Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu) of Ōamaru has been announced as Poet Laureate for the next three years.

By RNZ

New Zealand's new Poet Laureate, Robert Sullivan, was first inspired in his craft by the clouds.

A teacher, Mrs Nair, who taught Sullivan in year 6 at Onehunga Primary, planted the seed of a life-long love of writing poetry, he told RNZ’s Nine to Noon.

“She set our class a little writing task. We went outside in front of the school lawn, and we had to write about clouds.

Robert Sullivan at the Ockham NZ Book Awards. NZ Book Awards Trust

“We all lay in the grass and looked up at the sky and wrote about what we saw, and a lot of kids saw, fluffy bunnies and cotton wool and cotton candy floss, and I was a bit different. I saw an alligator floating, and I wrote about lying in the grass watching this alligator, and it made me feel really special. It's a lovely memory.”

Sullivan is the author of more than 12 books of poetry including Jazz Waiata, Star Waka and Tūnui /Comet. His most recent book of poems is Hopuarangi-Songcatcher.

The value of the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award is $150,000 over three-years. The Laureate receives $40,000 per year, with the balance held by the National Library to cover the cost of the Laureate’s tokotoko, and to support their travel and participation in literary events.

He has known about “this wonderful gift of the laureateship” for a while, he says.

Listen here on Nine to Noon: Robert Sullivan confirmed as new Poet Laureate

Sullivan has whakapapa to Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu (Ngāti Hau, and Ngāti Manu), and Kai Tahu (Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki), with affiliations to Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāi Tai. He is also of Irish, Scottish and English descent.

Sullivan's other awards include The Lauris Edmond Memorial Award for a distinguished contribution to New Zealand Poetry (2022), Distinguished Visiting Writer at the University of Hawaii (2001), and the University of Auckland Literary Fellowship (1998).

As well as poetry, his children’s book of Māori myths and legends, Weaving Earth and Sky, was listed as a Storylines Notable Non-Fiction Book (2003), won the Non-Fiction category and the New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year (2003).

The Poet Laureate was introduced in 1996 as the Te Mata Estate Winery Laureate Award and the first Laureates were Bill Manhire, Hone Tuwhare, Elizabeth Smither, Brian Turner and Jenny Bornholdt.

Since 2007, when the National Library took over the appointment of the Poet Laureate, the Laureates have been Michele Leggott, Cilla McQueen, Ian Wedde, Vincent O’Sullivan, CK Stead, Selina Tusitala Marsh, David Eggleton and Chris Tse. - RNZ