Poetry in New Zealand 1988-89‪.‬

Two years is perhaps rather brief a span for accurate trend-spotting, but if activity is a sign of vitality, New Zealand poetry was alive and well in 1988-89. Some 50 new collections appeared, along with two noteworthy anthologies. Among the significant events of the period were the deaths of two major poets, the celebration by another of 55 years of publication with a new collected later works, and New Zealand Book Awards for Poetry to two women, one well-established, the other an exciting relative newcomer. As was to be expected, several of the 50 new books of verse came from well-established poets: Lauris Edmond, Cilla McQueen, Elizabeth Smither, Kendrick Smithyman, C. K. Stead, Brian Turner and Ian Wedde. Some of the most interesting volumes were by poets now fulfilling earlier promise: Cherie Barford, Anne French, Michael Jackson, Michele Leggott, Rob Jackaman, and Michael Morrissey. Among a sizeable crop of first collections there were notable ones from Hilary Baxter, Jenny Bornholdt, Mike Minehan and Virginia Were.