Sirjana Singh

Sirjana Singh

Sirjana Singh

Poetry is my scape, it is my mirror and my address to the world.

Hello my name is Sirjana and I love words!
I see them as colours visually forming beautiful shapes in front of my eyes when I hear words,
They are particularly bright when I hear something that tugs the strings of my heart.
I therefore live in a colorful reality.

Public speaking is my second love,
I think I am a little vain
maybe a lot,
but more than attention what satisfies my heart
is to make a difference
to make art reach its truest purpose:
to find someone who can appreciate it more than I can.

Web:http://www.letstalkwords.com/

See her perform at POP-UP POETS event

 

Ali Jacs

Ali Jacks

Ali Jacks

An engaging and topical performer from Wellington, Ali Jacs is the 2012 New Zealand National Poetry Slam Champion. After getting involved in the spoken word community in the Canadian prairies, Ali returned home to NZ in 2010 and has since played an integral role in building up Wellington’s performance poetry community. In early 2012 she started up the monthly Poetry in Motion evening.

After winning 2nd place in the 2011 NZ National Poetry Slam, she went on to win the 2012 title, has since featured as a guest at the Australian National Poetry Slam and competed in the 2013 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Minneapolis.

Come and see her perfoming at Auckland 2 August at Iron Bar

 

Lia Eteuati

Lia Eteuati

Lia Eteuati

Lia Eteuati is a writer and a poet who got lost as a lawyer for over ten years but is in the process of finding her way back from the wilderness. She is currently undertaking a Masters of Creative Writing at the University of Auckland and was awarded the Sir James Wallace Masters of Creative Writing Scholarship on the strength of her writing portfolio. She has been published in a number of different publications, but loves spoken word for its ability to bring poetry to thepeople. She was the runner up in this year’s University of Auckland Poetry Slam 2014 and won the first Auckland heat of the New Zealand Poetry Slam 2014.

Sally Strange-Love

Sally Strange-Love

Sally Strange-Love

Sally Strange-Love is an enigma – to herself.. Questions of Identity and Reality entangle themselves in blue within and outside of her personal space-time continuum.. Finding herself continuously led by some extreme mystic drive to actualisation, Sally Strange-Love skirts the boundaries between art and psychosis in an attempt to evade hypnotic enslavement to a prescribed consensus reality fraught with pathological normality, obsolete political hierarchy and ongoing systemic atrocity.
Sally Strange-Love wishes to inculcate everyone into her Cult of Possibility through concepts of life as poetry in perpetual motion, and poetry as magic in creative chaos. She is set to give Auckland City a taste of her mental state as she stands for the pop-up poetry party, where you too can play a part in The Poetic Revolution..
Involved in POP-UP POETS project and perfoming at http://printablereality.com/events/pop-up-poets/. More info at Facebook page

Sue Reidy

Sue Reidy

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

Sth Auck Poets Collective

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

Spirit Rising

Spirit Rising

Spirit Rising

The Spiritrising concept was formed in 2009.
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

Siri Embla Risnes

Siri Embla Risnes

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

Siobhan Harvey

Siobhan Harvey

Siobhan Harvey is the author of the poetry collection, Lost Relatives (Steele Roberts, 2011), Words Chosen Carefully:New Zealand Writers in Discussion (Cape Catley, 2010) and Our Own Kind: 100 New Zealand Poems about Animals (Godwit, 2009).
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

Simone Kaho

Simone Kaho

Simone Kaho gained an MA in Creative Writing in 2010 with distinction and project scholarship.
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

Simon Watts

Simon Watts

Simon Watts (TMC) is a highly sought after dance practitioner and performer in New Zealand with an extensive history in performing and choreographing nationally and internationally.
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.

Shane Hollands

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

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

Sam Sampson

Sam Sampson

Sam Sampson

Sam Sampson’s first book of poems, Everything Talks, was published in 2008 and won the Montana Best First Book of Poetry award.
Sam lives in Auckland with his partner and daughter.
Part of in VOICE and Music – AUP special event on 7th May 2011 at Pah Homestead

Sali Simwinga

Sali Simwinga

Sali Simwinga

Zambian-born Sali moved to England when she was 11 and to New Zealand when she was 16.
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.

Ron Riddell

Ron Riddell

Ron Riddell

Writer and peace-advocate, Arts graduate of Auckland University, he has been involved in a number of peace and cultural initiatives in Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, U.S.A. and New Zealand and has been the founder and organiser of many writers’ workshops and cultural gatherings in New Zealand, Great Britain and Colombia.
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

Robert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan Read about Robert Sullivan’s poem engraved on the steps of the staires in front ofThe Auckland Ciity Libraries at Lorne Street.
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

Robert Edwards

Robert Edwards

Double International Sports player Robert Edwards trades in his boots for the Arts.
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/

Renee Liang

Renee Liang

Renee Liang

A poet, playwright and fiction writer, Renee frequently collaborates across disciplines.
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

Rasam

Rasam

Rasam

At only 21 Rasam has already established himself as one of New Zealand’s finest up and coming musicians.
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

Randall $tephens

Randall $tephens

Randall $tephens is the last angry man, he was the first one too.
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

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.

 

 

Peter Bland

Peter Bland

Peter Bland

Peter Bland will read from his 2010 collection “Loss” written after the death of his wife Beryl in 2009, and from current and early love poems.
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

Penny Somervaille

Penny Somervaille

I was a ‘closet’ writer for a number of years, and finally in 1998 I was accepted to do a writing paper at Victoria University with Bill Manhire, and went on to complete a BA in English and Writing Studies at the University of Auckland as a mature part-time student.During that time I became interested in reading my own work at Poetry Live, The Lounge (Michele Leggott’s poetry readings at University) Rhythm & Verse at Lopdell House, the Pah Homestead, and other local venues.
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


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

Paul Williams

Paul Williams

I have been singing and playing music since I was about 4.Got a ukelele when I was 7.Started playing guitar when I was 12.My first band played at end of year 4th form party.
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.

Nicholas Alexander

Nicholas Alexander

Nicholas Alexander

Nicholas Alexander is a modernist writer and poet who has performed in London, Cambridge, New Zealand and Edinburgh festival and have been producing cabaret theatre shows.

Naked Voices

Naked Voices

Naked Voices

Naked Voices in Pacific Literature is a fresh performance word group from the Diploma in Creative Writing programme at Manukau Institute of Technology.
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.

Miriam Barr

Miriam Barr

Miriam Barr

Miriam Barr is performance poet with The Literatti and was creative director for the group from 2007 – 2010.
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.

Miho Wada

Miho Wada

Miho Wada

Miho Wada – Japanese Punk Jazz Miho Wada is a well established multi-instrumentalist and singer from Japan/New Zealand.
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

Michelle Bolton

Michelle Bolton

Although only “kiwi-bred”, this Canadian born Spanish-American poet considers NZ home.
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.

Matthew Harvey

Matthew Harvey

Matthew Harvey

Matthew Harvey was the runner up in this year’s Poetry Idol competition and the winner of the Utter Brilliance 90 Second slam.
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.

Maris O’Rourke

Maris O'Rourke

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

Madeleine Marie Slavick

Madeleine Marie Slavick

Madeleine writes and photographs.
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

The Literatti

The Literatti

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

gus Simonovic

gus Simonovic

gus Simonovic

Gus has been performing his poetry around the world.
Organising events, producing shows and tirelessly promoting poetry.
Apart from his own poetry collection, his poetry has been published in a few magazines and anthologies.He is a Poetry Slam winner.
With a vision to bring poetry to the widest possible audiences, Gus initiated the “Printable Reality” concept.
Based on collaboration with other spoken word artists, musicians, dancers, actors and visual artists,with a motto : “Experience Poetry Differently”.
Printable Reality initiated forming of the Actors Ensemble, exciting new concept dedicated to producing and performing Live Literature/Poetic Theatre shows.
Gus has been chosen by the Auckland Regional Arts Trust for the ART Venture 2010 program.
His poem Equatorhas been performed in Aotearoa – Found in Translation and published in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013
Website: gus Simonovic

Callum Stembridge

Callum Stembridge

Callum Stembridge


“The prince of darkness is a Gentleman.” – Willie Shakespeare
Trouper, Raconteur, Impresario, Chancer, Murder Ballad Lover – Callum Gentleman tells stories. Stories about good people doing bad things, & bad people who try to be good (they often fail). Fallen Angels staring to heaven, contrite demons yearning for redemption, down & out junkies scrounging for a dollar, the devil gets it on with the wrong hooker with a heart of gold. From the child’s whisper to the drunk man’s roar, Callum’s got a voice for them all. The stories sometimes come out as songs, sometimes poems, sometimes campfire yarns, other nights barroom banter. But however they chose to be told, there is often a twist in the tales.
See him performing at POP-UP POETS event

Angela King

Angela King

Angela King

“I’ve been writing poetry since I was 14, but only performing it in the last couple of years. I am working on a series of poems started in the Master of Creative Writing I completed in 2012, that focus on the lives of men and women, families and individuals, in different places and times.
I live in a beautiful residential village in Albany, surrounded by people who are exploring different ways to live in this crazy world of ours. I’ve been a receptionist, a library assistant, a waitress, and a bum, all in the pursuit of perfection.
To me poetry is a way of using words to express the wordless experience we all share in life. I want to make something, and perform it, in a way that touches that silence in people.”