August 21 is New Zealand's National Poetry Day.

To mark the occasion some of our young men and staff have shared some of their favourite New Zealand poetry or some of their own work.

Mr. Bovey - 'The Cold Hub' by James K. Baxter

Mr. Burton - 'The Magpies' by Denis Glover

Mr. Dredge - writes his own poetry on his blog: https://paulspoeticramblings.wordpress.com/

Mace Apperley (Year 13) - 'All in a Line' 

Piripi Pinfold-Whanga (Year 13) - 'The Night' 

Mr. Atkin - 'Little Prayers' by Bill Manhire (written in response to the attacks at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, Christchurch, 15th March 2019)

Mrs. Langley - 'Directional Change' by Terry Hatch (Kiwi horticulturalist who visited Southern Africa)

Sentinel for family
continually scans the scene
left and right and left again
plus all points in-between

A mere speck on horizons
will catch the guardian's eye
and if it turns to danger
off the Meerkat zooms
down into the safety
of the Meerkat katacombs

Mrs. Kennedy - 'Cricket' by Brian Turner (ONZM, NZ Poet and Author, played hockey for NZ in 1960's, senior cricket in Dunedin and Wellington and a veteran road cyclist)

A game about which
you can know very little
and say anything
and be right sooner or later.

Mr. Calton - 'High Country Weather' by James K. Baxter

Mrs. Rankin - 'No Ordinary Sun' by Hone Tuwhare

Mrs. Burtt - 'ANZAC Day' by Rangi Faith

This man is in his garden.

He works on silently,

knowing he cannot be touched.

He has cleared the old tendrils

from the bean frame,

and placed them in the barrow.

He works silently.

He remembers his mates.

He clears the beans

from the frame,

remembering the cry,

the noise,

the mud.

He is in his garden.

He cannot be touched.

He works on silently.