Generation X: Poets Respond

On the final weekend of Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection, join us at Level Four Toi Art at Te Papa, for a literary mixtape of poetry, emcee’d by Fergus Barrowman, with readings of old and new works by six Aotearoa Gen X poets; Hinemoana Baker, James Brown, Kate Camp, Nick Ascroft, Therese Lloyd and Tracey Slaughter.

Stick around for Generation X: Book Club at 1pm. Host Pip Adam will be joined by poet and essayist Helen Heath and writer Giovanni Tiso to celebrate the exhibition and explore its literary influences.

Hinemoana Baker

Poet and performer Hinemoana Baker traces her Māori ancestry from Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa and Ngāi Tahu. Her four poetry collections, several original music albums and other sonic and written work have seen her on stages and pages in many countries around world for the last 25 years. She has lived in Berlin, Germany for the last nine years. She is currently the Randell Cottage writer in residence in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

James Brown

James Brown's most recent book Slim Volume was published in July by Te Herenga Waka University Press. His Selected Poems appeared in 2020. James convenes the Poetry Workshop at the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University. He rarely ventures far from Wellington's south coast.

Kate Camp

Kate Camp, (b. 1972) was born and lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She is the author of seven collections of poetry, and the recipient of many of New Zealand’s major literary awards. An often-disconcerting blend of seriousness and humour has been a hallmark of her poetry since it was first published in the mid-1990s.

Her most recent poetry collection, How To Be Happy Though Human: New and Selected Poems was published by House of Anansi Press in Canada in 2020. Poems have appeared in journals in the UK, Canada, US and Australia, and in translation in German and Russian. Her “scorchingly good” memoir You Probably Think This Song Is About You was published in 2022. Her new collection of poetry, tentatively titled Makeshift Seasons will be published in early 2025 by Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University Press.

Nick Ascroft

Nick Ascroft was born in 1973 and the colours of brown and orange still bring him comfort. As a kid he biked around Te Anau with a group of friends in thin matching sunglasses. Like him they collected Star Wars action figures and X-Men comics. Some joined him in a breakdance troupe called the Reflexitrons. In Dunedin he fronted an ironic indie band. In London he wore a long PVC jacket. The years drag on. He still writes poetry.

Therese Lloyd

Therese Lloyd is the author of two poetry collections: Other Animals (THWUP, 2013) and The Facts (THWUP, 2018) which was a finalist at the 2019 Ockham NZ Book Awards.

She has a Masters and PhD in Creative Writing from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University.

Therese has been a champion of the poetry scene in Poneke since the late 90s and has been the recipient of several writing scholarships, awards and residencies over the years. She is currently working on a new book of poems honouring the menopause moment that we seem to be in the middle of.

Tracey Slaughter

Tracey Slaughter is an award-winning author of poetry, short fiction and personal essays. Her latest works are the poetry collection The Girls in the Red House are Singing (2024) and the short story collection Devil's Trumpet (2021), both from Te Herenga Waka Press. Most recently her work has received the international Manchester Poetry Prize 2023, the Calibre Essay Prize 2024 and The Moth Short Story Award 2024. She lives in Kirikiriroa and teaches at the University of Waikato.

*From Tuesday 17 September 2024, Te Papa will introduce a museum entry ticket of NZ$35 for international visitors aged 16 years and older. Entry to the museum will remain free for all New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand. Click here to learn more.