Best New Zealand Poems is published annually by the International
Institute of Modern Letters, and aims to introduce readers –
especially internationally – to leading contemporary New Zealand
poets. The poems are chosen to show the vitality and range of current
writing. We have shamelessly modelled this online project on the successful
US paperback anthology, The Best American Poetry. Each year
we publish 25 poems from recent literary magazines and poetry collections,
where possible including notes about and by the poet, as well as links
to related publishing and literary websites. In this way we hope that
readers will be able to follow up fresh discoveries. There are plenty
to be made.
The editorship of Best New Zealand Poems changes annually.
This year’s editor is Robin Dudding, who has previously edited
Mate, Landfall, and Islands. Earlier editors
were Elizabeth Smither (2002) and Iain Sharp (2001). The 2004 editor
will be Dunedin poet and novelist, Emma Neale.
Best New Zealand Poems is supported by a grant from Creative
New Zealand, whose assistance we gratefully acknowledge. Creative
New Zealand’s grant goes entirely to contributors and editor.
Many thanks to Ralph Hotere, whose drawing for the first edition of
James K Baxter’s Jerusalem Sonnets (Bibliography Room, University
of Otago, 1970) we have used on our opening page.
Bill Manhire
International Institute of Modern Letters
Wellington
March, 2004
|