Octagon Poetry Collective's monthly reading

Richard Reeve is the author of seven collections of poetry. With Mick Abbott, he is also co-editor of an anthology of essays on wilderness, Our Wild Heart: The Possibility of Wilderness in Aotearoa New Zealand (OUP 2011).

Two new books – a collection of poems, Fun and Games, and a poem-sequence, The Elements – are both forthcoming from Maungatua Press.

Richard was the founding editor of Glottis: New Writing and has been an editor of two issues of Landfall. In the noughties, he worked as Humanities editor for Otago University Press. He holds a Ph.D. on ‘New Zealand poetic reality’ but works as a barrister.

He lives in Warrington, to the north of Dunedin with Octavia and the cat Lionel, and has recently taken up running.

Tim Jones is a writer, editor and anthologist who lived in Dunedin from 1976 to 1993, and now lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington.

He was awarded the NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship in 2022. He writes short and long fiction and poetry, and his recent books include climate fiction novel Emergency Weather (The Cuba Press, 2023) and his new poetry collection Dracula in the Colonies (The Cuba Press, 2025).

More details on the Facebook event

Octagon Poetry Collective — Poetry Nights in Dunedin!

Calling all poets, spoken-word lovers, and creative spirits!

The Octagon Poetry Collective brings together local and visiting poets for monthly readings and an open mic in the heart of Dunedin. Whether you're an experienced writer or new to sharing your work, this welcoming session offers a supportive stage to listen, perform, and connect with Ōtepoti’s vibrant literary community. 

When: Monthly — second Wednesday of the month at 7pm (check their Facebook/Octagon Collective or Instagram/@octagoncollectivepoetry pages for updates)
Where: New Athenaeum Theatre in The Octagon, Dunedin
What to Expect: Featured guest poets, open mic, warm atmosphere, free entry.

Bring a poem to share or just come and enjoy the words — with drinks and snacks available from the theatre.

All are welcome.

For more information visit facebook.com/octagoncollective