Celebrate National Poetry Day with a special evening honouring Brian Turner

By Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha | Dunedin UNESCO City Of Literature | Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025

Friday 22 August, Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery, Alexandra

A special evening will be held to celebrate the life and work of Brian Turner ONZM (1944–2025), one of New Zealand’s most celebrated poets and environmental champions, who passed away on 5 February 2025.

Brian Turner was New Zealand Poet Laureate between 2003 and 2005 and received the Prime Minister’s Award for Poetry in 2009. His first collection, Ladders of Rain (1978), won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, and his collection Just This won the NZ Post Book Award for Poetry in 2010. As a poet of the Otago landscape and passionate environmental advocate, Brian’s work celebrated the wild beauty of Central Otago while championing conservation efforts.

The Poetry Party invites you to commemorate Turner’s remarkable literary legacy through readings, reflections, and shared appreciation of his profound contribution to New Zealand literature. This intimate gathering will honour both the man and his poetry.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday 22nd August 2025

• Time: 6:30pm

• Cost: $10 entry (cash sales only on the night)

• Includes: 1-2 glasses of wine and nibbles

• Food: Grazing Table

Be part of this meaningful tribute celebrating Brian Turner’s enduring impact on New Zealand’s literary landscape. Whether you’re a longtime admirer of his work or discovering his poetry for the first time, this promises to be a memorable evening of literary appreciation and community connection.

Hosted by The Poetry Party