Motif Poetry & Poetry in Motion

A celebration of spoken word including poetry slam, workshops & more! This day long festival culminates in the Wellington Regional Poetry Slam Finals, where the audience decides which poet will win a place in the 2020 National Slam Final!

Poetry Slam taking the world by storm.

It’s all been building up to this. After being let out from lockdown Motif Poetry and Poetry in Motion have been running slams, now the winners will come together and battle it out to be Wellington’s 2019 Poetry Slam Champion.

Poetry Slam is the competitive format taking the world by storm. A high energy, enthralling event where performance poets are judged by random members of the audience in an arbitrary but totally engaging way.

Since 2011, many of Greater Wellington’s finest performance poets have competed and this year’s slams have been no different. Cost: Free (Regional Final event ticketed $15 waged $10 unwaged) Contact details: sara@motifpoetry.co.nz - check out the website for ticketing details.

Poetry alive and kicking in the capital.

Sold out events, packed open mics and searing hot verse screams out that poetry is alive and kicking in the capital.

The winners will get the chance to compete for the title of New Zealand Slam Champ!
Be quick, this event always sells out!

Come prepared for a Cash Only bar.

Part of the Festival of Slam Wellington. A handful of spoken word and poetry groups in Wellington have banded together to create a day of poetry facilitation, workshops and events.

More details at Motif Poetry website.
The National Library is fully wheelchair accessible.

About Motif Poetry and Poetry in Motion
Motif Poetry and Poetry in Motion are two of Wellington’s spoken word poetry communities, they run slams, open mics, workshops, host local and travelling poets, and manage the annual Wellington slam.

Check before you come
Due to COVID-19 some of our events can be cancelled or postponed at very short notice. Please check the website for updated information about individual events before you come.

For more general information about National Library services and exhibitions have look at our COVID-19 page.