Chris Tse’s goal as the New Zealand Poet Laureate for 2022–2024 is to “make poetry part of people’s everyday lives.” Known as the pop idol of Aotearoa’s poetry scene, he is the author of three acclaimed volumes of poetry. His ground-breaking work is celebrated for its searing truthfulness and wide-ranging forms, and in this session he intends to tease out the inner poet inside everybody in the audience, student and teacher alike. In his mission to share his contagious enthusiasm for poetry, he will also introduce two upcoming stars whose work he admires – Claudia Jardine and Amber Esau (Manase/Ngāpuhi).

AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL 2023, WAITUHI O TĀMAKI WEDNESDAY 17 MAY – 12.30-1.15PM KIRI TE KANAWA THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE