Home  /  Stories  / 

Poetry in Wellington

15 Oct 2003
The First Wellington International Poetry Festival 2003 --16th-19th Oct This exciting three day event will be the first of its kind in New Zealand. Wellington's International Poetry Festival will…

The First Wellington International Poetry Festival 2003 --16th-19th Oct

This exciting three day event will be the first of its kind in New Zealand. Wellington's International Poetry Festival will bring together talented poets from various ethnic and national backgrounds in a celebration of world poetry and peace.
The First Wellington International Poetry Festival 2003 --16th-19th Oct

This exciting three day event will be the first of its kind in New Zealand. Wellington's International Poetry Festival will bring together talented poets from various ethnic and national backgrounds in a celebration of world poetry and peace.
Poets Programme of Readings
: Thursday, 16 October
: Friday, 17 October
: Saturday, 18 October
: Sunday, 19 October

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, 16 October

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Official Opening
6.00pm Wellington City Council Chamber & Foyer

Admission: koha

A dedication to the late Alan Brunton, with a reading by Sally Rodwell

A welcoming mihi from a kaumatua of the hosting iwi. A speech of introduction by well-known poetry-lover, Mr. Peter Biggs, followed by a few words of welcome from Patron-poet, Alistair Campbell. Introduced by M.C., Ron Riddell, half of the festival poets will read one or two poems (for 3-4 minutes), in the following order:
Alistair Campbell, Cook Islands/New Zealand
J.C. Sturm, Aotearoa
Turkay Ilicak, Turkey
Teresia Teaiwa, Kiribati
David Howard, New Zealand
Riemke Ensing, Netherlands
David Eggleton, New Zealand
Yilma Tasew, Ethiopia
Daminan Ruth, South Africa
Cliff Fell, UK
Rolando Olmedo, Chile
Alison Wong, New Zealand/China
Mark Pirie, New Zealand
Te Kupu, Aotearoa
Vaine Wichman, Cook Islands
Jean Mason, Cook Islands
Emad Jabbar, Iraq
Albert Wendt, Samoa/New Zealand

MC: R. Riddell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Local Flavour:
A selection of Wellington Poets read their work
8.30pm Turnbull House

Admission: $5.00

A Reading hosted by The NZ Poetry Society
Stephanie de Montalk
Denis Welch
Julie Leibrich
Mike Webber
Mike Eager

MC: Margaret Vos

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, 17 October

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Double Book Launch
12 Noon Wellington City Library

Admission: Free

Two new books of poetry: How to Occupy Ourselves, by David Howard and Gallery by Mark Pirie. This session is introduced by Wellington poet/[publisher, Mark Pirie, of HeadworX Publishers. This launch will be supported by readings from Cliff Fell (UK) and Michael OLeary who have both recently had books published in Wellington.

MC: Mark Pirie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry Reading
2.00pm City Art Gallery Theatre

Admission: $5.00
Albert Wendt, Samoa/New Zealand
Harry Ricketts, UK
Harry Cording, New Zealand
Alison Wong, New Zealand/China
David Eggleton, New Zealand

MC: Mike Webber

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Latin Touch
5.00pm St. Andrews-on-the-Terrace

Admission: $5.00
Rolando Olmedo, Chile
Roberto Olivares, Peru
Puri Alvarez, Spain
with music by El Grupo, Los Andes

MC: Saray Torres

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry of Africa, the Arab World and Turkey
7.30pm St. Johns Church

Admission: $5.00
ilma Tasew, Ethiopia
Basim Furat, Iraq
Emad Jabbar, Iraq
Damian Ruth South Africa
Turkay Ilicak Turkey

MC: Tony Hopkins

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 18 October

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry for Peace Performance
(with musical introduction on solo shakuhatsi flute)
12 Noon City Art Gallery Theatre

Admission: $5.00
Moshe Liba, Israel
Emad Jabbar, Iraq
Harry Ricketts, UK
Albert Wendt, Samoa
Ron Riddell, New Zealand

MC: Nelson Wattie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry of Exile
2.30pm St. Andrews-on-the-Terrace

Admission: $5.00
Yilma Tasew, Ethiopia
Damian Ruth, South Africa
Roberto Olivares, Peru
Rolando Olmedo, Chile
Lewis Scott, USA

MC: Saray Torres

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry of Europe
4.00pm Alliance Française

Admission: Free
Riemke Ensing, Netherlands
Julie Leibrich, UK
Rossella Riccobono, Italy
Puri Alvarez, Spain
Charles Juliet, France

MC: Moshe Liba

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Early Evening Poetry Performance
5.00pm City Art Gallery Theatre

Admission: $5.00
David Howard, New Zealand
Vaine Wichman, Cook Islands
Jean Mason, Cook Islands
Turkay Ilicak, Turkey
Cliff Fell, UK

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Voices in the Night
7.00pm St. Johns Church Hall

Admission: $5.00
Basim Furat, Iraq
Christodoulos Moisa, Cyprus
Alison Wong, New Zealand/China
Mike Webber, New Zealand
Teresia Teaiwa, Kiribati

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry & Music: Evening Cross-over Event with Jazz Festival
8.00pm Happy

Admission: $10.00 (includes both Poetry & Jazz Sets plus a Jazz Festival Set at 11.00pm)
Michael OLeary , New Zealand
Te Kupu, Aotearoa
Lewis Scott, USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry & Music: Evening Cross-over Event with Jazz Festival
9.30pm Happy

Admission: $10.00 (includes both Poetry & Jazz Sets plus a Jazz Festival Set at 11.00pm)
Tony Chad , UK/Ireland
Mike Eager, New Zealand
Harry Cording, New Zealand
Ron Riddell, New Zealand
with musicians, Bryan James, David Parsons, Jonathon Harper

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, 19 October

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poetry NZ Reading
12 Noon City Art Gallery

Admission: $5.00

Contributors to the bi-annual Poetry NZ (edited by Alister Paterson) with guest, Turkay Ilicak.
David Eggleton, New Zealand
Riemke Ensing, Netherlands
Mark Pirie, New Zealand
Stephanie de Montalk, New Zealand
Turkay Ilicak, Turkey

MC: Mark Pirie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pacific Poetry & Song
2.00pm The Marae, Te Papa

Admission: Free

Contributors to the bi-annual Poetry NZ (edited by Alister Paterson) with guest, Turkay Ilicak.
Albert Wendt, Samoa
Vaine Wichman, Cook Islands
Jean Mason, Cook Islands
Teresia Teaiwa, Kiribati
Te Kupuk, Aotearoa
J.C. Sturm, Aotearoa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Closing Ceremony
5.00pm Wellington City Council Chamber

Admission: Free

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast will give a short closing speech: a reply of thanks will be given by Director, Ron Riddell. All festival poets who did not read at the opening will present 1-2 poems (3-4 mins.)
Denis Welch, New Zealand
Harry Cording, New Zealand
Michael OLeary, New Zealand
Mike Eager, New Zealand
Puri Alvarez, Spain
Stephanie de Montalk, New Zealand
Tony Chad, UK
Moshe Liba, Israel
Rossella Riccobono, Italy
Charles Juliet, France
Mike Webber, New Zealand
Julie Leibrich, UK
Harry Ricketts, UK
Roberto Olivares, Peru
Lewis Scott, USA
Basim Furat, Iraq
Ron Riddell, New Zealand

MC: Saray Torres

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finale Fiesta:
7.00pm Happy

Admission: Free

Festival Party for all poets and friends

Music and dancing, with music provided by a trio from The Wellington International Jazz Festival.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For further information about the Wellington International Poetry Festival, please contact:

Ron Riddell or Saray Torres
70 Wilke Cresent, Lower Hutt
(04)577 17 47
025 677 8376

email: poetfest@paradise.net.nz

Poetry Festival