Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2021

An essential, annual collection of terrific New Zealand poetry

Each year Poetry New Zealand, this country’s longest-running poetry magazine, rounds up important new poetry, reviews and essays, making it the ideal way to catch up with the latest poetry from both established and emerging New Zealand poets.

The packed issue #55 features 180 new poems — including by this year’s featured poet, Aimee-Jane Anderson-O’Connor and by John Allison, Stephanie Christie, Michele Leggott, Wes Lee, Elizabeth Morton, David Eggleton, Bob Orr and Kiri Piahana-Wong — and essays and extensive reviews of new poetry collections.

Poems by the winners of both the Poetry New Zealand Award and the Poetry New Zealand Schools Award are among the line-up.

‘Issue #55 was compiled in a time of pandemic which has shaped this massive book. It has more than a few shuddering moments. These are poems that capture both horror and beauty.’ — Hamesh Wyatt, Otago Daily Times

‘The new Poetry New Zealand Yearbook is, as usual, a poetic smorgasbord. First, a tranche of impressive work by the featured poet, Aimee-Jane Anderson-O’Connor. Next, around 250 pages of poems by poets familiar and less familiar. Then, two extended personal-literary essays. Lastly, 20 substantial reviews of recent collections . . . I’ll be carrying this book around with me for quite a while.’ — Harry Ricketts, kete

‘. . . there is so much poetry being written in Aotearoa that editor Tracey Slaughter’s whittled-down selection of two months of submissions, a year’s worth of work, fills what could ostensibly be termed a tome’ — Sophie van Waardenberg, Academy of New Zealand Literature

Praise for the previous editions:

‘Poetry New Zealand Yearbook … as a hub for poetry conversations, is now an essential destination for poetry fans’ — Paula Green, Sunday-Star Times

‘This belongs in the section of your bookcase you’ve set aside for quiet little miracles that we can only be grateful are still part of our literary life’ — Paul Little, North & South

‘… one of the best New Zealand literary journals around’ — Siobahn Harvey, New Zealand Herald