Poet Spotlight – Chris Tse

You’re about to wrap up three years as New Zealand Poet Laureate. What has the experience been like?

It’s been a dizzying, heart-filling, unexpected and joyous experience that I’ll be reflecting on for many years to come. Something I didn’t anticipate was how much interest there would be in the role and work of the Poet Laureate, which has meant I’ve been kept very busy with commissions and engagements. To me, this is a sign that poetry is valued and appreciated, even if it can have a reputation for being difficult or mysterious. The conversations I’ve had with people about why they do or don’t like poetry has really challenged my own preconceptions and biases about poetry, which in turn has inspired me to reshape my own creative practice.

Looking back, what are some standout moments from your time as Poet Laureate that will stay with you forever?

My inauguration events in the Hawke’s Bay at Matahiwi Marae was such a special weekend celebrating poetry. My friends joked that I got married to poetry that day and to be honest there were aspects of the weekend that felt like a wedding! I also have to mention being invited to perform at WOMAD, which could be the biggest audience I’ve ever read to. I got up on stage and was met by a sea of people – I couldn’t even see where the crowd ended. A very ‘what is my life?’ moment!

You recently took part in the International Writers Program Fall Residency in Iowa. What were some of the highlights of that experience?

The friendships that I made in Iowa with other writers will be the highlight I carry with me for the rest of my life. I learned a lot from them about the politics of writing and literature, as well as what it’s like to be a writer in other countries, which really put a lot into perspective. The Iowa residency was the most time I’ve had since finishing university to focus on writing and reading, which meant I was able to explore ideas that I might not have had the time to follow if I were back at home juggling a day job and my creative life. 

What’s next for you once your tenure as Poet Laureate comes to an end? Is there a new book or project on the horizon?

As soon as I step down from the role I’ll be judging this year’s Kathleen Grattan Poetry Award for an unpublished book-length collection (entries are due 31 July 2025!). I’m also hoping to finish the book I’ve been working on during my term and get started on the next one. I’ve left my day job so I’m going to see what it’s like being a full-time writer for a bit; I’m not sure how long it will last!

Do you have a poem of yours that’s particularly close to your heart right now—one that sums up this chapter of your life or feels especially timely?

There’s a poem that I wrote for an event at the Dunedin Writers Festival in 2023 that has quickly become a favourite. It’s called ‘It wasn’t a phase, Mum—I still listen to Celine Dion’. It’s fun to perform and it touches on some of the themes I’ve been exploring in my poetry recently, namely joy and nostalgia.

A fun one to wrap up: If any artist or musician—living or dead—could transform one of your poems into a piece in their own genre, who would it be and why?

This is such a great question! During my term I’ve had many wonderful conversations about the many ways poetry can be transformed by or incorporated into other artforms. I’ve been thinking a lot about the question of what poetry does, so I’d flip that on its head an take a functional approach. I’d love to see how a ceramicist could transform my poetry into an unassuming object that we use every day, like a plate or a mug. It could be a surprising way to sneak poetry into our daily lives.

Chris Tse is a poet and editor. He was appointed New Zealand Poet Laureate in August 2022. He is the author of three poetry collections published by Auckland University Press: How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes (winner of the 2016 Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry), HE’S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority (a finalist for the 2023 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry and longlisted at the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards). He and Emma Barnes edited Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa. Chris was a 2024 fellow of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program Fall Residency.