Auckland Writers Festival welcomes Chris Tse as a Board Observer
Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki is delighted to welcome acclaimed poet and former New Zealand Poet Laureate Chris Tse as an Observer to its Board of Trustees.
The appointment is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to strengthening writer representation at every level of the organisation. In the Observer role, Chris will bring a practising writer’s perspective to Board discussions.
Chris was New Zealand’s 13th Poet Laureate, serving from 2022 until August 2025. An award-winning poet, writer and editor, his work has been widely published in Aotearoa and internationally. His poetry collections include How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, HE’S SO MASC, Super Model Minority and his latest collection, Dance-Floor Romance, published by Auckland University Press in September 2026.
Chris also has a long association with literary festivals in Aotearoa and internationally and was a guest curator for Auckland Writers Festival in 2023.
Auckland Writers Festival Board Chair Charlotte McLoughlin says Chris will bring an important perspective to the Board.
“Writers are at the heart of everything the Festival does, so it is important that their voices and experiences are part of the conversations shaping our future.
“Chris brings not only considerable experience as a writer and editor, but also governance skills and a strong understanding of Aotearoa’s literary community. We’re delighted to welcome him as a Board Observer.”
Chris Tse says he is looking forward to contributing to the Festival in a new capacity.
“Auckland Writers Festival plays an important role in connecting writers and readers and celebrating the breadth of writing in Aotearoa. I’m looking forward to bringing a writer’s perspective to the Board and contributing to conversations about how the Festival continues to develop and serve its communities.”
ENDS
About Chris Tse
Chris Tse is a poet, writer and editor from Lower Hutt. He was appointed New Zealand Poet Laureate in 2022, serving until August 2025. He is the author of four poetry collections and co-editor of Out Here: An anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa. His work has appeared in publications and literary festivals in Aotearoa and internationally.
About Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki
Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki is an annual celebration of books and ideas and the leading showcase for national and international writers, thinkers and creatives to present their work to an Aotearoa New Zealand audience. As one of the Southern Hemisphere’s best-attended book festivals, the event attracts 90,000 attendances of all ages who flock to the Aotea Centre and other venues in central Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland over six days in May. The 2027 Festival takes place between 11 – 16 May, with the ever-popular STREETSIDE: BRITOMART serving as a pre-Festival teaser on Friday 7 May. The Festival team also runs out-of-season events throughout the year.
The Mātātuhi Foundation is the charitable arm of Auckland Writers Festival, supporting the growth and development of Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary landscape. It has recently funded the inaugural NZ Children’s Book Week, the 2026 New Voices promotion and the Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards.