An invitation to Dunedin’s young poets – celebrate National Poetry Day 2014

National Poetry Day has long been celebrated in Dunedin by a public event featuring well-known poets. This year the event will be held on Friday 22 August and feature:

• Vincent O’Sullivan (New Zealand’s Poet Laureate)
• Majella Cullinane (2014 Robert Burns Fellow)
• Owen Marshall (esteemed novelist, story-writer and poet)

This year we also want to hear from Dunedin’s talented young poets. All secondary school writers (years 9-13) from Palmerston to Dunedin to Milton are invited to submit poems to the Dunedin Secondary Schools Poetry Competition.

Three poems will be selected to be featured on billboard posters distributed as part of National Poetry Day celebrations to shops, libraries and all Dunedin intermediate and secondary schools.

The three winning poets will each receive a $50 book token from the University Book Shop. In addition each winning poet will have the opportunity to read their work alongside the ‘Big Names’ – Vincent, Majella and Owen – as part of Dunedin’s premiere Poetry Day event (Friday 22 August, 6-7.30 pm at the Dunningham Suite, Dunedin Public Library).

Entries will be judged blind by award-winning New Zealand poet Sue Wootton. For more information about Sue, visit her website at www.suewootton.com.