New Zealand Poet Laureate

The New Zealand Poet Laureate is a poet appointed by the National Library of New Zealand to represent New Zealand's community of poets, to promote and advocate for poetry, and to produce a number of published works during their two-year tenure as laureate.

History of the award

The Poet Laureate for New Zealand was not originally appointed by a government agency, but by a commercial company. The award was established by Te Mata Estate, a winery in Hawke's Bay, in 1997, the year of the winery's centenary. Bill Manhire was named the first Te Mata Poet Laureate.[1]

In 2007, the National Library of New Zealand took over the appointment of the Poet Laureate, and has appointed the last seven laureates: Michele Leggott, Cilla McQueen, Ian Wedde, Vincent O'Sullivan, C. K. Stead, Selina Tusitala Marsh, and the incumbent David Eggleton.[2]

Nomination

The National Library accepts public nominations for the position, as well as nominations from universities, libraries and creative writing programmes. The National Librarian of New Zealand then makes the decision following advice from the Poet Laureate Advisory Council, which currently includes first Laureate Bill Manhire and Te Mata Estate chairman John Buck.[2]

Award
Traditional tokotoko in Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand

The value of the award granted to the Poet Laureate is currently NZD$100,000, of which twenty per cent is retained by the National Library to cover costs such as events, promotion, and the Laureate's tokotoko. A tokotoko is a Māori carved ceremonial walking stick which is presented to the Laureate upon their appointment.[3] The tokotoko is paired with the matua, or "parent tokotoko" which is retained and displayed by the National Library to signify their joint guardianship of the award with the Ngāti Kahungunu. The tokotoko are created by Hawke's Bay artist Jacob Scott, with the matua carved from black maire and containing a poem by the late Hone Tuwhare, the 1999–2001 Laureate.[4]

Based on the tradition of the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom receiving a "butt of sack", the New Zealand Poet Laureate also receives a stipend of wine from Te Mata Estate.[2]

List of New Zealand Poets Laureate
Name Term of laureateship
1 Bill Manhire 1997–1999
2 Hone Tuwhare 1999–2001
3 Elizabeth Smither 2001–2003
4 Brian Turner 2003–2005
5 Jenny Bornholdt 2005–2007
6 Michele Leggott 2007–2009
7 Cilla McQueen 2009–2011
8 Ian Wedde 2011–2013
9 Vincent O’Sullivan 2013–2015
10 C. K. Stead 2015–2017
11 Selina Tusitala Marsh 2017–2019
12 David Eggleton 2019–2021
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References
  1. The Office of the Poet Laureate, University of Otago, 2005.
  2. New Zealand Poet Laureate, National Library of New Zealand.
  3. Hunt, Tom: New poet laureate scrambles for right words, The Dominion Post, 5 August 2011.
  4. Poet Laureate tokotoko gets iwi blessing, National Library of New Zealand, 26 June 2008.
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