Window opens for poets

Sixteen Wairarapa writers are unleashing their words on the region to celebrate National Poetry Day next Friday.

Under the banner of "16" they will display their poems on shop windows across Wairarapa and hold free poetry performances at Masterton Intermediate School and in the evening at Gladstone Vineyard, says Wairarapa author and event co-ordinator Madeleine Slavick.

The theme of 16 was "designed to inspire, stimulate, entertain, and increase the accessibility and visibility of poetry", Slavick said, and is one of more than 50 events being staged nationwide for National Poetry Day 2013.

The group have created a booklet of 16 poems, one from each of the writers involved.

A copy will be handed to 48 schools and eight libraries in Wairarapa and given out to the public at 26 venues across the region, she said.

Slavick said the performances and publication aimed to help "build a sense of community among writers in the Wairarapa - it was a group effort to create all the elements of 16".

The 16 writers include Cape Palliser's Jo Thorpe, Agnes Jones, Madeleine Slavick and Gaye Sutton from Carterton, Simon Fleck, of Featherston, Catherine Day and Pat White from Gladstone, Greytown's Justine Eldred and Anne Taylor, Jodie Dalgleish of Mount Bruce, Martinborough's John Ansell, Mary Buckner, Janette Gerritson, Clare McLennan-Kissel, of Masterton, Matarawa's Rhondda Grieg and Kerry Popplewell, of Pahiatua.

Slavick said New Zealand Post was the major event sponsor, Printcraft helped with production of the booklet and Wairarapa REAP would distribute the publication to the 48 schools.

The 26 Wairarapa locations where the poems will be available include Almo's Books, Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Brackenridge, Cabbage Tree Cottage, Cafe Strada, Carterton Library, Craft Country, Double Dollar Plus, Entice Cafe, Featherston Library, Gladstone School, Gladstone Vineyard, Greytown Library, Kitcheners St Dairy, Lake Ferry Hotel, Masterton Library, Matarawa Station, Mitre 10 Martinborough, Pahiatua Community Library, Pirinoa Country Store, Printcraft, Pukaha Mount Bruce, Super Minx Greytown, Take Note, The Village Art Shop, Wairarapa REAP.