OPEN JUNIOR results – NZPS International Poetry Competition 2026

OPEN JUNIOR JUDGE’S REPORT – ISLA HUIA

When I was given the opportunity to be the judge for this year’s Open Junior competition, I leapt at the chance to read new work from kaituhi rangatahi from across the motu. I knew that there would be so many young writers with fresh, unique voices that hadn’t yet had the chance to be heard, and what an honour it was to get to be the one to read them first. What I didn’t know was just how many of those incredible writers there would be for me to read, or how high the calibre of their writing would be. Being the judge for this competition has inspired me, and given me the greatest sense of reassurance that the next generation of writers in Aotearoa are going to be as talented, refreshing and exciting as ever. 

Over the entries as a whole, this year’s theme of ‘identity’ came through loud and clear. It was wonderful to see such a large array of interpretations, with writers coming to this kaupapa with all of their individual perspectives and understandings of identity as a topic. In general, I was so impressed with the way that writers used the theme but put their own spin on it, leaning away from writing that felt generic and leaning into writing that felt unique and new. I was also taken with the amount of clever descriptive language that came through the competition, with so many poems really setting the scene and the atmosphere for me as a reader. It was particularly great to see use of different language features, writers playing with form and structure, a wide and interesting range of vocabulary, and the use of languages other than English within the poems. 

All of which is to say that judging these entries was a much harder job than anticipated! Trusting my gut instinct as a writer and a reader played a large part in my choice of winners, but mostly the entries I chose were the ones that were extremely well-crafted, distinctive, and really painted me a picture of what identity means to them. These poems were effective and of a high standard technically and grammatically, but more than anything, they allowed me as the reader to feel something. Knowing that these entries spanned both primary and secondary aged rangatahi was particularly exciting – and realising after judging just how young some of the amazing kaituhi were left me shocked in the best kind of way. 

Being let into the words of these young writers through their poetry was a privilege. They wrote about important, sometimes difficult, but always relevant topics; all within the wider theme of identity. They wrote openly, cleverly, and with a real sense of authenticity. A massive congratulations to our winners, but also, to all who entered – you’ve given me so much hope for the future of writing in Aotearoa, and should all be incredibly proud. Please, please, please: keep writing. 

Ngā mihi maioha,

Isla Huia