Terms of reference — New Zealand Poet Laureate Award

Criteria and accountabilities

The New Zealand Poet Laureate will:

• have made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand poetry

• be an accomplished and highly regarded poet who continues to publish new work

• be able to actively fulfil the public role required of a Poet Laureate

• be a strong advocate for poetry.

The role of the Laureate will be shaped by the skills and experience the appointed poet brings to the position, but will include the creation, in partnership with the National Library, of an online presence for the Laureate. Key accountabilities include:

• creating work with a view to publishing a new collection

• participation in poetry-related activities

• seeking to raise national awareness of the value of reading and writing poetry

• archiving creative/work processes with the Alexander Turnbull Library/National Library of New Zealand

• a working relationship with the National Library during the laureateship, which may include using the collections and hosting events.

Eligibility

There is a nomination process every three years. The Poet Laureate appointed in 2022 will hold the position until August 2025. Candidates are expected to reside in New Zealand during their tenure as Laureate.

Resourcing

The National Library of New Zealand, through the Public Engagement Directorate administers the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award, the value of which is $150,000 over the three-year period. The Laureate receives $120,000 with the balance held by the National Library to cover the cost of the Laureate’s tokotoko, events, promotion and related activities.

Tokotoko

A distinctive element of the New Zealand Poet Laureate award is the carved matua tokotoko. The National Library cares for this tokotoko. A second tokotoko, related symbolically to the matua tokotoko, will be presented to the Laureate.

Archiving

Drafts, interviews, digital content, creative processes, and published work of the New Zealand Poet Laureate created during the laureateship will be preserved in the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library. The intellectual property rights of all work published will remain with the Poet Laureate, who is encouraged to use a Creative Commons licence.

The Library is aware there may be existing arrangements for publishing the Laureate’s work or for depositing the Laureate’s papers with other institutions that need to be considered. A general principle is that the terms of the laureateship will be tailored according to each Laureate’s circumstances (that is, allowing for existing publishing arrangements and the Laureate’s archiving preferences).

New Zealand Poet Laureate Advisory Group

The New Zealand Poet Laureate Advisory Group provides advice to Te Pouhuaki | National Librarian on the selection of the Poet Laureate. The New Zealand Poet Laureate Advisory Group is responsible for considering and formulating recommendations to Te Pouhuaki | National Librarian but understands the appointment of the Poet Laureate is ultimately the decision of Te Pouhuaki | National Librarian.

Draft Agreement

These Terms of Reference form the basis of the understanding and agreement between [Name of Laureate], New Zealand Poet Laureate and the National Library of New Zealand, through the Public Engagement Directorate.

[Name of Laureate] undertakes, as New Zealand Poet Laureate to:

• participate in poetry-related activities create work with a view to publishing a new collection

• archive agreed material in the National Digital Heritage Archive and the Alexander Turnbull Library collections

• maintain an online presence on the Poet Laureate blog

• provide feedback to the National Library at the end of their Laureate tenure

The responsibilities of the National Library of New Zealand are to:

• provide advice and support to the Laureate

• facilitate and support an agreed programme of Laureate events

• provide a digital space for the Laureate

• preserve material, including that from the Library’s website, as agreed with the Laureate, in the National Digital Heritage Archive and the Alexander Turnbull Library collections

• facilitate tokotoko ceremony

• ensure payments are made to the Laureate per an agreed schedule

Accepted as the agreed terms of reference by:

[Name of Laureate]
New Zealand Poet Laureate

Rachel Esson, Te Pouhuaki | National Librarian
National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa