New verse by Wellington writer Bill Manhire. My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. From Some Things to Place in a Coffin, the latest book of verse by Bill Manhire (Victoria University Press, $30), available at Unity Books. Feature image … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Joy Holley. Lana Del Rey It definitely wasn’t love at first sight, for Joy and I. It was something more like “Who the fuck is this middle-aged ginger lady and why do people think she can sing?” Skip ahead: Track 12. Joy can now provide extensive answers … Read more
New verse by Starling editor Louise Wallace PLUS BONUS EXTRA essay on attending a poetry festival in Mexico. Mexico! Best actress in a supporting role wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife wife … Read more
New verse by Dunedin writer Emma Neale Big Bad She cried wolf but she was the wolf so she slit sad’s bellyskin and stones of want rolled out. She cried lack — and she was the lack so she stitched up sad’s bellyskin but more wolf leapt out. She cried wolf … Read more
Tim Grgec plucked up courage to submit his poetry to literary journals. But he didn’t know anyone in New Zealand writing and no one had ever heard of him. So then what? I used to think of New Zealand’s poetry scene as an exclusive club – a club constricted in living, with strict rules on how to … Read more
New verse by Auckland writer Carin Smeaton. Rēkohu, he got his eye on you he’s from the chathams you dont meet many people from there do u he says he keeping his name top secret cos it’s a small world out there all he’ll say is she’s opening up to the point of … Read more
New verse by a Wellington writer who has become the world’s most famous New Zealand author, Ashleigh Young. Ghost Bear On flying ant day, Elliot took me to the glowing sign outside Kenneth Williams’ apartment. We stared at it for the necessary long while. Kenneth Williams said he hated everyone and everything, especially, … Read more
New verse by New Zealand-Tongan poet Simone Kaho. Pretty Some people say You’re too pretty to be Tongan which is funny because it’s usually Tongans who say it. It is a short-cut to make a big distance between us and casually call me Pālagi at the same time. I can hardly … Read more
New verse by London writer Fleur Adcock. Blue stars To qualify as a New Zealander I’d have to turn against the agapanthus. This wasn’t mentioned at the passport office, but my New Zealand nationality is a part-time thing – a bit of nostalgia. Genuine applicants don’t need to be told. They … Read more
Win free things! In this case, books! No cost! Minimal effort! Huge rewards for your intellectual and emotional well-being! The Spinoff Review of Books in association with our favourite arts and culture quango, the New Zealand Book Council and their Aotearoa Summer Reads campaign, wishes to give away two prize packs of 10 extremely good … Read more
New verse by Wellington poet Tim Grgec. Fergusson Park, Matua Her feet make soft, temporary marks in the sand like yours used to. The woman in front of me. The wind blowing against her brightly coloured hat. Fishermen launch gently from the boat ramp. She looks towards the identical lines of … Read more
New verse by Wellington poet Mary Macpherson Palaces When it became warmer, we mooned over lost flowers Iit again amongst hunks of grass. We found marbles behind the dresser and remembered palaces in distant swirls of colour. Shops meant something too. We love the fierce desire for the things … Read more
New verse by Kaipara poet Sam Hunt. So I don’t rightly know it’s even you – but being on the edge of what was like a lake I know which could only be seen when there was no sun, no moon, and that water so deep you’d know (if … Read more
There ain’t no Friday Poem today. Instead, the Spinoff’s team of experts have chosen their favourite five books of poetry published in 2016, and guarantee that each book would make a really good Xmas gift. Hera Lindsay Bird (Victoria University Press, $25) by Hera Lindsay Bird There are 17 people in New Zealand yet to buy … Read more
New verse by Dunedin writer Emma Neale. Tag From the tangle of trees by the Warrender Street steps near where city council crews have been deleting the fuck-cunts and dick pics sprayed on the path, sharper than the doof-doof of the stereo from a student party in the valley’s dank trench, comes the … Read more
New apocalyptic verse by Wellington writer Nick Ascroft. Gone Mad Health and safety gone mad. Disease and hazard gone mad. ‘Health and safety gone mad’ gone mad. Healthy dislike of Baby Boomers gone mad. Housing prices gone mad. Interest rates threatening to spiral out of control but remaining at a plateau gone mad. Estate agents gone mad. I’m … Read more
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 first annual Spinoff Review of Books literary awards!!! Some say 2016 will go down in history as the year between 2015 and 2017, but it’s too early … Read more
New verse by writer and singer, Dominic Hoey. Toast I’d like to make a toast to the sound man for making me louder than my detractors to the bar tenders, those unsung heroes of hospo, serving up sweet amnesia to the hecklers, the physical manifestation of the voices in my head, shut -the fuck- … Read more
New verse by New Plymouth poet Elizabeth Smither The heart heals itself between beats When the Middlesex Hospital was coming down I walked through empty corridors to the chapel and stood behind a rood screen, admiring self-sacrificing matrons and eminent surgeons. The heart heals itself between beats. The heart heals itself between beats. … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Kate Camp. Welcome to your new sky It is impossible to build an unhackable computer. That’s why the US Navy is equipping its ships with sextants and teaching their crews to navigate by the stars. You can’t hack the stars. Yet. All in all though and on balance I … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Chris Tse. Selfie with landscape Let’s unpick what you think you know about me—what I’ve revealed, what I’ve left at the door of my favourite wolf, just for him to make eye contact the next time we pass in the street. Those stories all had emergency exits, just like … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer and college student, Mira Karunanidhi. The Universe we once had a conversation about the universe and i told you i like to think that space is infinite that it has no beginning middle or end but like most things it has to end somewhere in the same … Read more
In which we name the ten finalists of our amazing new writers residency award – and also announce a second and third-place prize of free accommodation with pizza. Ten finalists have been chosen in the inaugural Surrey Hotel Steve Braunias Memorial Writers Residency in Association with The Spinoff Award. Applications for the new and extremely groovesome … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer, academic and editor Harry Ricketts. Having trouble with your relationship? You may or may not be to blame. Don’t delay ‒ contact Dumper & Co today. Does he or she play home and away? Suspect them of being bi, straight or gay? Having trouble with your relationship? Some like it … Read more