Overview
Best New Zealand Poems is an annual online anthology that presents a curated selection of poems written by New Zealand poets and first published in the preceding calendar year. The project, launched in 2017, aims to showcase contemporary New Zealand poetry and to make it accessible to a broad readership through a free, open‑access digital platform.
Origins and Development
The initiative was founded by poet and editor Kirsty Gunn in collaboration with the literary website Poetry New Zealand and the New Zealand Poetry Society. Its first edition, titled Best New Zealand Poems 2017, was edited by Emma Neale and featured 32 poems from 30 poets. Subsequent editions have been produced each year, with a new guest editor appointed to oversee the selection process.
Selection Process
- Eligibility – Poems must be written by a poet who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and must have first appeared in a New Zealand publication (print or online) during the eligible year.
- Nomination – Editors, literary journals, and sometimes the poets themselves nominate works.
- Curation – The guest editor, assisted by a small advisory panel, reviews the nominations and selects a representative sample—typically 30 to 40 poems—balancing genre, style, and demographic diversity.
- Publication – The selected poems are posted on the Best New Zealand Poems website, each accompanied by bibliographic details and, where possible, a brief author biography.
Guest Editors (2017‑2025)
| Year | Guest Editor |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Emma Neale |
| 2018 | Lynley Edmeades |
| 2019 | Rachael Russell |
| 2020 | Christopher Hawke |
| 2021 | Stephanie Brown |
| 2022 | Sarah Broom (post‑humous editorial contribution) |
| 2023 | Tusiata Avia |
| 2024 | Marty Smith |
| 2025 | Data not yet released |
Notable Features
- Digital Accessibility – All poems are free to read online, with options for PDF download and audio recordings for selected pieces.
- Educational Use – The anthology is frequently incorporated into secondary school and university curricula as a primary source for contemporary New Zealand poetry.
- International Reach – While focused on New Zealand writers, the site attracts a global readership and has been referenced in literary studies of Oceania poetry.
Impact and Reception
Scholars and critics have highlighted Best New Zealand Poems as a significant contribution to the visibility of New Zealand literature, noting its role in:
- Providing a consolidated record of yearly poetic output, useful for research and archival purposes.
- Elevating emerging poets alongside established voices, thereby encouraging a more inclusive literary ecosystem.
- Facilitating cross‑cultural dialogue by making New Zealand poetry readily available to international audiences.
Related Projects
- Poetry New Zealand – A literary journal that frequently contributes poems and editorial expertise to the anthology.
- New Zealand Poetry Archive – A physical and digital repository that houses manuscripts, recordings, and historical records of New Zealand poetry.
References
- "Best New Zealand Poems 2017." Best New Zealand Poems website, accessed June 2026.
- Neale, Emma, ed. Best New Zealand Poems 2017. Poetry New Zealand, 2017.
- Edmeades, Lynley, ed. Best New Zealand Poems 2018. Poetry New Zealand, 2018.
(For a comprehensive list of editions and editorial notes, see the archive section of the Best New Zealand Poems website.)
