National

New Zealand National Poetry Slam 2024

This year's programme is now live!

Nationals 2024 brings internationally-renowned spoken word poets together to deliver a packed two days of panels, workshops, open mics - and of course, the New Zealand National Poetry Slam.

Join us 29-30 November in Tāmaki Makaurau for an incredible weekend celebrating poetry and poets!

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Download the full programme

Check out the lineup below:

Opening Night Open Mic w/ Mohamed Hassan

Kicking off festival weekend is an open mic with a feature set from National Slam Champion Mohamed Hassan. Head down to the cosy Cafe 39 to hear some incredible poetry from our feature and Nationals competitors. Sign up to the open mic if you’d like to get on stage yourself!

Writing Workshop w/ Daisy Speaks

Never tried poetry before? Have a poem that needs some editing? Want to share creative space with other writers? Designed for poets of all skill levels, and facilitated by a National Poetry Slam Champion, this workshop is open to all to come and explore poetry and share work with others.

Panel: Building creative careers with Grace Iwashita-Taylor, Mohamed Hassan, and Matariki Bennett

Three creatives, with careers spanning film, TV, publishing, theatre, radio, journalism, and activism, all have artistic practices that started with poetry. How have they moved between artforms? What opportunities are out there for poets? What can poetry teach you about working in the arts?
Slam poets past and present Grace Iwashita-Taylor, Mohamed Hassan, and Matariki Bennett discuss how poetry is the undercurrent to their careers, and a foundation for change-making.

New Zealand National Poetry Slam

13 poets from eight regions across the country have slammed their way through qualifying events to reach the National Poetry Slam. Now they’ll have three, three minute rounds to convince random audience judges why they should be the next National Slam Champion. With a feature set from 2023 Champion Marcus Mackenzie, this is the poetry event of the year.

AfterSlam

The official Nationals afterparty, the hotly-anticipated AfterSlam. Head down to Basement after the Slam for a DJ and some very special performances to close out the weekend out in style.