Friday August 26th get set for poetry

I need to bust apart into a thousand pieces to take advantage of NZ Poetry Day.

At a good poetry reading the audience oohs and aahs like they are watching fireworks.

Get set to ooh and ahh somewhere as cool events will pop up every which way you look.

The poetry is crossing all kinds of borders and labels.

There are some great posters – I will post a few over the next few weeks along with what’s

on in various places.

‘This year’s programme – tagged ‘Unleash the Power of Poetry’ – features 100 events around the country engaging thousands of Kiwis of all ages. From small towns to big cities, primary school classrooms to rest-homes, pubs to cyberspace this year’s events are some of the most creative and accessible yet.’

For more details, (including times, tickets etc) on all Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day events, go to here.

I won’t be in Auckland but this is what is on offer on my home town:

Auckland Region

North Auckland – Waiwera – Devonport
Central Auckland – Waiheke – CBD & Central Suburbs
West Auckland – Karekare – Kumeu

North Auckland

Waiwera

Hibiscus Coast/Puhoi Poetry Day Event 2016
Poetry in the Pub is back! This year the crowd is gathering in Waiwera at the Sugar Loaf Bar and Restaurant. Everyone with an interest in poetry is extremely welcome to this night of poetry readings and assorted poetry fun! Coffee, wine and food are available. Please RSVP to assist with seating arrangements. If you would like to present a poem (your own or someone else’s) please register to be added to the programme.
Entry Details: $2.00 on the door. RSVP and register to read by 21.8.16. Open to adults 18+
Date/Times: Friday 26 August 7.00pm to 9.30pm
Location: The Sugar Loaf Bar and Restaurant, 38 Waiwera Road Waiwera
Contact: Diane Newcombe, 021483849; dianenewcombe@hotmail.com
Further Info: puhoinz.com/go/use-your-loaf

Devonport

Moon Poetry Open Mic and Improvisation Game
This is the perfect way to warm-up for National Poetry Day. Come along to an event where you can take part in the show. Share your work in the open microphone and play the Improvisation Game. Two poets from the open mic list will be chosen at random and given a prompt-card, with one or two words, which they must use to improvise a poem together within a time limit. The best collaborative improvisation will be selected by the audience, and the winning pair will be invited to promote and recite their poems on the “Moon Poetry” radio programme which runs every Sunday at 10:10 pm, in Planet FM, 104.6 (at UNITEC).
Entry Details: $2 on the door. Sign up to read your poems by emailing moonpoetryplanet@gmail.com. Sign up by 25 August 2016.
Date/times: 27/08/2016 at 8 pm – 12 am
Location: Devonport Theatre’s, “The Vic” Lounge Pub: 56 Victoria Rd, Devonport, Auckland 0624
Contact: moonpoetryplanet@gmail.com
Further Info: Facebook.com/moonpoetryplanet

Central Auckland

Waiheke Island

Song and Poetry Thing
Have you ever wanted to hear or share original poetry and songs? Warm up for National Poetry Day at the Song and Poetry Thing, a community event held in the heart of Oneroa village which encourages performers to share original compositions in a supportive environment that is open to all. Come and join a fun evening with a wide variety of poets and song writers, from first-timers to veteran performers.
Entry Details: Free entry. Open to all ages. As the location is a bar any person under 18 years of age has to be accompanied by an adult. Sign up from 6.30 pm onward
Date/Times: Thursday 25th August. Performances start at 7pm – 9:30pm
Location: Sandbar in Oneroa Village (down steps beside The Four Square); Oceanview Rd, Oneroa. Waiheke island
Contact: Katy Soljak katsun@xtra.co.nz or Sue Fitchett fitchettsue@gmail.com
Further Information:facebook.com/events/243931005993387/

CBD & Central Suburbs

Poetry live Celebrates National Poetry Day
Get warmed up for National Poetry Day 2016 with New Zealand’s longest running live weekly poetry event. All are invited to pay homage to a favourite poet or poem on the open mic, with special guests Vivienne Plumb and Peter Bland. Music by Emma Walter. Open Mic; sign up on the night. Prizes and fun giveaways.
Entry Details: Koha. All ages (under 18 with a guardian)
Date/Times: Tuesday 23rd August 8:00 onwards.
Location: The Thirsty Dog, 469 Karangahape Rd, Auckland CBD
Contact details: poetrylive@gmail.com
Further info: poetrylive.co.nz/national-poetry-day-poetry-live-16/
facebook.com/groups/37443247217/

Phantoms at LOUNGE
Join NZEPC and Auckland University Press on the eve of National Poetry Day to hear local poets read with MC Michele Leggott in a special National Poetry Day LOUNGE event. You’ll be able to buy a drink from the cash bar and books from the bookstall. There’ll be prizes to win, too. Poets featured are: Greg Kan, Stephanie Christie, Ya-Wen Ho, Erena Johnson, Ruby Porter, Owen Connors, Daren Kamali, Richard von Sturmer.
Entry Details: Entry is free.
Date/Times: Thursday, 25 August 2016, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Location: Old Government House Lounge, Corner of Princes St and Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland CBD
Contact Details: AUP contact Louisa Kasza, l.kasza@auckland.ac.nz
Further Info: facebook.com/AUPBooks
nzepc.auckland.ac.nz/misc/news.as

Time Out Bookstore’s Pavement Poetry
Join local poets on National Poetry Day to see how much of the pavement in Mt Eden Village can be covered with poetry in an hour. Time Out Bookstore is pleased to host local poet, Daniel Larsen and the Toi Ora Live Art Trust creative writing students to kick things off. Chalk your own or your favourite verse on the pavement for the community to enjoy until it wears away with foot-traffic and rain. Meet outside Time Out Book Store at 12:30 or join in at any time. Limited pavement chalk provided – if you can, bring some with you.
Entry Details: Free. All ages.
Date/times: Fri 26 August, 12.30-1.30pm
Location: Starting at Time Out Bookstore and moving around the Mt. Eden Village, Mt Eden Road.
Contact: books@timeout.co.nz, 09-6303331
Further Info: facebook.com/events/151987338546358/

Moon Poetry Radio Recording Session at Planet FM, 104.6
Come to Planet FM on National Poetry Day and record your poetry for radio. The recordings will be broadcast on the half-hour Moon Poetry Radio Show every Sunday for a month following National Poetry Day at 10.10pm.
Entry Details: Free. Register to record up to 5 minutes of poetry by emailing your contact details, a sample of your work and a brief biographical note to moonpoetryplanet@gmail.com. Register by 15 August 2016. You will receive an invitation to record in one of four half-hour spots between 4 and 6 pm on National Poetry Day. Visit the nationwide section of the calendar of events for details on the broadcast.
Date/times: Fri 26 August, 4-6pm.
Location: Planet FM, UNITEC, Gate 2 in: 79 Carrington Rd, Auckland 1024.
Contact: moonpoetryplanet@gmail.com
Further Info: Facebook.com/moonpoetryplanet

The Divine Muses XIII Poetry Reading
The Divine Muses Poetry Reading XIII brings a stellar line-up of New Zealand poets. This year’s readers are poet Maris O’Rourke, celebrated classic poet Riemke Ensing, author and 2016 Michael King Writer’s Centre resident, Vivienne Plumb, poet, art biographer and artist, Greg O’Brien, renowned poet and editor Jenny Bornholdt and Siobhan Harvey. Come and hear these wonderful writers read their work in the Gus Fisher Art Gallery’s sumptuous surroundings. Spot prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Books and handmade poems on sale at the book table. Additionally, the evening will showcase the winner and runners-up of the 2016 Emerging Poets Competition. This year’s judge, poet and editor, Vana Manasiadis will offer her judge’s report. The winner and runner-up will read their poems. All ages welcome.
Entry Details: Free. Open to all ages.
Date/Times: 26 August, 6.30 pm- 8:00 pm Location: Gus Fisher Art Gallery, 74 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD
Contact: To reserve seats or for further information contact Siobhan Harvey, siharvey@aut.ac.nz
Further Info: artagent.co.nz/poetry/poetry.htm

All Tomorrow’s Poets #3
All Tomorrow’s Poets showcases cutting-edge New Zealand poetry and situates it in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary history. The feature poets are Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle, Gregory Kan, Sam Te Kani, Makanaka Tuwe, Bianca Rocca, Riomata Pasqualino, Owen Connors, Tourettes, Jared Wells. Space is limited – first in first served. BYO welcome.
Entry Details: $5 entry – to be passed onto the performing poets. All ages – minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Date/times: Friday 26th August 2016 6.30-8.30pm
Location: Upstairs at Time Out Bookstore
Contact: books@timeout.co.nz, 09-6303331
Further Info: facebook.com/events/1098309063597087/

FLOCK
FLOCK is ensemble poetry performance, as you’ve never really known it before. Drawing on physical theatre traditions, FLOCK incorporates sound-poetry and spoken word, in a percussive site-specific performance. Featuring a troupe of spoken word artists who bring a diverse voice from across Auckland to the stage: Inda Yansané, Onehou Strickland, Ila Selwyn, Peter Rimmer, Sally Louise, Shane Hollands, Miriam Barr, and special guests. Directed by Genevieve McClean.
Entry Details: $10 Tickets from Under the Radar at undertheradar.co.nz/ Limited door sales held from 8pm. Parents and guardians of children younger than about 9 or 10 are respectfully advised to find childcare so that they can come and see the show (some adult themes).
Date/Times: Friday 26 August, 8.30pm -10pm
Location: The Old Folks’ Association Hall, 8 Gundy St, Off K’rd, Auckland city.
Contact: Genevieve 0273316120
Further Info: facebook.com/events/320321184980292/
facebook.com/groups/1599603387028136/
flockpoetry.blogspot.co.nz/

National Poetry Day Wrap Up – Girl Talk Launch
Join a wrap up event for National Poetry Day, to celebrate the launch of the Auckland chapter of the Girl Talk events based on the popular Girls on Key events that began in Melbourne. Feature poet Genevieve McClean. Check out some fierce and fabulous female and LGBTQI+ poets, or grab the mic and wow the crowd with your own words. All genders welcome on the open mic. As a double whammy, this event supports charity, with a portion of the door charge going to the Auckland Women’s Centre. Families welcome. If you brave the open mic, you pay the concession price! Grab a cuppa and celebrate diverse and ground breaking poetry of the female kind.
Entry Details: $10 or $8 student concession. Open to all ages and genders.
Date/Times: Saturday 27 August, 4pm-6.30pm
Location: 121 Cafe, 121 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
Contact: Anna Forsyth girlsonkey@gmail.com
Further Info: facebook.com/events/569399626571318/

West Auckland

Karekare

Poetry in the Dunes
“Runes of fact and fiction” – Sam Sampson. West Auckland poets are winding up to wow you and woo you, provoke and entertain you. Join Sam Sampson, Janet Charman, Serie Barford, Jenny Clay, Sandra Coney, Rewi Spraggon, Elizabeth McRae & Sue Gee with special guests The Rutherford Writers from Rutherford College. Plus 20 minutes Open Mic – Bring your own poem. Come early to write your name on the list at the door. Follow the flames along the estuary from the beach carpark to the iconic Karekare Surf Life Saving Clubhouse. Antipasto provided. Drinks available. MC Sir Bob Harvey.
Entry Details: Koha. All donations go to KKSLSC. All ages welcome.
Date/Time: Fri 26th August, 6.15 – 8.30pm
Location: Karekare Surf Life Saving Clubhouse, Karekare Beach, Waitakere, Auckland NZ
Contact Details: Sue Gee suzannegeenz@yahoo.co.nz
Further Info: facebook.com/events/292835901064854/

Kumeu

Kumeu Arts Centre Open Mic Night
To celebrate National Poetry Day 2015, join Kumeu Arts Centre in their ‘Open Mic Poetry Night’, for all members of the community. Come along, enjoy some refreshments, recite your own (or your favourite) poetry and listen to other peoples’ work. This is always a popular evening, with many people sharing their love of the written word in a warm and supportive environment. All ages and abilities welcome.
Entry Details: Gold coin donation. Open to all ages.
Date/Times: Friday 26 August, 7pm – 9pm
Location: Kumeu Arts Centre, 300 Main Road, Huapai, Auckland (behind the Kumeu Library)
Contact: Sarah Ellis-Kirifi thetinshed@clear.net.nz
Further Info: kumeuartscentre.co.nz/events.html