14 Must-Read New Zealand Poems

New Zealand’s poetry is as diverse as its geography, echoing the voices of both the indigenous Māori and the settlers.

Poets like Hone Tuwhare and Katherine Mansfield portray the raw beauty of the land, the struggle of its people, and the mingling of cultures. Their works often imbibe elements of the Kiwi spirit – exploratory, resilient, and intimate with nature.

These poems, whether steeped in tradition or breaking new ground, paint a rich picture of New Zealand’s literary landscape.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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Fathers and Daughters

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For Heidi With Blue Hair

by Fleur Adcock

‘For Heidi With Blue Hair’ is a six-stanza poem that uses action and dialogue to paint a literary picture where little to no physical setting is provided.

'For Heidi With Blue Hair' stands out among New Zealand poems for its universal themes of youth rebellion and societal norms, portrayed with wit and empathy. Fleur Adcock's poem captures a relatable struggle against authority and conformity, resonating beyond its specific context. Its accessibility, emotional depth, and effective use of everyday language distinguish it, showcasing Adcock's ability to blend personal narrative with broader social commentary effectively.

When you dyed your hair blue

(or, at least ultramarine

for the clipped sides, with a crest

of jet-black spikes on top)

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The Telephone Call

by Fleur Adcock

Adcock’s ‘The Telephone Call’ humorously navigates the illusion of luck, emphasizing life’s experiences over material wealth.

This particular work by Adcock exemplifies some of the best satire in modern New Zealand poetry. Rather than being occupied with themes of culture or the environment like other New Zealand poems Adcock's work critiques contemporary issues. By humorously showcasing a false lottery operation the author expresses a perspective that resonates with the cultural anxieties of the time.

They asked me 'Are you sitting down?

Right? This is Universal Lotteries,'

they said. 'You've won the top prize,

the Ultra-super Global Special.

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To a Millionaire

by A.R.D. Fairburn

‘To a Millionaire’ by A. R. D. Fairburn critiques opulence, unraveling hidden guilt, moral decay, and inevitable downfall through vivid metaphors and striking imagery.

'To a Millionaire' stands as a stellar representation of New Zealand poetry. Fairburn's adept use of vivid imagery and sharp critique sets this poem apart, showcasing a mastery of poetic language. Its relevance extends beyond New Zealand, addressing universal themes of wealth, morality, and societal decay. The poem's distinctiveness lies in its powerful commentary, establishing Fairburn as a notable figure in New Zealand poetry.

Lord of our world, take off your velvet

mask. Remove your gentle glove, disclose

the claw-like hand, the dried blood under the nails,

the murder print that never shows.

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You Will Know When You Get There

by Allen Curnow

‘You Will Know When You Get There’ by Allen Curnow embraces the inevitability of death via the figurative imagery of a descent into the sea.

Credited with revitalizing literature about New Zealand, his poetry is celebrated for its incredible and thoughtful illustrations of the dramatic landscape. Like this poem, childhood experiences also feature throughout his many works, imbuing them with a spellbinding reverence and mystery. The focus of his imagery on nature and its immense beauty is perhaps one of the most affecting features of the poem.

Nobody comes up from the sea as late as this

in the day and the season, and nobody else goes down

the last steep kilometre, wet-metalled where

a shower passed shredding the light which keeps

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Farmhand

by James K. Baxter

‘Farmhand’ by James K. Baxter describes the lack of confidence a farmhand has regarding his appearance and relationship prospects.

‘Farmhand’ shines among New Zealand poems for its honest look at rural life and quiet longing. Each four line stanza moves like a country scene: sunburnt skin, empty dance floor, tractor hum, drawing readers into a world that feels both rugged and tender. While many Kiwi poets celebrate sweeping landscapes, Baxter zooms in on one man’s ache and pride. His simple details; calloused hands, engine song, make this poem a standout slice of Aotearoa’s heart.

You will see him light a cigarette At the hall door careless, leaning his back Against the wall, or telling some new joke To a friend, or looking out into the secret night.

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Time

by Allen Curnow

‘Time’ by Allen Curnow is a highly relatable poem that depicts time through a series of metaphors that personify it.

Curnow is a New Zealand poet who is well-regarded in his country and around the world. 'Time' is one of his better-known poems and is studied in various schools and universities. Despite this, it is not one of the most famous poems in all of New Zealand's history.

I am the nor-west air among the pines

I am the water-race and the rust on railway lines

I am the mileage recorded on the yellow signs.

I am dust, I am distance, I am lupins back of the beach

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Monologue

by Hone Tuwhare

‘Monologue’ by Hone Tuwhare is a contemporary poem about the difficulties workers face when looking for a job and how temporary those jobs can be.

This poem was written by famed New Zealand Maori poet Hone Tuwhare. It was inspired by his personal experiences in the country as he tried to find and keep work.

I like working near a door. I like to have my work-bench

close by, with a locker handy.

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Distant Fields/ANZAC Parade

by Rhian Gallagher

‘Distant Fields/ANZAC Parade’ by Rhian Gallagher is a poem about witnessing one parade commemorating the service of the deceased soldiers.

Medalled, ribboned chests, an effort

carried through them, the war

still going on inside their heads,

gathered up for roll call.

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Elegy For My Father’s Father

by James K. Baxter

‘Elegy For My Father’s Father’ was written by James K. Baxter. The poem has only a single stanza with 38 lines, which develop a set of responses to death.

#10

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Friend

by Hone Tuwhare

‘Friend’ by Hone Tuwhare discusses a friendship that has fallen into ruin through the passage of years.

#11

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Rhyme of the Dead Self

by A.R.D. Fairburn

‘Rhyme of the Dead Self’ by A.R.D. Fairburn is a captivating poem in which the poet speaks about youth and coming of age through images of violence and religion.

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Stewart Island

by Fleur Adcock

‘Stewart Island’ by Adcock uncovers the harsh realities hidden beneath its scenic beauty, challenging idealized perceptions.

‘But look at all this beauty’

said the hotel manager’s wife

when asked how she could bear to

live there. True: there was a fine bay,

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The Meeting

by Katherine Mansfield

‘The Meeting’ by Katherine Mansfield is a short and image-rich poem that depicts a speaker’s reaction to a permanent separation from her lover.

We started speaking,

Looked at each other, then turned away.

The tears kept rising to my eyes.

But I could not weep.

#14

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Waterfall

by Lauris Dorothy Edmond

‘Waterfall’ is a famous poem of the New Zealand poet Lauris Dorothy Edmond. This poem taps on the themes of love, death, time, and youth.

I do not ask for youth, nor for delay

in the rising of time’s irreversible river

that takes the jewelled arc of the waterfall

in which I glimpse, minute by glinting minute,

all that I have and all I am always losing

as sunlight lights each drop fast, fast falling.

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14 Must-Read New Zealand Poems

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14 Must-Read New Zealand Poems

by Fleur Adcock

by Fleur Adcock

by A.R.D. Fairburn

by Allen Curnow

by James K. Baxter

by Allen Curnow

by Hone Tuwhare

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