100 NEW ZEALANDERS WRITE ABOUT THEIR FAVOURITE POEMS

Published to coincide with Montana Poetry Day, this anthology brings together the favourite poems of 100 well-known New Zealanders — with a twist.

The 100 Kiwis were approached by the Amnesty International group at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School and asked to contribute a letter explaining why their chosen poem was dear to them, hence the title.

The replies are astounding, with moving letters from such luminaries as Dave Dobbyn, Dame Sylvia Cartwright, Mike Chunn, Jaquie Brown, Sir Bob Jones and Lesley Max, Prime Minister Helen Clark, John Campbell, Lance O’Sullivan, Rod Oram, Bob Harvey, accompanied by a treasure trove of poetry that’s for dipping into both by poetry lovers and poetry newbies alike.