Deadline: entries must be received by 31 May, 2010.

Our annual poetry competition consists of four sections, each with its own judge. Click on the blue section heading to go to the page for that section (but we recommend you read the important note here first).

The Open Section is, as it suggests, open to anyone. All styles of poems are accepted, up to a maximum of 40 lines. Poems must be in English, and may not have been previously published, either in New Zealand or elsewhere. The entry fee is $5 per poem ($4 for NZPS members), and prizes are $500, $250, and $100. Up to 20 poems may additionally receive commendation. 

The Junior Open Section follows the same rules, and is restricted to those aged 17 or under on the closing date. Young people may enter independently or through their schools or writing teachers. The entry fee is a standard $2 per poem, which can be paid in 50c stamps if you prefer (New Zealand entrants only), and First Prize is $200. Two runners up in each of 2 age groups (primary/intermediate and secondary) receive prizes of $100 and $50. There will be up to 20 commendations.

The Haiku Section is for all haiku writers, and includes senryu. It is important to realise that modern English haiku no longer require a counted syllable format, and if you are unsure about this you should check the HaikuNZ pages of our website for examples. What is vital is to capture the 'haiku moment'. Entry costs $1 per haiku, and NZPS members may enter every 5th haiku for free. There are 5 prizes of $100 each, and in addition the overall winner will receive the Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize of $150. There will be up to 20 commendations.

The Junior Haiku Section follows the same rules, and is restricted to those aged 17 or under on the closing date. Young people may enter independently or through their schools or writing teachers. The entry fee is $1 for a pair of haiku, though if only 1 haiku is entered the fee remains $1. There will be three prizes of $50 in each of 2 age groups (primary/intermediate and secondary). In addition the best of the two First Prize winners will receive the Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize of $100. There will be up to 20 commendations.

Schools may enter their students as a job lot. There is a dedicated page of guidelines on how to do this, as well as a specific entry form you can use. We regret we cannot offer a discount on the entry fees, as we think the cost of entry is already very reasonable. The Schools page is at: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/about2010schoolentries

As well as the prize winners, which are automatically included, a selected number of entries will be incorporated into our annual poetry anthology, to be published in November 2010.  It is not necessary to buy a copy of the anthology to have a poem included in it - the poems are chosen by an independent editor, who, like the judges, will not know who the writers of the poems are. The anthology will be available to buy at a reduced contributor's price, but you are under no obligation to do so.

All entry fees are stated in $NZ. Overseas entrants may pay the equivalent in Australian, US or Canadian dollars, Pounds Sterling, or Euros. (See xe.com for the exchange rate.) If you wish to pay in any other currency, please add a $NZ5 conversion fee (because that's what our bank charges us). Do not send coins of any kind - NZ ones get lost in the post and the bank won't accept those of other currencies.

The currency guidelines will also apply to purchase of the anthology, when it becomes available.

To pay by credit or debit card, or with your PayPal account, use the button on the Open or Haiku competition page.

Important note:

The entry rules are quite specific, and we suggest you read them thoroughly before you send your entries to us. In particular, you should note that the poems you enter must not be submitted elsewhere before the end of August 2010. Please bookmark the competition rules page, write it in your diary, or stick a Post-it note on your mirror. Every year someone's editorially selected poem is deleted from the anthology because they have forgotten and submitted it or had it published elsewhere in the meantime. Entry to the competition means you have agreed to grant us first publishing rights, and we take this seriously.

On the other hand, we are also aware that the Bravado competition closes at the end of August and we are happy to be contacted in late August if you want to be reassured (having not heard otherwise) that a poem is available to enter that competition. Please email the Competition Secretary at competition@poetrysociety.org.nz to check.

 

So with all that sorted, what are you waiting for? Enter the 2010 New Zealand Poetry Society's International Poetry Competition now! 

 

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