Stead named NZ Poet Laureate

The National Library of New Zealand has named C K Stead as the 2015-17 New Zealand Poet Laureate.

Stead, the author of numerous collections of poetry, short stories, novels and literary criticism, will ‘represent New Zealand’s poets, promote and advocate for poetry and produce published work’ during his two-year tenure. He will receive NZ$80,000 (A$71,479) and ‘a stipend of wine’ over the period.

Chief librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library Chris Szekely said Stead’s international presence was central to his appointment. ‘Stead has been a constant contributor to New Zealand’s literary landscape across a range of disciplines for over sixty years,’ said Szekely. ‘But by his own admission, it is poetry that is central to his life as a writer. His Collected Poems contains poetry written in 1951 yet he continues to create new works of freshness and originality with poems written in 2015.’

Stead takes over the position from 2013-2015 New Zealand Poet Laureate Vincent O’Sullivan.

Category: Local news