Catalyst launches in Australia! Poetry Sydney hosts first trans-Tasman launch event

Divine Embrace by Jason Bezas as featured on the cover of Catalyst 23

We are excited to have three launch events for Catalyst 23 this year:

Firstly, at our home in Christchurch, Wednesday 3 June, 7pm at the Space Academy, Christchurch. We kicked off the celebrations with readings from featured poets and an open mic.

Secondly in Sydney, Saturday 11 July, 3-5pm, ellipsis Gallery, Level 1, 41 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011. Featuring readings by contributors.

Finally, our international launch will be held at the 45 World Congress of Poets in Pristina, Kosovo, 25 – 30 September.

Join us to launch the new volume of Catalyst, and celebrate these themes of hope as a discipline, as we wrap our readers in a ‘Divine Embrace’. Poetry Sydney hosts the launch on 11th July at ellipsis Gallery. See the Facebook event page here.

The afternoon will feature poets in the collection: Linda Adair / Doc Drumheller / Kate Lumley / David Musgrave / Mark Roberts / Angela Stretch (Host) / Les Wicks

Venue: ellipsis gallery is an artist-run initiative (ARI) by Mark Wotherspoon, a glass artist and previous president of ESP Gallery Marrickville. Providing a blank canvas and a voice for artists to exhibit their remarkable works. A multi-disciplinary exhibition space situated in the heart of Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

Image: Divine Embrace by Jason Bezas.

Ōtautahi Christchurch Poetry Slam 2025 - Get Ready!

 

Announcing the dates of the 2025 Ōtautahi Poetry Slam.

Prelim is Wednesday 3rd September, 7pm

Grand Slam Wednesday 10th September, 7pm

Door Entry: $15 both nights (participants free!) 

The top 10 entrants from the Preliminary Heat will progress through to the Grand Slam and the chance to be crowned Slam Champ of Ōtautahi 2025. The Champ and runner-up will have entry into the NZ Poetry Slam in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, dates TBC (November).

IMPORTANT: check out the rules of the Poetry Slam here. 

Incoming!

 

Book launch: Hotel Theresa by Doc Drumheller

I have strolled down the brownstones of Harlem
with a heart full of salt peanuts and jazz.
Looking for soul food and a place to eat
as I try to find the Hotel Theresa.

 Come visit Hotel Theresa, the latest collection of poetry by Doc Drumheller, published by Cold Hub Press, with support from Christchurch City Creative Communities funding.

Hotel Theresa by Doc Drumheller launch event

Scorpio Books, BNZ Centre Five Lanes

Wednesday 13th November from 5.30pm

RSVP to tinyurl.com/ScorpioBooksRSVP 

The Hotel Theresa is a landmark in Harlem, New York City, where legendary figures like Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali made their New York stay-overs. After visiting this iconic hotel, poet Doc Drumheller was inspired to write and collect poems based on his travels, exploring the world as a dual citizen of New Zealand and the USA. The poems in this collection were composed on his journeys in New Zealand, and throughout the USA, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

For those unfamiliar with Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press publisher and editor-in-chief, Doc Drumheller is an award-winning poet, musician, dramatist, who has published 11 collections of poetry. His poems have been translated into more than 20 languages. He is the editor and publisher of the New Zealand literary journal Catalyst. 

He was elected to represent New Zealand on the Executive Board of the World Congress of Poets, and is the editor in chief of the World Congress of Poets literary journal Fuego. He has appeared at international poetry festivals all over the world, and has performed in Cuba, Lithuania, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Japan, India, China, Nicaragua, USA, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, and widely throughout NZ.

His previous collection, Drinking With Li Bai, 100 Haiku from China and India, was published, with a memorable launch at Scorpio Books, by Cold Hub Press in 2022.

 

Catalyst presents: Poets on the Block - live at Block Party 2023

 

A Catalyst showcase!

Featuring: Melanie McKerchar, Ray Shipley, Andy Coyle, Doc Drumheller and Ciaran Fox.

Saturday 25th November, 2pm

The Arts Centre Market

 

 

Dead Bird Books takes to the road in 2023

 

Having already released a swag of exciting new voices this year, Dead Bird Books are set to launch the new collection by founder, best-selling author and legendary performance poet Dominic Hoey in collaboration with designer Trudi Hewitt. What better way to celebrate than a road trip around the motu, bringing the new books to the people.

Accompanied by poets published by DBB in 2023, Isla Huia and Liam Jacobson, Dominic Hoey will be releasing his latest collection The Dead Are Always Laughing At Us in November 2023. Writes Hoey:

“Accessibility has shaped the way I write and perform. I’ve always resisted the idea that poetry should be a puzzle you need a 50k education to unlock. Early on I knew I wanted this to be the kind of poetry collection anyone could pick up and be drawn into immediately. With that in mind it was really important to add a visual element to the text.” 

 

The poems were mostly written during lock-down as a way to try and stay sane while the world lost its collective mind. The collaboration with a graphic designer means the book has a strongly visual, as well as verbal, aspect. Hewitt writes:

“I saw this project as an opportunity to experiment. To rethink the rules we set for consistency and to challenge typesetting conventions of literature and poetry. Ultimately I wanted to give each of Dominic’s poems their own sense of identity by playing with pace, space, size and tension. An awesome collaboration with a very talented friend.” 

The book is available for pre-sale now on Dead Bird Books website. Kicking off at the end of November, Dominic is bringing a road show of exciting talent to select venues in both North and South Islands. 

Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) is a te reo Māori teacher, writer and musician. Her first book,Talia, was released by Dead Bird in May 2023.

Liam Jacobson (Kāi Tahu) is a poet, artist, maker (etc.) from Manurewa, South Auckland. They've shared poems in alleys, pubs and galleries across Aotearoa and overseas. Liam's debut poetry collection, Neither, was published by Dead Bird Books in September 2023.

Dominic Hoey is a poet and bestselling author.  Through his 'Learn To Write Good' writing course, Dominic has taught thousands of students how to think dyslexic. He also works with rangatahi with the Atawhai program, helping them with their mental health and self-esteem.

Tickets can be purchased via the Dead Bird Books website: www.deadbirdbooks.com/tickets

If you’d like a copy of the book or want to interview any of the poets email- hello@deadbirdbooks.com

Fuego! Announcing the launch of volume 1 of the World Congress of Poets official literary journal

 

Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press with support from Waimakariri District Creative Communities (Creative NZ) fund are proud to present the launch event for Fuego volume 1, the literary journal of the World Congress of Poets.

Celebrating National Poetry Day on Friday 25th August in style, Waimakariri Libraries has one of the most prestigious events in the country as host of the launch of brand new international literary journal, Fuego.

Edited by Doc Drumheller, Fuego features poetry and art from around Aotearoa and the world, with a special North Canterbury flavour to the fire of volume 1, acknowledging the investment by Waimakariri District Creative Communities as well as local boy done good, Doc Drumheller.

The book launch will be held at Rangiora Library on Friday 25th August (NZ National Poetry Day) at 6pm and featuring poetry readings and more.

Fuego volume 1 - book launch

Friday 25th August, 6pm

Rangiora Library, 141 Percival St, Rangiora

Ōtautahi-Christchurch Poetry Slam is here!

 The dates for the 2023 Christchurch Poetry Slams are:

Wednesday 2nd August, 7pm - Preliminary heat

Wednesday 23rd August, 7pm - GRAND FINAL

As always, poets wishing to throw down in the big Slam as part of WORD Christchurch, need to go in the Prelim and make it into the top 10.

Rules will be posted on this website (in fact they're searchable from last year).

Door charge: $10 entry (Slammers are free!)

Spring: Breakdown, Breakthrough - poetry at Tūranga

 

It's National Poetry Day 'eve' and Foundation Cafe at Tūranga is hosting an even earlier 'spring' poetry smorgasbord. Presented by Canterbury Poets Collective with MC - RikTheMost and featuring a broad selection of young, emerging and er, emerged? poets. And even a tiny, wee open mic. 

Catalyst's own Ciaran Fox is in the line up and it's even early enough to be home in time for an early night with a good book.

Readers:
Break through: Elizabeth Ayrey, Lucy Barge, Amelia Kirkness, Sarah-Kate Simons
Break down: Vana Manasiādis, Philip Armstrong, Ciaran Fox, Claudia Jardine, Gail Ingram, Anna Heraskina Foster

Thursday 25th August, 5.30pm

Foundation Cafe, Tūranga

Catalyst volume 18 book launch!

 

Catalyst volume 18 book launch (& open mic!)

Wednesday 3rd November, 7pm

Space Academy, 371 St Asaph St, Christchurch

It's been a helluva ride to get here (do we just say that every year now?) but we're delighted to announce the release of the latest issue of Catalyst into the world. Volume 18, edited by Doc Drumheller marks eighteen years of indie journal Catalyst and eight years under the imprint Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press. Join us to celebrate another outstanding collection of local and international poetry (the best way is by buying a copy, and one for your lover/enemy/whatever)! There'll be a little bit of speechifying, some readings by various contributors and we'll even make time for an open mic - because after all: Catalyst!