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He takunetaka | What's On
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Octagon Poetry Collective's monthly reading

Wednesday, 10th June 2026 7:00 PM

New Athenaeum Theatre in The Octagon, Dunedin

Featured guests for this month are Jilly O'Brien and Te Awhirēinga Heperi with Jackson as MC.

Te Awhirēinga Heperi is a Māori/Pasifika (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hāmoa) writer. Her work spans poetry and spoken word, shaped by lived experience, cultural grounding, and a commitment to telling the truth. Te Awhirēinga's voice speaks to the realities of being young and Māori, and to the ongoing legacy of resistance, from the whenua to the written word.
Te Awhirēinga writes to invoke change, delegitimise the complicit, and uplift indigenous communities.

Jilly O'Brien is from Ōtepoti Dunedin. Her poems have been published in literary journals and anthologies, and on a bench down Vogel Street plus the backs of parking tickets. She writes in English and sometimes in Scots, and last year won the Wigtown Poetry Prize, the Monica Taylor Poetry prize, and was second in the Robert Burns International Poetry Competition.

 

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

 

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