On the weekend my partner and I made a quick trip down to the capital (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington) to hear the UK and Aoteaora NZ Poet Laureates, Simon Armitage and Chris Tse, answer the question: does literature matter?

During the event – put on by Verb Wellington and the British Council, held at the National Library of New Zealand – they spoke about (among many other things):

• their roles as poet laureates
• being paid with 800 bottles of sherry
• being a writer in residence in your own study
• poetry about velux windows and kitchen cabinets
• being told “you don’t have to do anything”
• how negative space allows the reader to reflect on what they’ve just read

A fascinating, engaging, and accessible chat. I really enjoyed it!

Simon also spoke with Radio New Zealand just before the event I attended. You can listen to a recording of that interview here.

I prepared a quick 30-second video of the day, including a few shots around the city. Here’s the link, or watch below: