, joined in by reading Maggie Smith’s ‘Good Bones’ on Instagram, while Jay-Jay Feeney added her own twist with a playful take on the Book of Genesis, written when she was just 14!

Gill says Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2024 left a lasting impact on participants and audiences. “The day’s remarkable success underscores the vibrant and expanding poetry scene in Aotearoa, emphasising the significance of these shared cultural experiences.”