Rebecca Ronald

Rebecca Ronald

Rebecca Ronald

I’m a Mum, a teacher, a gardener and a reader, living in Avondale in Auckland, and striving for a better world. But not striving very hard, because bossing teenagers around for a living kind of saps the energy, you know?

I’m not a poet, just someone who likes to scribble. Words are fun!

I seek peace but don’t know the answers.

Ella Duncan

Ella Duncan

Ella Duncan

Ella

Intensely passionate, and grumpy.

From a beautiful whanau.

For her mother Lynda, sister Kia Maia, and grandmother Margy.

Who loves and appreciates human rights, equality, and artmaking.

Who fears hatred from the people she loves, apathy from those she doesn’t, and becoming a monster without realising it.

Who is GREAT, although that fact can be debated.

Who wants to experience and leave the world a bit better.

Born in Nelson, living in Christchurch.

Duncan.

For Pubudu, For Tusiata, For Kim, For Maia, For all those not said,
you are a part of my heart.

Paige Bowman

Hi my name is Paige Bowman and I am ten years old. I participate in a number of activities including gymnastics, swimming, art and tennis. I am also on my school council. I am in year six at Paparoa Street School and I have recently taken an interest in writing. I have started writing a story that I’m hoping will be published once it is finished. I also enjoy writing poetry.

Andrew Nicholls

Andrew Nicholls

Andrew Nicholls

Andrew blissfully lives in Forrest Hill with a wife,a daughter and a cat. He only started writing poetry recently after attending one of Dietrich John Soakai’s crash courses in poetry. He works for a tiling company and believes the opposite of poverty is sharing. So far his only contributions to the published word have been on performance measurement and workers compensation and he desperately doesn’t want it to end that way.

Ruth Barnard

Ruth Barnard

Ruth Barnard

I am a student of Victoria University in Wellington majoring in Media Studies and Design. In my spare time I sketch, write and run. I love to travel and to meet new people as I find other people’s cultures and views highly interesting.
I have always loved to write and find that my studies of contemporary issues inspire much of my creative writing. I am a writer for the New Zealand youth magazine; Tearaway and aim to write for various publications in the future that help to provoke thought about important social and environmental topics.

Roger Marshall

Roger Marshall

Roger Marshall

Glazier in Chch who enjoys poetry. I have no material for various reasons ..but will freelance ..
Freelanced poem. Reads downwards

 

 

 

 

P is our People approaching a Peek
O how this Outcome is Obviously bleak
E filled Emotions Erupting to seek
T To The Tacit elite
R we now Really a Ruinous Race
Y Yell at the Youth, yet yield at the pace

4 score or more-forefathers often war
P is a Plead to Pursue it no more
E is the Earth-Eternal and pure
A grade Attention to Aid with a cure
C Can recover as the Chaos Can Cease
E stands for Everyone Emitting peace.

Sumona Apsara Parii

Sumona Apsara Parii

Sumona Apsara Parii


Sumona Apsara Parii is a passionate writer and poetess. She is also an International Bharata Natyam (South-Indian Classical Dance) and Bollywood Dancer, as well Choreographer. In addition, she is a yogini (woman who practices yoga), dance and yoga teacher, as well Reiki III Practitioner/Healer.
She travels and performs Bharata Natyam and Bollywood Dance around the world. Sumona has used some of her poetry in her dance presentations–Where she selects harmonious music (that meld nicely with her poems), choreographs dance movements along with facial expressions (interpretive dance), and records readings of her poetry to create a blend of the magic of Poetry Dance, if you will.
In fact, Dance and Poetry are powerful, soulful ways she expresses her emotions of spiritual/devotional love, romantic/soul love, and maternal love; peacefulness, desire, passion and the wonder of beauty.
Her website is www.sumonadance.com

Neomai Mark

Neomai Mark is a 29 years old N.Z born Tongan teacher living in South Auckland. She has been writing poetry since she was in Intermediate school. A have always been a lover of words, growing up in the diverse environment of South Auckland, she has always associated with people of different backgrounds and belief systems and much of her poetry is about our common humanity and a desire for people to get along and understand each others stories.

Jason Kirk

Jason Kirk is the author of “Reverb: Poems” and “The Other Whites in South Africa” and the composer of “The Mirror of Simple Souls,” an opera collaboration with librettist and poet Anne Carson. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Michigan, and his writing awards include Hopwood Major and Minor Poetry Prizes. His recent haiku have appeared in successive issues of Synaesthesia Magazine, the paperback anthology Haiku of the Dead, and In My Bed Magazine (Toronto, forthcoming).

Sandra Sarala

Sandra Sarala

Sandra Sarala


Sandra Sarala was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. She worked with Red Mole’s Roadworks theatre company before leaving Wellington in mid 1997 for Eurasia and has resided mainly in Berlin since April 2002. Her work is largely stage based: she creates personal and intimate performance food for the soul – sung and spoken words, everyday and eternal rituals seasoned with archaic Russian, Polish and Ukrainian village song.
Poem “Looking for Lago di Lecco: Spree-side, having failed twice at art exhibition masochism in one early evening” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Pieta Bayley

Pieta Bayley

Pieta Bayley


At 8 years of age, Pieta Bayley of St Andrews College Preparatory School in Christchurch, has already won prizes for her writing. From the “Letter of the Week” for her first ever submission to “The Press” reminiscing on meeting her idol Margaret Mahy, to a Highly Commended in the 2013 National Poetry Competition for the NZ Association for Gifted children. Last year, Pieta also reached the finals of the Governors Bay, Margaret Mahy poetry competition in the 12 and under category, and was published in its collection. She is passionate about writing and loves creative writing class with Kerrin Davidson.
Poem “They leave behind the wind” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Julie Kennedy

Julie Kennedy

Julie Kennedy


Julie Kennedy, born in Christchurch, is now a Picton-based writer. The Marlborough Sounds and the local landscape inspire her writing. She has poetry in a number of anthologies and has also written two non fiction books, Katherine Mansfield in Picton and a Chronology of Picton and Queen Charlotte Sound. In 2011 she co-edited Reflections: Picton Poets an Anthology. Julie is a member of the NZ Poetry Society and NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc). She also belongs to Eco Artists NZ and a percentage of her sold work goes towards conservation projects.
Poem “A deserted house” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Beverley Teague

When writing about myself the first word that springs to mind is “ordinary.” Primary and secondary schools, Teachers’ Training College then at 19 being in charge of a class of ten year olds. Career interrupted by marriage, three children and the family’s move to Hong Kong – a move that lasted for 25 years! Resumption of career and study from afar. And poetry – for as long as I can remember I’ve written poetry. I have a box, including Tiananmen writing, from the Hong Kong years. Recently, some of my writing has been published in a number of print and on-line journals.
Poem “A Small Token” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Ruth Bailey

ruth
Ruth Bailey was born and raised in Africa, living within spaces of conflict – social, racial, communal and spiritual. She first started writing poetry at high school in the eighties, using it as a way to express her frustration at being socially marginalised. Then for over two decades she used her written and verbal expertise for social change, justice and grass-root activism. Now living in Auckland with her family, Ruth is a Maker: of poetry, stories, paintings, vegetable gardens and peace!
Poems “I FEEL LIKE SAND” and “IMMIGRANT, FEMALE” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Jillian Sullivan

Jillian Sullivan

Jillian Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jillian Sullivan is a poet, novelist, short story writer and memoirist. Awards range from the Highlights Fiction Award in America, to the Kathleen Grattan Prize for a Sequence of Poems. She was born in Masterton in 1957 and spent thirty years near the sea and the mountains in the Motueka area, where she brought up her five children. She’s currently finishing building her strawbale house where she lives now in Central Otago.

Poem “Stars” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014Her poetry has also been     published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.

 

Andrew M. Bell

Andrew M. Bell

Andrew M. Bell


Andrew M. Bell writes poetry, short fiction, plays, screenplays and non-fiction. His work has been published and broadcast in New Zealand/Aotearoa, Australia, England, Israel and USA. His most recent publications are “Aotearoa Sunrise”, a short story collection, and “Clawed Rains”, a poetry collection.
Andrew lives in Christchurch with his wife and two sons and loves to surf.
Poem “WE CAN NEVER REST” and “A BUCK-FIFTY’S WORTH OF SUNSHINE” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Lucy Jessep

Lucy Jessep

Lucy Jessep


I am a 11 yr old girl from Christchurch. My poems, haiku and creative writing have been published in anthologies, books of collected short stories and the Tall Poppies magazine.
I love reading and writing and recently participated in the Kids Lit Canterbury tournament and the Otago Daily Times spelling quiz.
I am Lucy
I don’t like big dogs, hot days and typing replacing writing
I like words, tidiness and inky fingers
I love to be neat but am not very good at it.
Mermaid, pink, stripes, owls, baking, I am just me!
Poem ” Peace War Peace ” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Imogen Grant

Imogen Grant

Imogen Grant


I, Imogen Grant am a young wanderer, recently finished school to learn more about the world and its ways. I spend a lot of my time in nature; watching clouds, thinking, dreaming, observing.
I am working towards a dream of living a more simple lifestyle off the land, and on my path there I am writing, creating, meeting new people and listening to their stories.
I have a genuine goal to give kindness and peace to the world and find my own peace through the rhythms of nature.
Poem “Three Years and Three Days” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Dan Vera

Dan Vera

Dan Vera


Dan Vera is a writer, editor, and literary historian living in Washington, DC. He is the author of two poetry collections: Speaking Wiri Wiri (Red Hen, 2013), the inaugural winner of the Letras Latinas/Red Hen Poetry Prize, and The Space Between Our Danger and Delight (Beothuk, 2008). His poetry has appeared in various journals, including Notre Dame Review, Beltway Poetry, Delaware Poetry, and Gargoyle, in addition to the anthologies Queer South, Full Moon On K Street, and DC Poets Against the War. He chairs the board of Split This Rock Poetry. For more visit http://www.danvera.com
Poem “Stain of the Half life” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Kathie Weir

Kathie Weir

Kathie Weir


Kathie Weir, MFA, is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Los Angeles and A Parent’s Guide to School Projects. Her short stories have been featured in Sally Shore’s New Short Fiction Series and RipRap, and her poetry, essays, and articles have appeared in Open My Eyes, Open My Soul, Genre, Easy Reader, Singles Scene, Random Lengths, United Sisters Magazine, Issues in Radical Therapy, Sisterlode, and other journals and anthologies. She lives in Los Angeles with her family, where she spends her time teaching, writing, and mining her journals for fragments of untold stories. She is currently writing a memoir entitled, Keeping a Quiet Heart.
Poem “Babies Cry in All Languages” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Rosa Opie

Rosa Opie

Rosa Opie


Rosa is a 10 year old student from Huntsbury, Christchurch. She attends St Martins School and loves reading, playing the piano, swimming, netball, rainbow bands, and poetry.
Rosa attended an extension poetry class at school and was encouraged to write a poem based on Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”. The poem submitted is what Rosa was inspired to write. Sadly Maya Angelo passed away the week following, RIP great lady.
Poem “Fighting for Peace” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Heather McQuillan

Heather McQuillan

Heather McQuillan

I am a teacher, children’s author and writing tutor based in Christchurch. I use poetry and picture books to help children access and explore peace issues.
My poem is a tribute to Hiroshima survivor and author/ Illustrator Junko Morimoto and her book ‘My Hiroshima’ published by Collins, Sydney.
it also makes references to incidents shown in this short documentary about Junko.

I read about the Enola Gay crew making money from selling ‘mementos’ of their mission in malls across the US and imagined Junko coming across this spectacle.
My poem is a thank you to Junko for sharing her memories and helping teachers to share them with children.
Poem “To Junko Morimoto, -Author and illustrator of picture book ‘My Hiroshima’” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014. Poem “10 in a packet” published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.

Margaret Vos

Margaret Vos

Margaret Vos


Margaret Vos moved from Wellington to southeast London where she is enjoying new inspiration for her poetry. Her work has been published mostly in New Zealand, in Turbine 2002, the New Zealand Poetry Society’s magazine a fine line, and in their annual anthology. She served on the New Zealand Poetry Society Committee including two terms as President. You can find her at http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/margaret-vos/4/232/173/
Poems “Rasp” and “Borrowing” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Vaughan Gunson

Vaughan Gunson

Vaughan Gunson


Vaughan Gunson is a writer and artist living in Hikurangi, north of Whangarei. He has been active in a range of organisations and campaigns fighting for social justice over many years. His poetry has been published in a number of magazines and journals in New Zealand, including Blackmail Press, JAAM, New Zealand Listener, Poetry New Zealand, Red & Green, Side Stream, Takahe, The Lumière Reader, Workers Charter and 4th Floor Literary Journal. A collection of his poems, ‘this hill, all it’s about is lifting it to a higher level’, was published by Steele Roberts in 2012. He is the poetry editor of the India based online literary journal Open Road Review.
Poem “symphony” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Jack McKerchar

Jack McKerchar

Jack McKerchar


Jack is a Northland based poet who has been writing for about 5 years. Spending a lot of time on Northland’s Ripiro Beach it has become a place of reflection and rejuvenation. The son of Southland parents, his father was wounded at El Alamein and Cassino in World War 2. The impacts of that war on his father have shaped Jack’s views on war. He is influenced by Hone Tuwhare, Brian Turner and Robert Kaufman but speaks with his own voice.
Poem “25 April” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Melanie Hocking

Melanie Hocking

Melanie Hocking


I live in Wellington with my long time partner and our beautiful twelve year old daughter.
I work full time in the hospitality industry and love the daily interaction with all walks of life.
I wrote a lot in my youth and I am slowly rediscovering the joy of putting pen to paper and the freedom that expressing oneself can bring.
I believe we are all created equal and that everyone deserves a chance at happiness.
Poem “Winter” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Peter H Brown

Peter H Brown

Peter H Brown


For most of my life, I have been writing in one form or another.
Poetry, diaries, letter, stories, essays, but particularly poetry.
I have been published in a number of magazines and newsletters, and entered competitions with some success.
Recently I have been reading my poems in public at a number of venues around Auckland.
Poem “Miles Paints” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Jane Paul

A passionate 20 year old woman who is currently studying at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. Excited about creating theatre and poetry that sees the world through a new lens. Hoping to help change the world for the better through art and being.
Poem “Untitled – a poem from the sea” and “An Acquired Taste for The Pessimist” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Frank Eggleton

Frank Eggleton

Frank Eggleton


I have spent the past few years writing songs and playing in Dunedin and Wellington bands. I usually spend a few hours a week writing something, starts of short stories, poetry and songs. At the moment i have been thinking film scripts. I need to do less thinking and more doing.
Poem “The moon strikes midnight” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Michael Morrissey

Michael Morrissey

Michael Morrissey


Michael Morrissey has published 22 books – these include 11 books of poetry and five works of fiction – the latest being a zany sci-fi and fantasy re-write of Romeo and Juliet in the mode of Lewis Carroll set in the far future called Tropic of Skorpeo. He was awarded a Travelling Cultural Fulbright Grant in 1981 and was the first New Zealand writer to participate in the International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa, USA in 1985. He was the New Zealand delegate at the famous International Pen Conference in 1986. He was the Writer-in-Residence at the University of Waikato in 2012. Currently he is working on a book of poems about the moon and writing a sequel to Skorpeo entitled General Swine and The Princess of Ebon.
Poem “WOODEN WEAPONS” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Peg Robarchek

Peg Robarchek writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her poetry has been published in Naugatuck River Review, Prime Number, Blast Furnace, Kakalak, Iodine and The Final Friday Anthology from Main Street Rag. Her first children’s book, ‘Bean Is Born’ was published in 2013. Her most recent novel is ‘In the Territory of Lies’ co-authored with Lois Stickell.
Poem “In the Beginning” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Barry Smith

Barry Smith is a retired scientist/veterinarian who is still involved in creative pursuits, in particular writing and printmaking. He completed an assignment with UNDP in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1990. His poetic and printmaking works have been sold published and exhibited throughout New Zealand.
Poem “Girls Buy Flowers” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Ella Robinson

Ella Robinson

Ella Robinson


Ella is a 2012 graduate from Otago University. She majored in Social Anthropology and minored in
Gender Studies. She has a passion for dance, poetry and story-telling. Her love for words stems from being an avid book worm at a young age, encouraged by her parents. She has only recently re-engaged with poetry, inspired by her grandparents gift of ‘Palgraves Golden Treasury’ upon graduation.
Poem “Heart’s verses” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Karen Zelas

Karen Zelas

Karen Zelas

Karen Zelas is a Christchurch writer and former psychiatrist. Her poetry and short fiction have been widely published in New Zealand and Australia.
Her first book of poetry, Night’s glass table, was selected as the 2012 IP Picks Best First Book by Interactive Publications, Brisbane, who also republished her novel Past perfect (Wily, 2010) as an ebook. Karen won the 2013 Playwrights Association of New Zealand playwriting competition for her script Poverty and muse. Her play Geography of loss will be staged in Christchurch in October 2014. She is fiction editor of Takahē literary
magazine (www.takahe.org.nz).
www.karenzelas.com
Poems “Way Point”, “Elijah at My Table” and “Find a place ” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Kirsten Warner

Kirsten Warner

Kirsten Warner

Kirsten Warner’s poetry has been published in Landfall, Takahe, Bravado, JAAM and in the collections Our Own Kind, poems about animals, and Just Another Fantastic Anthology, Auckland in Poetry.
She was the joint-winner of the Landfall Essay Competition in 2008 with creative non-fiction concerning history, colonisation and creativity.
She has worked widely in journalism, television, written television drama, published, broadcast and won prizes for poetry and short fiction.
She is currently finishing her first novel.
Kirsten is a founder member of Printable Reality, the organisation committed to raising the profile of poetry and spoken word in New Zealand, and has co-ordinated and MCed monthly performances at The Pah Homestead in 2011.
Poem “One dollar eighty” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.

Jerry Beale

Jerry Beale

Jerry Beale

Jerry Beale grew up shuffling between parts of England and Northern Ireland.
He’s been a Royal Marine Commando, a farmer, a bodyguard, representative rugby player, international judo competitor, cage fighter and advertising agency creative director.
About the only thing that has stayed with him through all these experiences is the ability to capture moments, events and feelings in lyrical form.
He’s performed his poetry in the US, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, published a couple of anthologies, opened festivals and entertained in bars, cafes and workshops.
Now he calls New Zealand home, has 3 amazing children, one shaggy dog and a love of wild remote places.
Poem “Casuality” and “A man’s hands” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.