2026  New Zealand Poetry Society International Competition – announcing our judges

Our very popular international poetry competition will open for entries via Submittable on MARCH 15, 2026. The competition will close on May 31st.

We’re thrilled to announce our four fabulous judges for the 2026 competition.

ANNA JACKSON.  Anna is the author of eight poetry collections, including Pasture and Flock: New and Collected Poetry, and several books about literature including Actions and Travels: How to Read Poetry. 

She is a Professor of English Literature at Te Herenga Waka / Victoria University of Wellington, and lives in Island Bay with her partner and too many animals.

Anna is the judge for the Open 18+ years category.

Photo credit: Josiah Gammeter

GRAHAM BATES. Graham is a chronically ill poet and artist living in his town of birth, Te Maru Timaru, Aotearoa NZ. His work has been published in various journals, both print and online.

He is currently editor-in-chief, book reviewer, webmaster and graphic designer at Kōkako, the NZ-based international journal of haiku, tanka, haiga and haibun.

Graham is the judge for the Haiku 18+ years category.

ISLA HUIA. Isla (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) is a te reo Māori teacher and kaituhi from 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 2024.

Her work was also featured in the International Institute of Modern Letters’ Ōrongohau Best New Zealand Poems in both 2023 and 2024, and has been published in journals and anthologies throughout Aotearoa as well.

Isla is the judge for the Open Junior category.

SANDRA SIMPSON. Sandra is an award-winning haiku poet from Tauranga, New Zealand, who has previously judged the NZPS International Haiku Contest, as well as many overseas competitions.

Sandra has edited Haiku NewZ since its inception in 2006, been involved with the Katikati Haiku Pathway project since 2006, coedited the fourth New Zealand haiku anthology (2019), was Patron of the 2024 Haiku Down Under, and presented at Haiku North America 2025. She blogs about haiku and related themes at https://breathhaiku.wordpress.com

Sandra is the judge for the Haiku Junior 17 years or under category.

Photo credit: Katie Cox.