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2007 Montana Poetry Day the biggest yet

27 Jun 2007
With more than 45 events happening throughout the country, this year's Montana Poetry Day on Friday 27 July is the biggest and most ambitious yet. And for the first time the nation will celebrate…

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The Big Idea Editor

With more than 45 events happening throughout the country, this year's Montana Poetry Day on Friday 27 July is the biggest and most ambitious yet.

And for the first time the nation will celebrate our best emerging poet on Montana Poetry Day; the winner of the NZSA Best First Book for poetry will be announced.

Image: Poet Hinemoana Baker features in Off the Page Poetry at Mahara Gallery. © Neil PardingtonWith more than 45 events happening throughout the country, this year's Montana Poetry Day on Friday 27 July is the biggest and most ambitious yet.

And for the first time the nation will celebrate our best emerging poet on Montana Poetry Day; the winner of the NZSA Best First Book for poetry will be announced.

Image: Poet Hinemoana Baker features in Off the Page Poetry at Mahara Gallery. © Neil PardingtonThe finalists of the NZSA Best First Book Award for poetry are: After the Dance by Michele Amas (Victoria University Press), Cup by Alison Wong (Steele Roberts) and Secret Heart by Airini Beautrais (Victoria University Press).

The 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards poetry category winner will also be announced on Montana Poetry Day.

Established in 1998, Montana Poetry Day has become one of the most anticipated events on the arts calendar, with poetry-related events for all ages in town and cities from Northland to Otago.

"This is not only a fun day for everyone, it's an important one," says Montana Poetry Day Coordinator Laura Kroetsch. "Montana Poetry Day brings poetry into our homes, offices, cars and footpaths; breaking down perceptions of it as an untouchable medium and bringing it to new audiences. Poetry is now a big noise in New Zealand."

A few of this year's event highlights are:

  • The Great New Zealand Digi-Poem at the Auckland Public Library: A competition to find the best digital transformations of poems by well-known New Zealanders.
  • Poetry read on escalators also at Auckland Public Library.
  • Poetry on Buses in Hamilton. A selection of poetry will be read by actors on a number of Hamilton bus routes.
  • The Murky Giggle Flicker poetry contest held in Tauranga Public Libraries.
  • A literary evening with award-winning poet Bill Manhire in Palmerston North City Library.
  • Off the Page Poetry at Mahara Gallery, Kapiti Coast. Featuring some of New Zealand's best known poets: Hinemoana Baker, Glenn Colquhoun, Dinah Hawken and friends.
  • Best New Zealand Poems in Wellington. Featuring Jenny Bornholdt, James Brown, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Geoff Cochrane, Anna Jackson, Gregory O'Brien, Chris Price and Alison Wong. This free event will be held at the City Gallery, Civic Square.
  • Poetry by the disabled at New Dowse Hutt Valley from noon.
  • Events featuring Sam Hunt and Mayor Wayne Guppy at Upper Hutt Library.
  • Eat your words: An afternoon of poetry and entertainment at Christchurch's University Bookshop.
  • The ABC Poetry Curtains: An ambitious event inviting all Dunedin primary and intermediate school students to submit poems on coloured card. These poems will be hung on chains and will be on display in all Dunedin Public Libraries.

    27/6/07

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