MCW grads scoop top poetry awards
Master of Creative Writing alumni have won in both categories of this year’s New Voices Emerging Poets Competition.
Gillian Roach received the top award at the event, which promotes the rich diversity of New Zealand poetry. Gillian’s passions and expertise lie in the areas of poetry, fiction writing and English literature. Her poem, titled "A boy says he has no say" received acclaim from competition judge Elizabeth Morton.
“The movement from one stanza to the next is gentle‚ and the suburban scenes, with hedges and lemon tree‚ are delightfully familiar. But this is also a poem with grit and a sadness ostensible if you rub away at the props," says Morton.
Patricia Hanifin was announced the runner-up in the competition. Morton described her work as commanding attention and wearing fierceness like a medallion.
Master of Creative Writing student Lincoln Jacques’ work was also highly commended.