Read about poetry getting loose in schools and local communities; view photos and selected poems

The Poetry Project brought passion and poetry to 8 schools in Auckland this year, reaching an impressive 529 students with out returning themes of “Our Place Our Maunga” and “Matariki.” Welcoming four returning schools and introducing four new schools, students explored identity, culture, and celebrations through haikus and free form poems. 

Programme Coordinator: Carrie Rudzinski
Poets: Daren Kamali, Zech Soakai, Ken Arkind and To’a Tuputala 
Schools: Belmont Intermediate, Sir Edmund Hillary Middle School, Papatoetoe Intermediate, Otahuhu Intermediate, Te Papapa Primary, Glen Eden Primary, Birkenhead Primary and Birkdale Intermediate (Year 7, Year 8). 
 

The Poetry Project continues to bring poetry and poets into 8 schools reaching 400 students across Auckland to produce poems on “Matariki” and the new theme “Our Place Our Maunga.” These poems celebrate our identity as New Zealanders, our surroundings, and our traditions.

Programme Co-ordinator: Carrie Rudzinski
Poets: Daren Kamali, Gus Simonovic, Marina Alefosio, and Zech Soakai.
Schools: Belmont Primary, Birkenhead Primary, Birkdale Intermediate, Te Papapa School, Kelston Intermediate, Sir Edmund Hillary Middle School, Southern Cross Middle School, and Southern Cross Senior School.
 

The Poetry Project expanded to 8 schools and reached a staggering 545 students in 2015, with the focus being on “Matariki” and the 100 year anniversary of “Anzac Day.”

Programme Co-ordinator: Renae Kettle
Poets: Daren Kamali, Gus Simonovic, and To’a Tuputala
Schools: Beach Haven Primary, Birkenhead Primary, Birkdale Intermediate, Te Papapa School, Kelston Intermediate, Sir Edmund Hillary Middle School, Southern Cross Middle School, and Southern Cross Senior School.
 

The Poetry Project brought poetry to 7 schools and almost 400 students in Auckland producing poems on the themes “Ao Place” and “Matariki.”

Programme Co-ordinator: Renae Kettle
Poets: Daren Kamali, Grace Taylor, Mafi Tavo
Schools: Birkenhead Primary, Birkdale Primary, Birkdale Intermediate, Southern Cross Middle School, Southern Cross Senior School, Kelston Intermediate, Glenbrae Primary School.
 

Themes: Matariki, Taking Flight, AO Place,
Schools: Otahuhu Primary, Glenfield Primary, Kedgley Intermediate, Royal Oak Intermediate, Mangere College, Northcote Intermediate, Auckland Girls Grammer School, Bailey Road School.
 

North Shore, Otahuhu, Auckland Central City Library
Following the success of the 2009 Million Poems, projects were launched June-July 2010 to write poems for Matariki in Otahuhu and on the North Shore, then to bring poems and readers together in local libraries and at Auckland Central City Library.