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.
Category: Artists
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).
Saskia Ashby
Saskia Ashby is an artist/writer/performer/director/mother, based in the UK. She is happy to be involved in promoting peace.
Poems “if….” and “Homo mellifluous” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
Denise Davis

Denise Davis
A long-time resident of Australia (and published haiku poet there), Denise Davis has genetic links with peace through her Moriori Ancestor Nunuku. Now relocated back to New Zealand, she is working on a book of modern Moriori proverbs titled, “PEACE … Ponderings for the 21st Century”. Two of her haiku appeared in THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN HAIKU ANTHOLOGY : http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/items/show/479
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
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, 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.
Katie Horton
Katie Horton is 6 and is a Year 2 student at Ilam School.
Poem “The Moon Turned to Ice” 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 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 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 2014. Her poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Alberta Hall
Alberta is 12 years old and a pupil at Sumner School, Christchurch. She attends the Bays Cluster Writing group and wrote this instructional poem during the class.
Poem “How to Grow Happiness” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
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
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
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 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, 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 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
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 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.
Joan Lees
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 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.
Mike Tolhurst

Mike Tolhurst
I am a 57 yr old lawyer currently doing the Creative Writing course (1st year) at MIT.
I am a strong advocate of peace and love the focus of this competition that peace can be explored through poetry.
Poem “Tidal Peace” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
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.
Robin Keown
Robin Keown’s poem “Bush-bath” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
Jenny Argante

Jenny Argante
Jenny Argante is a long-term member of Tauranga Writers, New Zealand’s longest-running self-help group for writers. She has published short stories, poetry and prose. Her latest works are After the Act and Working in the Cracks Between.
Poem “No Amnesty:” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
Daniel .E. Hemme
I am sixteen years old, I live in Auckland and attend Long bay college. I started writing at about 8 years old and have never stopped. I also love to read and in my spare time design and build many things. Poem “Ink” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014. His poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Andrew Paul Wood

Andrew Paul Wood
Andrew Paul Wood in a Christchurch-based writer, poet and art critic.
Poem “PEACE MEDITATION” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
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
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.
BG Smith
Aotearoa born and bred, ‘rewa hard product of an amazing kiwi childhood. Aroha to Snow and Wilma, truth, love and family. Now between mfw, 1 hunga and titirangi with my sweetheart. Like sport, coach football and love my kids.
Poem “Mother Nature” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
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.
Moemoea Mohoawhenua

Moemoea Mohoawhenua
Ko Moemoea Mohoawhenua taku ingoa.
MY name is Moemoea Mohoawhenua.
Ko Ngati Whatua taku Iwi.
My Tribe is Ngati Whatua.
I am a Independent Film Maker. I wrote this short poem about my view on war.
Poem “PEACE” 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.
Howie Good

Howie Good
Howie Good’s latest book of poetry collection is The Complete Absence of Twilight (2014) from MadHat Press. He co-edits White Knuckle Press with Dale Wisely, who does most of the real work.
Poem “The Real in Funereal” and “The Destruction of the European Jews” 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.
Art Nahill
I am an American expat physician/writer and I live and work in Auckland with my wife and two boys. I have had work previously published both in the US and here in NZ (Landfall,Poetry NZ,Takahe,JAAM).
Poem “Our Peace Correspondent
Files This Report at Dusk:” published in Poems4Peace Anthology 2014.
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
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.
Laurice Gilbert
please see Laurice’s full profile on NZ Poetry Society Page
Peter Matheson
Peter Matheson is a retired Presbyterian minister. He was active in the Peace Movement in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Germany and New Zealand. He has written many articles and books on peace issues and in his historical work (some 14 books) has a particular focus on the the interface between spirituality, literature and history, and on the lives of women and radicals. He taught in the universities of Edinburgh, Otago and Melbourne. His own poetry has been published, and he is currently involved as President of the St Martin Island Community with issues of sustainability and opposition to deep sea oil drilling.
One of the judges for the Poems4Peace 2014 Poetry Competition.
Isotopes
Visit our FB Page Listen “Trust is a New Love” live from AudioFoundation 15th march 2014
All is one!
Three sacred forms harmonised: sound, movement, spoken word – forming “Isotopes” ( Zane Lazos, traditional and invented acoustic instruments; Siri Embla, movement/kinetic-sculpture; Gus Simonovic, poetry). “Isotopes” welcome you on a zen-like journey into the meta-universe where air is filled with a virtuoso magic of Zane’s middle-eastern sounds – forming a soundscape that gives space for the velvety words of poetry by Gus, to linger … while Siri´s kinetic-sculpture brings you to the pure presence – letting the ambience change the movement, change the feeling of the words, the sounds … the world. Good time, best time in no-time.
Hannah-Rose Owen-Wright
Hannah-Rose Owen-Wright is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist Development Programme
Hannah Owen-Wright began performing spoken word regularly two years ago, whilst living in Birmingham, UK. She has performed in slams in the UK as well as at Poetry Live in Auckland. She is also intrigued by spoken word performance as an exploration within the sonic qualities of language. As a musician – specifically, a singer – the musicality of language is a primary guiding principle in her performance practices. No doubt what Hannah will produce will be fresh, challenging, and engaging.
Ya-Wen Ho

Ya-Wen Ho
Ya-Wen Ho is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist Development Programme
Ya-Wen Ho is an enthusiastic and committed member of Auckland’s writing community. Recently her endeavors have included a performance at the Short Takes on Long Poems symposium, a book with TinFish Press, an international reading at Counterpath Press and numerous local readings. As a confident performer, she loves wowing an audience and would like to further explore the interactive and collaborative possibilities of live performance. Ya-Wen has huge potential and will surprise any listener.
Maria Yeonhee Ji
Maria Yeonhee Ji is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist Development Programme
Maria Ji has always been passionate about reading and writing but 2013 was the first year she wrote and performed performance poetry. She came 3rd in the University of Auckland Annual Poetry Slam, was the NZ Poetry Slam Auckland Regionals champion (performing in the regional heats and regional slams), and was one of 3 poets representing Auckland at the national poetry slam in Wellington. Maria is a new voice in the poetry scene but one that we should all be very excited about.
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Kirsti K. Whalen
Kirsti K. Whalen is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist Development Programme
Kirsti Whalen is a seasoned spoken word performer and creative writer. At the beginning of 2013 she moved back from Melbourne, where she held an internship with The Centre for Poetics and Justice where she was able to develop her work, perform and facilitate workshops. She also developed and ran The Unsaid Things, a workshop series for young adults whose disabilities affected their creative expression. She has performed in a number of slams in Australia and was recently one of the final six slammers in the Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam. She is currently studying creative writing at MIT.
Rob Mokaraka
Rob Mokaraka is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist Development Programme
Rob Mokaraka’s background is in Acting & Writing for Theatre and Film. He has held short-film writing workshops in Rarotonga and in Auckland with a broad demographic. He has written, directed, and performed in a range of produced works including Maui, Man Club, Sydney Bridge Upside Down, and Flat 3. He has won three Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. Rob enjoys nurturing unique, new talent and has a lot to offer a mentee in a range of disciplines.
Natalie Hugill

NatalieHugill
Natalie Hugill is chosen for PAGE 2 STAGE 2014 Artist DEvelopment Programme
Natalie Hugill has trained as an actress for theatre, film and television. She has performed in over 13 theatre productions and also has experience in on-screen acting. For the past three years however, Natalie has extended her repertoire to performing in over 25 live performance shows, ranging from MCing for Dr Sketchy Auckland, to devising experimental performance art for Stranger Things 4. Natalie’s experience in MCing first started with her show “Lilly Loca’s Vaudeville Cabaret” where she was able to let herself loose upon the unsuspecting audience. She is a master of improv and relates well to any audience.
Zane Lazos

Zane Aphrodiasias Presenters at Voices of Sacred Earth Eco Festivals
Zane Lazos is a musician and composer who uses a combination of the Turkish bowed tanbur (yaylı tanbur), saz (plucked stringed instrument), voice, and digital sampler and sequencer to realise a sonic space aimed at ecstatic dance and deep listening. This has been previously presented through the performance art project called Azphodel as well as other collaborative and solo efforts. Growing this practise from a foundation of traditional Western music education, training in Turkish music in the United States (with Chris Henke and master musician Timucin Cevikoglu) and Turkey (with master musician Sadun Aksüt), and along with numerous other world music influences, Zane seeks to blend ancient with contemporary and chart new musical waters wherever they may lead.
www.azphodel.com
Zane Aphrodiasias Presents at Voices of Sacred Earth Eco Festival
Paolo Rotondo

Paolo Rotondo
First and foremost I am an artist. This is not a career choice or an activity I merely entertain, it is who I am, I am my work. My passion is story telling. I work in many different and sometimes very diverse mediums, but all my work shares a standard of excellence a clear and honest voice and is based on my own idiosyncratic, personal vision of the world.
As a filmmaker I’ve just recently completed my first Feature film ‘Orphan & Kingdoms’ on which I was writer/director. http://orphansandkingdoms.comFunded by the The New Zealand Film Commission. It will be released at the 2014 International Film Festival. In 2014 a play I wrote and performed in was chosen by Creative New Zealand to headline the New Zealand Showcase at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival.
Paolo is one of workshop leaders for Page 2 Stage programme.
Melissa Fergusson
is a playwright, director, presenter, actor and social media extraordinaire. Melissa has written and directed plays into Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington on numerous occasions (Motherlock, The Artefact Project, pURe) as well as Gary Henderson’s ‘Skin Tight’, ‘Tipping Point’ (won Wildcards 2, Short + Sweet, 2010) by Mark Andrew and Alex Broun’s ‘Death of Caesar’ world premiere. Melissa is one of the workshop leaders for Page 2 Stage programme.
Sascha Perfect
Sascha is a Wellington based producer and performance artist. She recently returned from 10 years working in Ireland, Poland, Netherlands and Serbia. She has created several Dance Theatre productions and films (Chimera 2011-12, Babylon2012, The Quantum Enigma 2010, Monitor 2008, Organ City 2007, Intimacy 2007,Reality Show 2005). She has performed at various theatres and festivals internationally. She studied Fine Arts in Auckland and Dublin and Performance Research and Training in Novi Sad(Serbia), Amsterdam and Wroclaw.(Poland). Sascha Perfect is a member of DANZ, Dance Ireland and Visual Artist Ireland. Sascha is one of workshop leaders for Page2Stage programme.
Louise Pagonis
Louise Pagonis is an experienced radio and TV broadcaster with her own communications company .She has a regular slot on Duncan Garners Drive show, she coaches business and organisations all over NZ on how to build their own profile in the media without using PR consultants, and she trains TV presenters in the art of on screen communication at the South Seas School of Film and TV. She is one of the Page 2 Stage workshop leaders.
Dr Jack Ross
works as a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Massey University’s AucklandCampus. His short verse drama Scenes from The Puppet Oresteia appeared in 2011 from Narcissus Press (Rhinebeck, NY, USA). His other publications include four full-length poetry collections, three novels, and three volumes of short fiction. He has also edited a number of books and literary magazines, including (with Jan Kemp) the trilogy of audio / text anthologies Classic, Contemporary and New NZ Poets in Performance (Auckland University Press, 2006-8). Details of these and other publications are available on his blog The Imaginary Museum: http://mairangibay.blogspot.com/. One of the workshop leaders for Page 2 Stage 2014.
– – – Over past couple of years Printable Reality has organised and supported a number of poetry events and projects around Auckland and New Zealand – here is the list of some of the artists that participated in alphabetical order :
Stepahanie Christie
This has recently taken her work into video and sound collaborations, devised theatre and visual images.
Stepahanie’s blog page
Her poems Revelations, New Wave and grace notes are published in new Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013
Sarah
I am the lost,I am the found,I am the edge,I am the round,I am the good,I am the bad,I am the happy,I am the sad,I am the woman,I am the man,I am the Idol,I am the fan,I am the empty,I am the full,I am the awareness,I am the all,I AM”
Her poem Thanks is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings -Poetry Anthology 2013
Reece King
“I would like to believe that there’s some purity in us, yeah. Naive – y’know, purposely naïve. This is the main idea behind my poetry.
I Am a Painter/poet.
I don’t really like saying too much about me. The real experience is up to you. Yeah, because I think it’s more important just to inspire people to listen at Art, and start feeling it out for themselves.
I am interested in thinking about William Blake’s quote about progress: ‘Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of genius.’ though I am not sure if I know what it means.
Have you read my poetry?”
His poem One day There was a pigis published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings -Poetry Anthology 2013
More about Reece
Qalina
Qalina (pronunced “kaleena”) is Ukrainian for viburnum, a plant similar to cranberry.
Its bitter berries were used for centuries in folk medicine and as a decorative plant, loved for its resilience and beauty. It is spread through Northern Hemisphere all the way to Africa.
Similarly, Qalina has travelled extensively and the influences on her poetry and music vary from her Slavic roots to Celtic motifs, from jazz to classical and from Shakespeare to Leonard Cohen. “Enjoy it, if you can bear bitterness in beauty.”
Her poems Handfuls of Sunshine, I Have Sailed This Body are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013.
Qalina’s website
Monica Rose Yeoman
I am inspired by my homeland, Aotearoa, and by a journey I’m currently undertaking, traveling by bicycle through Asia and Africa.”
Her poem is published in New Dialgues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Monica’s myspace.com/monica.yeoman/music/songs
Megan Figgest
I studied English, Film and Theatre at Victoria University and completed an Iowa poetry course at the Institute of Modern Letters.
The poets Karlo Mila and Hone Tuwhare have influenced my writing as they explore relevant issues within NZ society.
I have always been an active poet and was the winner of the 2012 Choice Not Chance poetry contest with poem “Instant Kiwi”, judged by NZ poet Hinemoana Baker.”
Her poem Stories Untold is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Mary Bell Thornton
Her works include several stories broadcast on Radio New Zealand.
Mary’s writing room The Fo’c’s’le, spring nestles amongst manuka, ponga and houhere and looks out over Kenepuru Sound where she lives in retirement with her husband Peter.
She writes surrounded by the song of tui, korimako, piwakawaka, shining cuckoo, a plethora of sea birds and the thrum of kereru wings. With no mains power and no road, life moves at a leisurely, creative pace.
Her poem Woven Togetheris published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings Poetry Anthology 2013
Lillia K Jacques
Adopted, Jacques grew up torn between working-class roots and a comfortable middle-class existence. She took from each what appealed; Education and drugs, respectability and sleaze, but always grounded in her two cultural identities. The significance of which is explored in “Plastic Kiwi”.
Inspired by the Beat poets, feminist punk and Riot Grrrl culture, Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Poppy Z. Brite and the lyrics of Billy Corgan, Roz Williams and Brett Gurewitz, Jacques explores topics such as identity, gender, addiction and mental illness.
Website
Her poem Plastic Kiwiis published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Katie Haggath
Katie lives in Christchurch, studies creative writing and mass communications at the University of Canterbury, and spends her free time surrounded by sheep and horses.
She writes freelance as a ‘roving reporter’ for Hoofbeats Australia, where her works can be read in the e-magazine online, and pays the bills working in her local supermarket, where she finds plenty of colourful character inspirations for her stories.
Her published works range from the academic to the entertaining.
Her poem http://new.printablereality.com/waiting-for-the-world/ is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology.
Julie Prince
At the moment I teach at an intermediate, and am studying for a Post Grad. Dip Museum Studies.
It is this love of history that has drawn me to read a copy of my great-great-great grandfather’s diary who was one of the first pakeha settlers in TeUku, Raglan. His story, along with a teaching unit, based on James K. Baxter’s poems inspired me to write the poem, ” The Colonial” which I entered for this competition. It’s hard to believe that he and his wife left England for NZ “not wishing a soul goodbye, not even my dear loving mother”.
The desire for a new life must have been very strong.”
Julie’s Facebook Page
Her poem is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Josie Farrar
I have five brothers and six and a half nephlings.
I am an amateur poet and have mainly created poems for informal purposes over the years.
I have recently started sending the odd poem in to poetry competitions.
I have also recently finished a novel for young, young adults, but I haven’t tried to get it published yet.”
Her poem Endless Beginnings is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – poetry Anthology 2013.
Hayley Ann Solomon
She sings, has pink hair, an extraordinary family and a menagerie of animals ranging from parrots to peacocks.
Like Peter Pan, she has no desire to grow up, and believes love and laughter is her greatest elixir for happiness.
Her poems Land of the Long White Cloud, The reading quest and I’d rather bear a fractured heart are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013.
George Sabonadiere
Is a 12 year-old poet living in Dunedin.
He enjoy writing, Fencing and playing the guitar. He is one of the top writers in his region for his age group.”Matariki means a lot to me as I have grown up in the unique multicultural environment that is so common in New Zealand.I hope you enjoy my writing.”
His poems:Matariki- 1, Matariki- 2 and Tiny eyes are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
David Chadwick
David Chadwick is a writer and musician from Te Horo on the Kapiti Coast.
His poems have appeared in several publications, including Poetry NZ, Coastlines, The School Magazine (Australia), and The Junior Journal.
In 2012 he won the Friends of Kapiti Libraries poetry competition. His prose writing includes Shaking, a novel for young adults.
As a musician, David plays in a number of bands and also appears as a solo performer. He has recorded programmes of original songs for Radio NZ and released a self-produced CD, The Hard Edge.
He is currently working at combining his poetry with his musical performances.
His poems:First contact,
Information spring and Bud burst
are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013.
Charmian Koed
A couple of her poems have been selected for the N Z Poetry Society’s anthologies in recent years.
The Lustre Jug is in a form very different from most of her writing, and is one of those mysterious poems that more or less wrote itself!
Her poem The Lustre Jug was published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013.
Barbara Strang
One of a large family, she was brought up in Invercargill.
When young she was introduced to the sea, mountains and lakes and became fascinated with the natural world.
She lives on the Port Hills, Banks Peninsula, under huge sea cliffs, which she saw as a symbol of the frailty of life even before the recent quakes.
Her house has survived.
Her poems and haiku have been widely published and she has edited poetry anthologies.
Her second poetry collection “The Corrosion Zone” appeared 2011 with HeadworX.
Barbara’s Facebook page
Her poems:
Naked Feet,
The Quake Drums and
A ripped South Island map are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings Poetry Anthology 2013
Alexander Theory
Alex Theory’s tumblr page
His poetry has been published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Poems:
Rise of the Peacemaker
After That Dark Night
Chapters
Aalix Roake
With an emphasis on genre as well as mainstream, her work has appeared in various magazines and anthologies including “The New Zealand Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry” 2009 (as Dana Bryce) (print), to “Blackmail Press16” (online, her poetry and art ), to “TinyWords” (online, Haiku and art) and many others. She has a poem upcoming in “Astropoetica (online). Under variations based on Sandra (Stuart) (SJ) Burkhardt, she has appeared previously in “Short Short Stories by Women Writers II” (print anthology), SFPA “Star*Line” (print), “Aliens and Lovers” (print anthology) and a large variety of other publications in genres ranging from technical medical writing to popular slick magazine nonfiction and is listed in Scott Green’s “Contemporary Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Poetry: A Resource Guide and Biographical Directory”(print). She oftens signs her art as AalixR. Personal reinvention requires frequent name changes.
Website
Poem:
Different Stars, Different Sky published at New Dialogues and New Beginnings
Sue Reidy
Sue Reidy has written short stories and novels and has won prizes, awards and the 2000 Buddle Finlay Sargeson Writers Fellowship.
Her first short story collection was set in South East Asia, defying notions of realism with often humorous results.
Her first novel was set in the context of 1960s New Zealand Catholicism.
Reidy has also worked as a practitioner and teacher of design and illustration.
Her poetry often casts an ironic eye at language and popular culture.
Guest at in VOICE and Music – 16 April 2011 at Pah Homestead
Sth Auck Poets Collective
From a 2007 meeting of friends sharing some pizza boxes at a Youthline building, the group formed with the support of the Youthline Trust.
The Collective has grown into a diverse group of poets, singers, musicians, writers and performers.
Last year they released a book and DVD of their work with the support of Creative New Zealand. South Auckland Poets Collective brings to voice the urban Pacific and Maori experience, using the power of poetry and spoken word to inspire, create and educate.
It’s street poetry in the Def Jam style, telling stories of their own lives.
Armed with their voices and notebooks, they defy the negative stereotypes of Maori and Pacific youth in Manukau and substitute a new story – of a group of young people, gifted and brown, brought together by their love of poetry.
Zane Scarborough – A father. A husband. A poet. A youth-worker of sorts. A member of the South Auckland Poets Collective. a loud mouth. a believer in God. Zanes poetry is clever, witty, heart-felt and always captivating, he writes about life experiences, his wife, his son and highschool.
Clara Jane Sione – A lover of the arts, based in Otara, she refers to her poetry as mental notes learning how to speak. she writes of imagination, her life in south auckland and her family.
Dietrich Solokai – A Youth worker, who lives in Manukau. Poetry always written with the intent to thought prevoke listeners. Dietrich has written pieces about Faith, finding love and the want to ‘Sky Dive’ through life. Marina Alefosio – A musician and mother of two from Manurewa, her poetry touches on common misconceptions of relationships and love. “If its love that we are seeking, it should be love that we are seeking’.
www.zanescarborough.com/south-auckland-poets-collective.html
Steven Ciprian
Steven has been acting on an off for the last 20years.
He graduated from the inaugural year of The Actors Program 2012 which was a full time practical acting school run by some of New Zealands top actors, directors and acting tutors in both Film & Theatre.
Having lived and worked overseas from 1995 – 2004 Steven returned to NZ and graduated from South Seas Film & Television School in majoring in Directing & Acting.
Whilst living abroad he was lucky to be involved in several Theatrical Productions that had diverse and multicultral casts.
He is looking forward to continuing his vocal an acting training and is excited about working in this upcoming venture
Stephanie Johnson
Stephanie Johnson’s training as an actress is evident in her powerful performance of her often political poems.
On National Poetry Day she also offers a preview from her up-coming novel, The Open World, set in 19th century Auckland and London, which has a link to the poetry of Byron.
A purposeful sense of such larger concerns balances novelist, poet and dramatist Johnson’s precision with the small details of situation, character and voice that give veracity and colour.
Co-founder of the Auckland Writer’s and Readers Festival, Johnson has published collections of poetry and short stories, and her numerous novels have received many significant awards.
Her dramatic work for stage and radio is similarly recognised.
Johnson’s writing is not restricted to any particular genre, and her subject matter varies between books, her style ‘marked by a dry irony, a sharp-edged humour’.
Her writing is recognized locally and internationally, and the awards she has been nominated for reflect her broad appeal.
Guest poet @ In VOICE and Music @ Pah 22 July 2011 National Poetry Day
Spirit Rising
Individual artists came together and created a variety group to perform innovative fun-filled shows of Performance Poetry, Rap, Music, Song and Dance.
We have 20 performers bringing art and joy to the world and are always on the lookout for more.
Our mission is to scout the community for emerging talent and offer a platform for development and exposure on stage.
Join us, watch us, collaboarate with us in exciting poetry-based happenings.
The beauty of our group is that we are as dedicated to the community around us as we are to our art.
We open our arms to audiences and artists as we declare:
“ We are Spiritrising, journey with us !”
www.spiritrising.co.nz
Sophia Elise
She has been selected as a finalist in several NZ Art Awards and involved in numerous exhibitions throughout NZ, in London, and Italy.
Sophia has two very distinct styles of art.
She is an extremely tactile person and this love of texture is reflected in her heavily textured minimalist abstract style which often incorporates resin.
Her other distinctive style is created entirely with hand painted dots and inspired by the rich Maori culture. When Sophia creates she believes it’s important to “Make it Memorable”.
She achieves this by drawing inspiration from her emotions and forging it with her environment and experiences to create unique, original art which is a window into her soul.
By doing this she encourages the viewer to connect on a deeper level and explore places within themselves.
www.sophiaelise.co.nz
Siri Embla Risnes
International freelance performance artist with a long history and a wide range of skills (acting, physical theatre, dance, improvisation, singing/songwriter, video, poetry, clowning.
Trained at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (Contemporary Performance, WAAPA), Baardar Academy of Musical Theatre in Norway, and spent one year with master improviser Al Wunder (theatre of the ordinary).
Work experience range from small improvised solos to big musical ensembles like Chess (2006) and Les Miserablès (2003).
Toured the devised multimedia poetry theatre show ”Lovers Walk – A Poetic Journey in 8 Scenes” together with Gus Simonovic in Europe (incl Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011) and NZ.
Instigated the kinetic poetry ensemble ”The White Wall” , which performs improvised site specific pieces on a regular basis in New Zealand (Prana 2012, First Thursdays K’rd, InVoice & Music – Wallace Arts Gallery, Whitespace Contemporary Gallery).
Previous vocalist in Macombee & The Absolute Truth, headlining New Years Eve at Prana festival 2010.
Played in “Helter” (2012), ”Amanda Fra Haugesund” (2011).
Works for Printable Reality NZ, devising new poetry theatre fusing it with dance and other art forms. Ready with Insomnia in a Daydream for Auckland Fringe 2013 and tour. Her main focus is to create connections between people and the environment. To create space for thought and feeling, to allow senses to expand into new dimensions through poetry of words and movement, telling stories for the heart and soul. She loves collaborating with other artists and aim to continuously create new work.
Siobhan Harvey
In 2009 she was Auckland Regional Council Writer in Residence.
In 2010 her poetry was nominated for the Pushcart Prize (US).
She also works as Coordinator of National Poetry Day, an Editor for the Poetry Archive in the UK and Poetry Editor of Takahe Magazine.Siobhan Harvey’s page at www.bookcouncil.org.nz
Her poem An occasional boat is part of Aotearoa Found in Translation and is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings Poetry Anthology 2013
Simone Kaho
She considers the performance of poetry to be as important as its publication on the page and has performed at the 2010 Side Stream Poetry Brothel, with Hinemoana Baker at the launch of her second book Koiwi Koiwi, and at the opening of the Aotea Square in Auckland.
Over 2010 she ran and MC’d two events; Poetry at Our Edge of the Universe – a poetry/music/music event for National Poetry Day 2010, and Poetry Pick’n’Mix – an alternative take on slam poetry.
Her work has been published in Turbine and The Dominion Post.
Simon Watts
He is an award-winning hip-hop and Tap dancer, representing New Zealand at the World hip-hop championships (2007 and 2009) and winning the National Young Performer of the Year Award in Tap.
His drive continues to bring a fresh and exciting perspective to his art forms and to offer alternative experiences to New Zealand dance.
Sigred Yamit

Sigred Yamit – Photo Credit: V E Photography
“I am an aspiring poet, forevermore fascinated by words and rhymes and the awesomeness of life.” Her poems Renaissance, When the Creation Learns How to Feel and Aotearoa are published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013. Her poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Sigred Yamit – Photo Credit: V E Photography
Shreya Nair
My name is Shreya Nair. At the age of 4 I moved to New Zealand from India.
Despite being very young, I was extremely captivated by the new environment and especially the language. I started reading books soon after.
After endless reading followed by more reading, I naturally adopted and fostered a fervent love for literature.
At around 6, I began writing and something about it just made me so happy. How it allowed me to escape from reality. I was astonished when I first established how powerful words can be.
Writing is now a big part of my life.
Shreya’s poem is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Shane Hollands

Shane Hollands
Shane Hollands has been a performance poet for over 20 years and instigated the Auckland based poetry troupe ‘The Literatti’ as Creative Director for the collective’s initial year. Shane is also front man for the band ‘Freaky Meat’ & was half of beat-speak act ‘Beautiful Losers’ with musician Paul Williams.
Shane created and has run the national anual event The Kerouac Effect for over 8 years. Pairing Musician with Poets in Auckland Wellington and Melbourne.
Shane has performed his work from tip to tip of New Zealand & in Melbourne, Australia. Preferring people to see him perform live, he avoids submitting though his work has made its way into Live Lines, Side Stream, Tongue In Your Ear, and some independently published collections.
For links to his work with Freaky Meat see:www.facebook.com/freakymeat
Come and see hm perform at POP-UP POETS more at facebook
Saray Torres de Riddell
Saray Torres de Riddell has been a university language teacher and translator in Colombia and New Zealand. She holds a Master’s Degree in Linguistics from the University of Auckland.
In 2002 she was the interpreter of linguist Noam Chomsky’s at Universidad Nacional- Medellin where she worked for many years.
Interpreter and literary workshop leader for a Latin American Women’s Group in London. For five years she was a translator, event organizer and presenter for Corporación de Arte y Poesía Prometeo which organizes the International Poetry Festival in Medellin, Colombia.
She has also translated poetry for a number of international poets who have attended the festival in Medellin and for several New Zealand writers among them Ron Riddell. Cofounded the Wellington International Poetry Festival.
Sarah Marlowe Spence
Sarah Marlowe Spence (Premratna)
shares sacred songs and chants in the medium of voice and guitar or harmonium.
Songs are in the style of ‘inspirational folk’, with sanskrit melted into some to uplift on a different level.
With a pure soaring soprano voice, this music is another good reason to pause in the midst of busy life.
“Feelings are what connect us to life and to one another.
To be able to feel is one of the extraordinary gifts of humanity.
To neither suppress our feelings nor be caught by them,but to understand them – that is the art.”
www.premratnamusic.com
Sarah Macombee
Sarah Macombee, Poppy Pritchard and Angel Neshama – are a captivating trio performing original songs in close three-part harmony in a provocative, moving and often hilarious peek into singer-songwriter Sarah Macombee’s world.
www.macombee.com
Sarah Albisser
Sandra Sarala
Singing poet and spoken word performer Sandra Sarala was born and raised in Dunedin and kept escaping north until getting stranded in Berlin 11 years ago.
On the way she performed in Wellington (with Red Mole’s Roadworks Company), South Korea, Poland and Italy, as well as in Berlin.
She co-founded the ensemble Polynushka whose CD won the German Record Critic’s Prize for folklore in September 2008. Her highly commended poem ‘Spelling’ won third prize in this year’s Robert Burns Poetry Competition.
You can hear a couple of her spoken word pieces here
Sam Sampson
Sali Simwinga
Being part of the diaspora has been a strong influence on her writing which was originally inspired by her nurse mother and military turned probation officer father.
More recently poetry has become an essential way of exploring and expressing her experience of being an immigrant in a culture unfamiliar with Africa.
Rosetta Allan
She has been steadily published in NZ literary journals; won a few awards and is currently writing her first novel.
Poet/Writer/Fine Arts Consultant
www.creativex.co.nz
Rosanna Raymond
A ‘Tusitala’ (a teller of tales) at heart her art practice takes a variety of forms ranging from installation works, spoken words and body adornment, fusing traditional pacific practises with modern innovations and techniques.
A published poet and writer, with art works held in museum and private collections around the world, Raymond has forged a role for herself over the past 15 years as a producer and commentator on contemporary PI culture, both in Aotearoa NZ, the UK and the USA working within museums and higher education institutions as an artist, performer, curator, guest speaker, poet and workshop leader.
Raymond has undertaken art residencies at the De Young Museum San Francisco, University of Hawaii Manoa and the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology UK, where she curated the internationally acclaimed Pasifika Styles exhibition with Dr Amiria Salmond.
An active member of the London based Polynesian cultural groups Beats of Polynesia and Ngati Ranana, Raymond continues to exhibit write and develop her art practice.
Her poem SLEEPING WITH MOUNTAINS is included in Aotearoa Found in Translation and is publsihed in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013
Ron Riddell
A painter, musician and the author of a number of plays and novels, he has published twenty-one collections of verse. In 2004 he was finalist in The Wellingtonian of the Year Awards. His verse collection, Leaves of Light was awarded The House of Poetry International Poetry Award for 2005. His latest verse collection is entitled The Oracle of Alexandria (2009) and his most recent novel, The Guardian of The Shield (2012).
His work has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Czech, Arabic, Turkish and Greek. Most recently he and his wife were performing poetry in Valencia, Barcelona, Brussels and Prague.
Robert Sullivan
As a significant NZ poet (Ngapuhi, Kai Tahu) and former Auckland central city librarian, Sullivan was the obvious choice to undertake a commissioned piece of poetry to reflect the area’s vibrant history.
Sullivan has had seven poetry collections published and won several New Zealand awards for his children’s writing and editing.
He was a poetry finalist in this year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards for editing Mauri Ola, the follow-up anthology to the successful Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English.
He is currently head of the Manukau Institute of Technology’s new School of Creative Writing.
Robert Edwards
NZ Touch football player now turned Poet, Author and Theatre host.
Rob is the Founder of Auckland charity group called “Community Spiritrising” showcasing more than 150 emerging artists onto Auckland stages.
He is most passionate with mastering his poetry and ukulele and enjoys promoting his book “Rising Together”.
Rob also teaches his Goal Setting workshop in the community.
www.spiritrising.co.nz/
Riemke Ensing
Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, journals, periodicals and magazines both here and abroad and can be read on many websites, including UK Poetry Archive.
She was the recipient of Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellow 2002.
Awarded the Lauris Edmond Memorial Poetry Award 2012.
Winner NZSA 2012 Kevin Ireland Poetry Competition.
www.ensing.co.nz
Renee Liang
As well as performing her own poetry and running Poetry Slams in the persona of “Slammistress”, Renee has been involved with Poetry Live for many years, acting as MC from 2005-9, and organising many other poetic events.
She was a key instigator in the Guerilla Poetry group which literally puts poetry on the streets.
She also produces Funky Oriental Beats, a yearly showcase for Kiwi-Asian performing artists and helps run the arts collaboration project Metonymy.
Her sold-out plays Lantern and The Bone Feeder have been seen in centres around the North Island.
In February 2011 her short film with director Steven Chow, “Tide”, will show at Clermont-Ferrand film festival.
A collaboration between herself and Robbie Ellis, “The Lovers’ Knot” for actor and orchestra, will be performed by Stuart Devenie and the Auckland Philharmonia in May.
Renee has been published in the New Zealand Listener, JAAM, Blackmail Press, Tongue in your Ear, Sidestream and Magazine. For her work in medicine and arts, Renee was named a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader in 2010.
Her poem An open letter to Mr Peter Brown of New Zealand First is part of Aotearoa Found in Translation and is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings- Poetry Anthology 2013
Rebecca Parr
She lived in Beijing, China as a full time actress and voice artist doing film, theatre, TV and American and British voiceovers and dubbing for Chinese films from 2007-2011.
She speaks Mandarin and French.
Rebecca has been the lead in over 25 short films, 4 plays and had a 3 episode guest starring role as news reporter Julie Caulder in Shortland Street, all this year.
She is currently a key supporting role as American CIA Agent Lydia Manson in the feature film “Not For Children” for release next year.
Rasam
His versatility as an MC/Singer enables him to cater to almost all the modern popular genres with Reggae, Hip Hop and Dub step being his strongest niche.
The past year has seen Re come to the forefront of the New Zealand Dub step & Drum & Bass scene.
He has opened for a large number of the heavyweights in the NZ electronica scene.
Rasam is also the founder and owner of DUBJB Music NZ Ltd – an events and promotion business set up to support and promote New Zealand music.
Rasam has a diploma in Audio Engineering and is currently completing a degree in Recording Arts with SAE Institute.
Rasam has been involved in all aspects of the New Zealand music industry for well over 5 years.
Being a professional musician, promoter, band manager, music teacher and audio engineer has given him a vast knowledge and a clear understanding of what is required to become successful in the New Zealand music Industry.
Randall $tephens
He doesn’t suffer fools.
He doesn’t ride a bike that doesn’t have brakes.
He doesn’t get stuck in traffic.
He doesn’t use phrase like ‘l-o-l” and doesn’t tell people about his new kettle on facebook.
He does not believe in fairies (plop!).
He doesn’t play nice with the other poets. Randall $tephens does write poetry, He writes about all dinosaurs and cycling and travelling and breasts and being angry and being happy and sex at inappropriate times. He performs. Well. He does come from Melbourne.
He is on his way.
Raewyn Alexander
Raewyn Alexander writes novels, stories, poems, non-fiction, essays – and a blog read world-wide, promoting poetic journeys and trees for travel.
She’s also a UNITEC lecturer and Leisuretime Learning tutor, taking highly regarded writing courses.
A fourth generation New Zealander – French, Irish, Scots and English – originally from Hamilton, she’s travelled the world and now resides in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.
Her work ranges far, tending to favour contemporary life, strong imagery, some highly politicised pieces and also, mysterious, fantastical explorations showing what she calls, “the infinite world within us, in a true, dynamic relationship with the material world.”A link to the first page of Alexander’s google resources Her poem hey Delilah, what’s happening in New York City? won poetry competition New Dialogues and New Beginnings and is published as well as possibly and in New Dialogues and New Beginings -Poetry Anthology 2013
Her work’s won prizes and been short-listed for major competitions; in 2014, a Miles Hughes Achievement Award prize-winner. Lately she’s working on a graphic poetry collection, soon having some poetry cartoons published in Three Words Anthology. Alexander’s poetic journeys to America and trees for travel blog is read world-wide.http://poeticjourneytoamerica.blogspot.co.nz/Her poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Prema Cottingham
She has a passion for the spoken word, poetry, and most especially theatre, and while she hasn’t made much of her own poetical skills it is one of her great loves.
She first collaborated with Gus in 2007 and is very much looking forward to future collaborations.
Piet Nieuwland
Poetry is not a luxury, it is a necessary part of the creativity of every day.
The poetry of Piet Nieuwland acknowledges and reflects his ancestry of farmers, cheese makers, artists, mathematicians, musicians and linguists.
Piet reads poetry in all sorts of places; arts festivals, beaches, public meetings, libraries, restaurants, hui, art galleries, conferences, hilltops, and bars and cafes and particularly enjoys seeing the response. His poems have been published in print and online in Mattoid, Snafu, Takahe, Trout, Spin, Tounge in Your Ear, Live Lines, Take Flight, Blue Note Review, Poetry New Zealand and Landfall. His self-published limited editions booklets (50-100) often feature a unique picture or design on the cover of each copy. He co-edits Fast Fibres 2, a compilation of Northland poetry. His poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Peter Brierley-Millman
Collects creates processes beautiful and natural imagery from many countries and distills into elements for collaboration with printable reality………….
www.brierleymillman.com
Peter Bland
He is possibly best known for his memorable role as a small-town conman Wes Pennington in the film “Came A Hot Friday”, but is equally acclaimed as raconteur, broadcaster, writer and poet for children and adults, published in new Zealand by Steele Roberts.
Peter Bland immigrated to New Zealand in 1954.
He was a co-founder and artistic director of Wellington’s Downstage Theatre, and since the 1970s he has divided his time between New Zealand and the UK and published widely in both countries.
Guest poet @ In VOICE and Music @ Pah 22 July 2011 National Poetry Day
Penny Somervaille
I have been published in Raewyn Alexander’s Magazine ; Sidestream, Live Lines, PotRoast, Blackmail Press, and The Bridge Project on NZEPC .
I am currently one of four MC’s at Poetry Live at the Thirsty Dog.
Penny Ashton

Penny Ashton
Penny Ashton has performed over 500 solo shows and toured all over the world from Edinburgh to Adelaide to Edmonton to Singapore to Stewart Island. She has won numerous awards including Best Performance in a Comedy at the Auckland Fringe 2013 and best performance by an International Poet at the London Farrago Awards and been nominated for four Best NZ Female Comedienne nominations, three Adelaide Fringe People’s Choice nominations and Best Ricky Martin Rewrite at the Winnipeg Fringe 2007. Penny has represented New Zealand in Theatresports and Performance Poetry and has performed by invitation at The Glastonbury Festival. She has to eat and so has numerous fingers in numerous pies including poet, MC, comedienne, social commentator, TV presenter, Voice over artist, improviser, Wedding Celebrant and all around show-off. In her career Penny has created numerous solo shows and also group long form improv shows, which she produces, markets and tour manages herself.
Paul Williams
I did lots of small acoustic gigs in my teens.Played bass for a while in the early 80″s.
Began writing my best songs in 87. Did lots of folk club acoustic perfomances. Did 2 years busking in the early 90’s and had a band in Whangaparaoa till 95. Did lots of music after moving to Rotorua. Came back to Auckland in 1999. Played all over Auckland since 2000 anywhere I could. Also started to play cello. Since then I have released 4 albums. Teamed up with Shane Hollands in 2004 to form Beautiful Losers. Music set me free.
Paul Nathan
His work has appeared in many leading magazines including Elle and L’Officiel, and has worked for clients such as Ralph Lauren.
He was part of “Reflect”, a show at the International Center of Photography in New York in 2008, and will be exhibited in “State of the Arts” at the Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland in 2011.
www.paulnathanstudio.com
Nicole Potter
Nicole is 10 years old poet from Auckland of Asian and European origin. The leader of the art club in her school with interests in arts crafts and mah-jong. One of the youngest authors published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Matariki- Poetry Anthology 2013 with poem The Stars.
Nicholas Alexander
Natalie Dowd
Nalini Singh
From helping launch the youth climate movement in NZ through Power Shift NZ Pacific, she’s absurdly fascinated in all things sustainable, immersing herself in permaculture, social entrepreneurship, and nutrient-based healthcare whilst formally studying evolutionary ecology and environmental economics at The University of Auckland.
She’s the founder and president of the Auckland University Poetry Society, been published nationally and internationally and just last week was at The International Conference on Thinking 2013 to see how to combine her environmental concerns with multimedia for children.
about.me/nalini.singh
Naked Voices
Lead by Robert Sullivan, the last six months has seen the group writing poetry, stories, songs and scripts with a vision to be the first students of MIT to bring their works to life through performance.
They are a collective of fourteen voices with a range of backgrounds reflecting life language and culture in Aotearoa.
They pulsate truths and experiences, sharing sparks of creativity, igniting the flames within us and setting our world alight, through the art of spoken word.
Murray Edmond
Latest volume of poetry, Walls to Kick and Hills to Sing from: A Comedy with Interruptions; dramaturge for Indian Ink Theatre Company, whose latest play, The Guru of Chai won best play of the year at the Chapman Tripp awards in 2011;
Editor of the on-line journal Ka Mate Ka Ora: A New Zealand Journal of Poetry and Poetics; Associate-Professor in Drama at the University of Auckland.
Miriam Barr
She publishes Side Stream (a bi-monthly poetry zine), is one of the founding Guerrilla Poets, one of the co-ordinators of Poetry Live and creative writing tutor at Toi Ora Live Art Trust.
Once an avid slam-poet, Miriam has won several slams including Poetry Idol 2007.
Her work has been published in such places as Landfall, Poetry NZ, Black Mail Press, JAAM, Magazine, Enamel, and The Wild Goose Poetry Review.
Miodrag Pesic
Miho Wada
She has performed around the world touring with many groups, including performances at WOMAD festivals (Australia & NZ), Love Box festival (UK), Havana International Jazz Festival (Cuba), Tanja Latina Festival (Morocco) and Nagaoka Winter Festival (Japan).
She has recorded with Iggy Pop, performed with Jarvis Cocker, Nigel Kennedy, members of Buena Vista Social Club and Sierra Maestra.
She has also been mentored by Seun Kuti and toured around the world with Ska Cubano.
In 2009 Miho started her Japanese Punk Jazz (J-PJ) band based in Auckland, NZ.
She sings her songs with quirky lyrics in English and Japanese as well as improvising on flute and saxophone.
She is accompanied by the guitar, bass and drums, creating a unique mix of rock / punk / jazz / funk and contemporary world music.
Their fine musicianship and explosive instrumental solos create a dynamic atmosphere that flows from the stage.
Michelle Bolton
A universal citizen by nurture, Michelle has spent her life all over the world and scribbling about it since she was able to hold a pen.
After attending film school in New York she returned home, fell in love with a kiwi and put pursuing her writing on hold to start her family.
Michelle has been published in “Blackmail Press issue 14”, the “NZ Poetry Org. -Winter Edition” and is a fledgling performance poet.
In 2005, she published her first book of poetry entitled “Wheel of the World”.
When she’s not hosting the new monthly event at the “The Library Bar”, Michelle spends her time raising her 3 kids and trying to complete a second collection of poetry.
Michele Leggott
A powerful and beautiful new poem concerns Olive’s arrival in her life on the day of the Pike River tragedy.
A daily traveller, crafter of words and a maker of fire, award winning poet, academic, essayist, and editor, she was the 2008/2009 New Zealand Poet Laureate, and the result of her term was the lush collection of poems Mirabile Dictu, Auckland University Press, 2009.
She is co-ordinator of the New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre (nzepc) at the University of Auckland, a leading online literary resource.She has published several significant works of non-fiction, including Young Knowledge: the Poems of Robin Hyde.
She was created a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M) in 2009. Guest poet @ In VOICE and Music @ Pah 22 July 2011 National Poetry Day
Michael Onslow-Osborne
He is focused on developing the poetics of found language, such as spam.
He has nothing to say.
He has been trolling around the Auckland poetry scene for ages, and organises the occasional Soft Boiled series.
His poetry has been published inABDotWW, Salt and Flint.
Michael Botur
Botur has been published in Takahe, JAAM, Bravado, The Lumiere Reader, Prima Storia, Deep South, Catalyst, and a number of overseas journals including Weaponizer.co.uk.
He has a Masters in Creative Writing from AUT.
He is currently working on a case of beer and a new novel.
Botur also writes for Auckland arts magazine Renegade House: renegade house and Botur’s Fight Squad @ squadblog.tumblr.com & botur.tumblr.com
His poem Baggage is insluced in Aoteraoa Found in Translation and published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings -Poetry Anthology 2013
http://botur.tumblr.com/
Matthew Harvey
He has performed in the U.K (London & Leeds) and also as part of the show “GUSH: Love and other filthy habits” in Christchurch and as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival.
Mark Pirie
His latest book is A Tingling Catch: A Century of New Zealand Cricket Poems 1864-2009.
More information on (and details of) Mark’s readings, history and photos as a performer are available in Mark’s bibliography at his website:www.markpirie.com
Maris O’Rourke
Maris O’Rourke has been writing 5 years and published in a range of journals in NZ and overseas. She has been well placed in a number of competitions including the Caselberg, Robert Burns,SIWA and the Kevin Ireland.
She has published in Takahe, Poetry New Zealand, Bravado, Shot Glass Journal (USA), International Literary Quarterly (UK) and Side Stream.
Maris has been a guest poet in Poetry NZ and ‘a fine line’ and her work was included in ‘Aotearoa Found in Translation’.
In 2010 she was runner-up in the Auckland NZSA Sonnet competition and awarded an NZSA Mentorship.
Maris’s first children’s book ‘Lillibutt’s Big Adventure’ was published in 2012 (Duck Creek Press) and her first poetry collection ‘Singing With Both Throats’ was published in 2013 (David Ling).
Maris has been featured on Radio NZ’s 9 to noon and Arts On Sunday. She has also performed her work widely including the Fringe Festival’s spit.it.out and the Writers and Readers Festival.
Her poem Three Firsts was a winning poem in poetry competition New Dialogues and New Beginnings and was published with Intruders at the New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013. Her poetry has also been published in “We Society” Poetry Anthology 2015.
Madeleine Marie Slavick
She touches what she loves.
She is the author of several books, the editor of more, and has exhibited her photographic images in several countries.
She has lived in Hong Kong, Germany, midwest, east- and west-coast USA, and is currently based in The Wairarapa of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
One friend calls her ‘beauty hunter’ and sometimes, she calls herself ‘tree’.
Every day, she posts an image on her blog: touchingwhatilove.blogspot.com.
website
Martin Porter
He now lives a quieter life in New Zealand.
He has poems published in Auckland’s Poetry Live ‘Live Lines 4’, ‘Wavelengths, an anthology of Channel Island writing’ and in the upcoming edition of the San Pedro River Review as well as taking part in poster displays in Whangarei, Guernsey Airport and the NorthTec exhibition “Chain Reaction”.
He was the winner of the Channel Islands Writers competition (poetry section) 2005 and the Whangarei Libraries 2012 flash fiction competition.
Some of Martin’s poems and additional notes
His poem A new Language-Hypothesis for Two Voices is published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings Poetry Anthology 2013
Louis Ariki Tait
Her poems A DREAM, and KIRSTIE’S POEMare published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Tourettes
Hello – my name’s Tourettes I make rap music for the broken-hearted and poetry for illiterates.
My main influences are books, films, sandwiches and love songs.
Everything in my life revolves around my love of words…
Read more at Amplifier.co.nz
Toni Allen
Tim Heath
Since retiring I have slipped into the swift flowing waters of the river that is writing.
I am often very close to drowning, and have little hope of reaching the other side.
However, my head has been above water for long enough to allow me to have had three stories broadcast by Radio NZ, poems published in various magazines and some success in poetry slams.
I have ‘finished’ a novel, which has been rejected, usually politely, by various publishers.
In 2009, I completed the Masters of Creative Writing course at AUT.
My main interests are spending time with my eight grandchildren, cooking, gardening, playing golf and listening to others.
Whatever the time or place, I also have the joy of being able to hear, and obey, the voice that still whispers writing ideas somewhere inside my head.
The White Wall
Their performances are candid and responsive.
They are moving in nature and reflecting that through movement and stillness.
Nature! – whether it is the urban nature or the green nature or human nature or….
“We relate – we make connections –stories, poems, sculpture … in a moment- we breathe – we are still – we move – we keep moving …”
Performances: – The White Wall supported by Printable Reality was part of First Thursdays K Rd- A three hours improv in between Verona, Ironbank, Te Karanga Gallery & St Kevins arcade – connecting different venues as well as making connections with the people.
Creating a movie “Attend”with Siri Embla, Lou Taylor, Gus Simonovic and dubtext
The Literatti
Auckland based performance poetry troupe The Literatti have been presenting their genre defying fusion of spoken word, music, performance, visual art and elements of theatre since 2006.
Formed in late 2005 after founder Shane Hollands was inspired by the Def Jam Poets, the group has evolved a collaborative approach, combining multiple voices in an almost symphonic display of contemporary word play and working with numerous other performers, musicians, visual artists and the odd animator or two.
Their aim is always to personify poetry, transforming each poem into something that lives, breathes, sounds and behaves.
The group then set it to musical soundscapes that range from rock and electronica through to jazz, blues and reggae.
Poetry as never seen before!
Pictured – poets for the “Why Don’t We ..?”
show Auckland Fringe Festival 2011: Miriam Barr, Daniel Larsen, Shane Hollands, Jai MacDonald, Zanni Anderson, Christian Jensen, Jerry Beale, Gus Simonovic. Other members : Sabrina Muck and Anna Kaye Forsyth. photo: Erin Gaffney /Ideas Imbed Creative
Website:http://www.theliteratti.com
Tara – Patti Cakes
Zoran von Jakimov
Educated around the world in the midst of a perpetual battle between the light and the shadow, the ecstasy and apathy.
His never-ending desire for the ultimate beauty has led him in the company of like-minded, great and inspiring people.
Zoran’s photography is unique and out of this world.
Full of magical dreams brought back on this Earth as a priceless, treasured gift.
Yvette Audain
She holds a Master of Music in composition from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Bachelor of Music in composition and clarinet from the University of Auckland, from whence she also holds a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary).
Yvette’s performance experience encompasses classical (Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra; New Zealand Opera), jazz (Brett’s New Internationals; the Frank E. Evans Band), folk (Doris; seisiuns and folk festivals throughout New Zealand), concert band (the Royal New Zealand Navy Band; the Band of the Wellington and Hawkes Bay Regiment), and free improvisation (Vitamin S).
Recent commissions include Walking Bach which was premiered by massed mandolin ensemble at the FAME (Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles) festival in Auckland, January 2011, and Felix the Cat: The Magic Bag, a short cartoon soundtrack for the APO Wind Quintet.
Yvette has also been thoroughly involved in projects by Auckland composition collective The Committee.
In March 2011 she presented the exceptionally well-attended Grooves Unspoken: Music by Yvette Audain in association with the Auckland Fringe Festival.
Yvette continues to have her music performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, for whom she has been an arranger since 2008.
In 2011 she is one of six composers selected for the APO’s Graduate Composer Workshop, with Eulogy (text: Olivia Macassey, 1994) for narrator and orchestra, which will receive its premiere in the May 11 Works With Words concert, as part of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival. For more info :visit :visit http://sounz.org.nz/contributor/composer/1227 and http://apo-readersandwriters-audain.notlong.com/ or
website www.yvetteaudain.com/
Xinia Alderson
During her time studying she has performed as a dancer in TEMPO dance festival in both 2009 and 2010.
She has been involved in many other small dance projects and discovered an interest in Yoga, Pilates, Somatics, and dance photography.
In 2010 she worked with Black Grace Dance Company and continued to work with them in 2011 for the Auckland Festival and a Pacifica performance.
From 2009 onwards she has been a dancer, choreographer, and coach for the AUT Dance Company.
Veil and the Bedlambs
With a background in architecture and Japanese language Celine draws on a dancer’s sensibility to foreground the inherent relationship of internal and external environment.
Find out more at :desensu.wordpress.com
Lynne Cardy
The thing I really enjoy about my role here is the ability to connect new artists with real industry experience, to introduce them to meaningful professional networks and to generate new work.
Lynn Beesley (Bettiblue)
Lynn Beesley (Bettiblue), has travelled the world gathering inspiration for her paintings, poems, designs and photographs.
She loves to explore ideas around the nature of relationships and cultural traditions and how they shape who we become.
Poems and paintings dance side by side as she invites us to join her on her journey.
She is happy to accept commissions and her work can be viewed and purchased through her website.
Lee Ah Yen Faatoia
He studied in Australia in AAA Sydney Acting school and is currently studying in level 3 Mastery with Kacie Stetson at Studio 111 (Auckland) 2012.
He has been a full time actor in New Zealand since May 2011.Experienced in screen-wise, film, television, stunt work and Theatre.
He loves the challenge, Adaptable in many ways.
He is still pursuing his career and has manage to do over 30 short films and over 4 Theatre plays.
You can find more about him at www.imdb.me/leeahyenfaatoia
or from his www.leeahyen.comwebsite
Leanne Radojkovich
She won the Lilian Ida Smith Award for writing in 2009 and has twice been shortlisted for the Reed Fiction Award.
Website:www.leanneradojkovich.com
Lauren Dunningham
After graduating with an advanced certificate in dance and drama, she continued to co-directed Triple8funk dance company since 2006 and in 2008 competed at the World Hip Hop Championships.
She is a Facilitaotor for the Centre for Poetics and Justice and was also a finalist in the Victorian State Final of the Australian Poetry Slam.
In 2012 she also represented N.Z in the Trans Tasman slam competition.
She has travelled the globe teaching and performing HipHop Dance and Poetry within Tokyo, L.A, NYC, Australia and New Zealand.
For the past 3years she has judged the N.Z HipHop Nationals and many other HipHop competitions within Australia.
Her own ambition for the performing arts and people continues to help her create new ways of redifining movement, voice and performance.
Kotaro Nishishita
He graduated as a Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Waikato (2006-2009) studying under Katya Skandera, Federico Quercia and John Couch.
He has won 2 best performance prizes and a Merit prize from Lilburn Student Composition Awards in 2006 and 2008 by performing his own composed piece of music.
Currently he is having lessons from James Tennant(Cello) and Tomonori Arai.
He is based in Auckland.
Became a member of Printable Reality collaborating with poets, dancers and visual artists around Auckland. Untill AUT Dance Company, Koutaro & Gus
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.