The Spinoff Review of Poetry

The Friday Poem: ‘Cross dresser’ by Oscar Upperton

The Friday Poem: ‘Cross dresser’ by Oscar Upperton

New poetry by Oscar Upperton.

By Oscar Upperton | 1st February, 2019

Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending February 1

Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending February 1

The only published and available best-selling book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 best-seller list recorded every week at the Unity Books’ stores in Willis St, Wellington and High St, Auckland.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 1st February, 2019

Ashleigh Young. Photo: supplied

A brief note on feelings by our new poetry editor Ashleigh Young

Ashleigh Young talks about her feelings as she steps into her new role as poetry editor at The Spinoff Review of Books.

By Ashleigh Young | 23rd January, 2019

Official proclamation: The 20 best poetry books of 2018

Official proclamation: The 20 best poetry books of 2018

All week this week we present the 20 best books of the year. Today: the 20 best collections of poetry.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 11th December, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘Hawaiki’ by Bob Orr

The Friday Poem: ‘Hawaiki’ by Bob Orr

New poetry by Thames writer Bob Orr.

By Bob Orr | 7th December, 2018

Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 7

Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 7

Only 18 shopping days till Xmas, for God's sake! Find what you're looking for by perusing the week's best-selling books at the Unity stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 7th December, 2018

The 2018 Spinoff Review of Books Awards for New Zealand Literature

The 2018 Spinoff Review of Books Awards for New Zealand Literature

New Zealand literature! What is it, who reads it, and why does it exist? Some or none or all of these questions are about to be answered in the third annual Spinoff Review of Books literary awards.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 5th December, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘Yes or No’ by Steven Toussaint

The Friday Poem: ‘Yes or No’ by Steven Toussaint

New poetry by Auckland writer Steven Toussaint.

By Steven Toussaint | 30th November, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘My mother’ by Jenny Blood

The Friday Poem: ‘My mother’ by Jenny Blood

New verse by Pt Chevalier writer Jenny Blood.

By Jenny Blood | 23rd November, 2018

The state of New Zealand poetry in 2018

The state of New Zealand poetry in 2018

Book of the Week: In which Spinoff Review of Books literary editor Steve Braunias commissions Murray Edmond to review an anthology of New Zealand poetry published by Steve Braunias.

By Murray Edmond | 22nd November, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘After Lucy Tinakori’s Famous Party’ by Vincent O’Sullivan

The Friday Poem: ‘After Lucy Tinakori’s Famous Party’ by Vincent O’Sullivan

New verse by Dunedin writer Vincent O'Sullivan.

By Vincent O'Sullivan | 16th November, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘what the poem isn’t allowed to do’ by essa may ranapiri

The Friday Poem: ‘what the poem isn’t allowed to do’ by essa may ranapiri

New verse by Kirikiriroa writer essa may ranapiri.

By essa may ranapiri | 9th November, 2018

(Image: Hieu Minh Nguyen)

The author with the best haircut in world literature has arrived in New Zealand

The star of Wellington's awesome LitCrawl event this weekend is poet Kaveh Akbar, who has a great haircut.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 6th November, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘Ode to Auckland’ by Ian Wedde

The Friday Poem: ‘Ode to Auckland’ by Ian Wedde

New verse by Auckland writer Ian Wedde.

By Ian Wedde | 2nd November, 2018

John Keats, now dead

The Friday Poem: ‘A new song of allegiance’ by Murray Edmond

New verse by Auckland writer Murray Edmond.

By Murray Edmond | 26th October, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘1’ by Courtney Sina Meredith

The Friday Poem: ‘1’ by Courtney Sina Meredith

New verse by Auckland writer Courtney Sina Meredith.

By Courtney Sina Meredith | 19th October, 2018

The Friday Poem: ‘Release’ by Chris Tse

The Friday Poem: ‘Release’ by Chris Tse

New verse by Wellington writer Chris Tse.

By Chris Tse | 28th September, 2018

Contributing writer

Golden Bay at low tide on May 12, 2016 (Photo by USGS/NASA Landsat data/Orbital Horizon/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Friday Poem: ‘On Intimacy’ by Sam Duckor-Jones

New verse by Featherston writer Sam Duckor-Jones.

By Sam Duckor-Jones | 21st September, 2018

Getty Images

The Friday Poem: ‘Kei te whakaako au i taku kurī/I am teaching my dog Māori’ by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman

New verse by Christchurch writer Jeffrey Paparoa Holman.

By Jeffrey Paparoa Holman | 7th September, 2018

Photo by Jorge Fern·ndez/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lies, damned lies, and Book Council data: a strange new survey on NZ’s reading habits

The dear old Book Council has released its annual survey of New Zealand reading habits, and claims that on average we read 35 books a year. 35! Danyl Mclauchlan asks what the devil is going on.

By Danyl Mclauchlan | 5th September, 2018

Contributing writer