Find out about the benefits of joining the New Zealand Poetry Society here

This is a list of poetry events, workshops, groups and readings that meet regularly in centres and venues throughout New Zealand. The NZPS welcomes reports on poetry events for its magazine a fine line. For submission guidelines, please go to http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/aboutsubmissionguidelines

If you belong to a group not listed here, or you need to change the information on show, please send an e-mail to the National Coordinator.

Auckland | Balclutha | Christchurch | Coromandel | Cromwell | Dunedin | Golden Bay | Hamilton | Hawke's Bay | Kapiti | Lyttleton | Manawatu | Marlborough | Nelson | Opotiki | Picton | Rangitikei | Rotorua | Tauranga | Timaru | Wanaka | Wellington | West Coast | Whakatane | Whangarei

AUCKLAND

  • The Glad Poets of Henderson meet at the Waitakere Community Resource Centre Ratanui Street Henderson on the last Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. All welcome. Contact Barry ph. 09 832 4605.

  • Open Mic! Hosted by Nick Hohepa, with an abundance of local artists. Every Tuesday, 9pm, 3 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland. Open for: Acoustic singer/song writers, poets, spoken word. What's provided: PA, two mics, small acoustic drum kit. Percussion instruments welcome. Please provide own guitars. Contact Nick for details: Ph. 021 1891900; email openmicnighters@hotmail.com or go to the website http://www.diablobar.co.nz

  • List your gig on poetry.com at http://aucklandpoetry.blogspot.com/ If you have a gig coming up somewhere in Auckland and would like to be featured on aucklandpoetry.com contact go to the site and contact Nicholas Alexander. He will put up your poster.

  • Poetry Live Auckland Book yourself in to read at Poetry Live, The Classic Studio - next door and upstairs from The Classic Comedy Club, 321 Queen St, Auckland. Tuesdays 8 p.m. Guest poets, guest musician & open mike. Contact: MCs Ila, Christian, Miriam or Renee by email ila@actrix.co.nz. Visit Poetry Live's website: http://groups.msn.com/PoetryLivefourbytwopublishing

  • Poetry Readings Wednesday nights at the Brix Cafe & Bar 8 11 p.m. 280 K'Road Auckland. If you are interested in reading please contact John Hamilton (021 451 745)

  • Speakeasy Are you a Performance Poet? Do you have an alternative comedy idea? Are you an actor with a new monologue to road test? Have you got some original songs you want to perform? Do you want to see some of the freshest most original talent Auckland City has to offer? Then Speakeasy is the gig for you. MC'd by Penny Ashton and held once a month in the cosy front bar of Auckland's Classic Comedy and Bar, Speakeasy is an eclectic mix of Spoken Word, Comedy, Fringe Theatre, Music and whatever you want it to be. Classic Comedy and Bar, 321 Queen St, 7:30pm, To perform call the Classic on (09) 373 4321, Entry: Gold Coin only.

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BALCLUTHA

  • Meetings every first Wednesday of the month from 7 p.m. at The LumberJack Café Owaka (15 minutes down Southern Scenic Route). Information: Gwyneth Williamson ph. 03 418 983.

CHRISTCHURCH

  • The Airing Cupboard Women Poets meet at 10 a.m. every 2 weeks at South Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo Street Street. Ring Judith Walsh ph. 03 342 9881 or Barbara Strang ph. 03 376 4486.

  • Bookenz with Ruth Todd and Morrin Rout on Plains FM 96.9 in Christchurch - every Thursday at midday for interviews & news of what's happening in the world of books. Includes a monthly slot on Women and Poetry, with Helen Lowe.

  • The Canterbury Poets' Collective Autumn season is held at Madras Cafe Books, 165 Madras Street, Otautahi Christchurch on Wednesdays (March-April), starting at 6.30pm ($5 entry). See the Coming Events page for specific guests during this season's readings.

  • The Live Poets' Society meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Linwood Community Arts Centre (corner of Worcester Street/Stanmore Road). Contact Alan McLean ph. 03 389 0908.

  • The Small White Teapot, a haiku group, meets 7.30 p.m. monthly, 3rd Tuesday. Contact Barbara Strang ph. 03 376 4486.

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COROMANDEL

  • The Coromandel Live Poetry Group gathers on the last Friday evening of each month at 6.00pm for dinner and poetry. Enquiries can be made to John Irvine ph. 07 8666789 or email cooldragon@slingshot.co.nz

  • Thames Poets Circle, co-hosted by Greg Brimblecombe and Jill Steadman, meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7.00pm. Venue: The Nectar Lounge, 740 Pollen Street, Thames. For more information please contact Greg on 07 868 9947 or email: greg_b@clear.net.nz

CROMWELL

  • Cromwell Writers meet on the last Tuesday of the month in the homes of members on a shared basis. Contact Tom Llandreth ph. 03 4451352.

DUNEDIN

  • Dunedin community radio (Hills FM) has a half-hour of local poetry every second Tuesday from 6 to 6.30. Tune in and check it out.

  • Fortnightly readings are held at 8.30 p.m. at the Arc Café, 135 High Street. Check with the Café itself for dates and times.

  • HOME : (Harbour Open Mic Evening) - Monthly, every second Tuesday at 7.30pm at Port Chalmers Hotel (The Tunnel), Beach Street, Port Chalmers. HOME is an opportunity to share, or listen to, original poetry, prose and acoustic music in a welcoming and casual atmosphere. Contact Debbie Cartwright at debbie.cartwright@paradise.net.nz for details.

  • The Octagon Poetry Collective presents Live poetry - Guest Poets and Open Mic Session
    Fortnightly, Wednesdays, 7.30 pm,
    Circadian Rhythm Cafe, 72 St Andrews St.
    Sponsored by Otago University Press and Department of English, University of Otago.
    More info: bibliomiss@hotmail.com

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GOLDEN BAY

  • The Golden Bay Live Poets Society has a monthly Performance Night at the famous Mussel Inn Bush Café at Onekaka. (For dates go to Mussel Inn.) Visiting poets are most welcome. For news of meetings contact convenor Joe Bell at gbaybell@xtra.co.nz ph. 03 524 8146.

HAMILTON

  • Poets Alive meet about every 6 weeks on a Friday from 7-9p.m. We meet at the Continuing Education satellite campus of the University of Waikato on Ruakura Road, Hamilton. Contact Celia at poetsalive@xtra.co.nz or ph. 07-856-3686

HAWKE'S BAY

  • The Hawke's Bay Live Poets' Society meets at 8 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except January) at the Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, 201 Eastbourne Street East, Hastings. Contact Keith Thorsen ph. 06 870 9447.

KAPITI

  • Lembas Cafe, Poplar Ave. A guest poet is featured on the last Sunday of the month, at 4pm. Snacks and beverages are available, and the entry price of $5 covers the poet's koha and general expenses. Any left over is paid to the cafe as a tip, for staying open late for the event. Contact is Gill Ward email: gillii@paradise.net.nz
  • Mahara Poetry Group meets at Mahara Gallery, Mahara Place, Waikanae, at 7.30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month.

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LYTTLETON

  • The Catalyst poetry open mic. Thursdays at 8pm. Wunderbar, Lyttelton.
    BYO poetry, creative writing - all welcome

MANAWATU

  • Palmerston North Poetry Group This group meets at 2pm on the last Wednesday of each month on the 2nd Floor (NZ Fiction lounge) of the Palmerston North City Library, 4 The Square. Enquiries to Dennis at seawnds@aol.com .

MARLBOROUGH

  • Poetry Corner: an informal group for lovers of poetry, meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Grovetown Country Hotel, SH 1, just north of Blenheim, between 5:30 and 8:30pm. Readers, writers, listeners and peformers are all welcome. Come and go as you please during the allotted time. This group occasionally meets at other venues which are advertised locally. Contacts: Anne Barrett at wheezyanna@msn.com ph. 03 574 2757, or James East at jimmythejuggler@yahoo.com

NELSON

  • The Nelson Live Poets Society meets on every fourth Monday of the month, 6pm at the Victorian Rose, Trafalgar Street. Nelson. There is an open mic and a guest poet featured each month, and new poets are welcome. Contact Carol ph.5450162 or Mary at marybell@ts.co.nz, ph. 5458682

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OPOTIKI

  • Opotiki Writers meet at 10 a.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at the Opotiki Hotel, for chat, support and motivation, all loosely based on our writing experiences. Contact Ann Funnell ph. 07 315 6664.

PICTON

  • Picton Poets (founded by Ernest Berry in 1996) meet at The Cottage 75a Waikawa Road Picton at 9.50a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Contacts: Ernie Berry at: bluberry@xtra.co.nz ph. 03 573 6881, or Susan Kerr at susanvrm@mlb.planet.gen.nz ph 03 573 8236..

RANGITIKEI

  • If you live in or near Marton (Rangitikei), and are interested in being part of a poetry group, contact Elizabeth Coleman at c-e.coleman@xtra.co.nz ph. 06-3278106.

ROTORUA

  • The Rotorua Mad Poets meet every Wednesday night at the Rotorua Public Library at 6:00 pm. All poets and general public welcome to attend. Light refreshments available afterwards. 7.30-9.30 p.m. Contact Colleen ph. 07 347 9847 or Kay ph. 07 349 0219.

TAURANGA

  • Tauranga Writers: A self-help group established over 40 years ago. We get together regularly to exchange experience and expertise, discuss tactics and techniques and to share work in progress for constructive criticism. We meet twice monthly on the first Thursday at 7.30 pm and the third Sunday at 2 pm at Tauranga Environment Centre, 12 Elizabeth Street. Contact: Jenny Argante (ph 07 576 3040, mob 027 316 31 93, or email jenny.argante@gmail.com). New members always welcome - but please note: our main intention is writing for publication.

TIMARU

  • For poetry events, or to contact Timaru or South Canterbury poets, contact Karalyn Joyce at karalynjoyce@xtra.co.nz ph. 03 6147858.

WANAKA

  • Poetry Live at the Wanaka Arts Centre, first Thursday of the month 7.30 p.m. Contact Pip Sheehan ph. 03 443 4602.

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WELLINGTON

  • The New Zealand Poetry Society Inc holds poetry readings on the third Monday of the month, from February to October. In November we launch our annual poetry anthology. The meeting starts at 7.30 with an open mic, and features an invited guest poet. The meeting is open to the public and entry is $2. The venue varies, and you can find the current month's venue at http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/poetrynews#nzps

    Find out about joining the NZPS here.

  • Howltearoa Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, Cnr Cuba and Abel Smith Streets, Wellington. First Monday of each month (April-December) 7.30pm for an 8.00 start. Open mike with a featured guest. Guests can be poets, storytellers, a local short film or a band. A Word Collective event.

  • Newtown Spoken Word - Seasonal spoken word and open mike nights at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre. This is always on a Friday night, at 7.30pm, but the dates change. Newtown Spoken Word is an epic, community-focused open mike night, often with special guest poets and musicians. All welcome; koha entry. For next date and more information please contact Craig Ireson at wordcollective@gmail.com

  • Poesis: Poetry and Religion Forum. A forum to discuss religious poetry (international and New Zealand) held every five weeks in the WIT Library, Anglican
    Centre, 18 Eccleston Hill, Thorndon. All enquiries by email to antonin@wn.ang.org.nz

  • Poetry Studio is a weekly open mic poetry venue. It's a relaxed gathering where you can listen to poetry of all shapes and sizes, or have a go at performing poetry yourself. Come along! Gold coin koha, 128 Abel Smith Street. It's on every Sunday between 3pm - 5pm. Any queries, please email poetrystudio@paradise.net.nz

  • Vic Writers Group is comprised of undergraduate and postgraduate students, but open to students from other institutions and non-students also. We meet fortnightly on Monday afternoons from 4-6 pm at a private home, discuss one another's prose/poetry and aim to give constructive and supportive feedback in an informal setting. We set 'themes' each fortnight which members have the option of exploring and then presenting to the group at the following meeting. New members are welcome. Contact Melody at melodynixon@gmail.com for more information.

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WEST COAST: HOKITIKA

WHAKATANE

  • East Bay Live Poets meet at 7.30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in the Craic. Contact: Mary Pullar ph. 07 307 1126.

WHANGAREI

  • Poetry, Prose, Tea & Talk. Last Sunday of the month, 2.30 p.m. at 18a Vale Road Whangarei. Contact Rosalie at chtoomer@xtra.co.nz ph. 04 388 913.
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