The first impression I had when I was reading through the 915 entries was the high standard. There were some really terrific haiku. I would have been proud to have written many of them. Naturally there was a seasonal influence but here were many haiku written about a wide range of subjects with impressive maturity. A lot has been learned over recent competitions and many of the more obvious flaws weren't evident. For instance, many writers have grasped the intrinsic nature of haiku: that it is more than a simple description, that it understates rather than tells everything, prefers not to use metaphors and similes or too many adjectives and doesn't personalise nature.

In many cases a wide range of feeling was skilfully portrayed by using concrete imagery rather than the writer telling the reader how to feel.

Occasionally I put aside a haiku which had too familiar a feeling. It is absolutely necessary to read widely if you are to grow as a writer but a judge looks for that special ‘voice'.

Thank you all for taking part and making my job such a challenge by submitting so many excellent haiku to choose from.

1st place

empty house
evening sun
fills the cemetery

This beautiful haiku resonates on several levels and is amazingly mature. There is something haunting yet redemptive about the empty house and the sun-filled cemetery. Repetition of ‘e' gives this poem a lovely musical quality which is a perfect part of the whole. Thank you for this haiku.

2nd place

for a day
the day lily

Not a wasted syllable. In seven syllables everything is achieved. A delightful example of conciseness.

3rd place

dark alley
a man with a knife
making a sandwich

The first and second lines set up a horrible expectation of violence so the third line is not only unexpected but is a huge relief. I enjoyed the feeling that this mischievous writer had the last laugh.

4th equal

one cover
one horse
one winter

The repetition of ‘one' creates an absolute of winter and isolation. Very elemental.

4th equal

brick
by brick
my house in snow

This haiku cleverly suggests diametric happenings. The snow is falling and at the same time, the snow ‘brick by brick' is piling up the walls of the house.

Apart from the seriousness of judging, it's a lot of fun to read pieces like the two below...

school
sometimes the teachers
learn things

(I have taken the liberty of setting it out in three lines which I think is more effective than the original...School
sometimes the teachers learn things)

Viagra

My vehicle ages
My pistons have stopped thrusting
Call the mechanic

Winners

1) empty house, Sophia Frentz, Tauranga Girls' College
2) for a day, Shenan Stanton, St Andrew's College, Christchurch
3) dark alley, James Popu, Wellington College
4=) one cover, Shenan Stanton, St Andrew's College, Christchurch
4=) brick, Alice McIntyre, Ilam School, Christchurch

Highly Commended

I look in a rockpool, Rebecca Carey, Burnside School, Christchurch
I pass the finish, Luke Mannis, Paparoa St School, Christchurch
kite , Sasha Cran, Ilam School, Christchurch
snow , Hannah Ban, Fendalton Open Air School
sweating , Harry Frentz, Tauranga Primary School

Commended
An old woman's, Chloe Palmer, School for Young Writers, Christchurch
delirium, Charlotte Trevella, Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Christchurch
foggy morning, William Davidson, Christchurch Boys' High School
koru in, Nick Crawley, St Andrew's College, Christchurch
lemon blossom, Sophie Frentz, Tauranga Girls' College
low tide, Harry Frentz, Tauranga Primary School
The rope breaks, Alexandra Manson, Ilam School, Christchurch
snowy morning, Simon Bilsky-Rollins, Ilam School, Christchurch
sunset, Edward Davidson, Christchurch Boys' High School
tornado, Caitlin Wood Ilam School, Christchurch


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