Toitū te Kupu: The Power of Poetry
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Experience the power of the spoken and written word with performances by rakatahi poets, along with Ōtautahi-based kaituhi Isla Huia, and one of our country’s most celebrated poets and the Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate Robert Sullivan. Sullivan will share poems from his Ockham shortlisted Hopurangi – Songcatcher and other toikupu from his illustrious career. Huia’s debut collection. Huia’s Talia was also shortlisted for the Ockham awards, and she will be sharing work from her recently published second collection Āta. We will also hear from the Ōtautahi Youth Poetry Slam winners for 2026 Ngā Kōhine o Te Kupu from Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha.
This event is in association with the Whaiao Exhibition, and is hosted by local poet Ariana Tikao who works in the Māori Services Team, Ngā Ratonga Māori at Christchurch City Libraries.
Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, Kāi Tahu Whānui) is the 14th Aotearoa New Zealand Poet Laureate. Among his sixteen books are the bestselling Star Waka, Weaving Earth and Sky and Hopurangi Songcatcher. He has won awards for his poetry, editing, and writing for children. His year 6 teacher at Onehunga Primary School, Mrs Naire, first inspired him to write poetry, which was a cloud poem. He lives in Ōamaru on ancestral whenua, the beautiful coasts of Te Tai o Āraiteuru. See Robert’s books here.
Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) is a kaituhi based in Ōtautahi. Her debut collection of poetry, Talia, was released in May 2023 by Dead Bird Books, and was shortlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. She has been published in journals and anthologies across Aotearoa including Ōrongohau Best New Zealand Poems, Takahē, Catalyst and Short | Poto. Huia is the current recipient of a Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation Springboard Award, under the mentorship of inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh.
Ngā Kōhine o Te Kupu
He reo rangatira, he reo māia, he reo kōhine! Ko Ngā Kōhine o Te Kupu e tū whakahīhī ana i roto i tō rātou reo, tō rātou ahurea me tō rātou tuakiri. Ngā Kōhine o Te Kupu is a talented group of young wāhine from Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha, who have made their mark in the world of slam poetry through their powerful voices, creativity and passion for storytelling. Grounded in the values of Te Aho Matua, these kōhine proudly represent their kura, their whānau and their culture. Their journey through the slam poetry competition to the finals is a testament to their courage, dedication and ability to captivate audiences through the spoken word.
Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) is a writer, poet, singer, composer, taonga puoro practitioner and New Zealand Arts Laureate. Her arts practice explores themes relating to her Kāi Tahu identity and mana wahine. Her first book Mokorua: Ngā Kōrero mō tōku moko kauae – My story of moko kauae was published in 2022, and her first poetry collection Pepeha Portal was published through Otago University Press in 2026.
