Motif Poetry
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Who we are

Kia ora!

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We are a poetry platform based out of Wellington and Hawke's Bay​.

A motif in any artwork is a significant idea that keeps popping up. We kept coming back to the idea of a brand that shows up across across the country, tying together different communities and supporting poets.

Our name in te reo Māori backs this up, Ruri Tūtohu, translated by the talented Jeremy Tātere Macleod (Ngāti Kahungunu) and his friend Scotty. Ruri Tūtohu means to mark poetry as important, and to bring it to people's attention.


Our work in education, leading workshops and guiding young New Zealanders from viral videos to pen and paper, sits alongside touring, collaboration and commission opportunities for poets.

Check out our kaupapa, sign up to our newsletter, drop us a line, or head along to one of our regular events.
It's an exciting time in the world of poetry. Let's build something together.

Charity number: CC5599

Team

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ben fagan

artistic director

Ben is a spoken word poet and producer from Te Matau-a-Māui / Hawke's Bay, and has shared his work across the UK, USA and NZ. Ben has taken two poetry shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and 2016 - 2018 was a digital coordinator for Apples and Snakes, the UK's leading spoken word poetry organisation.

​He is a TEDx performer and organiser, and part of the team behind the annual New Zealand Poetry Slam, Poetry in Motion Wellington, and the National Youth Drama School. His first poetry collection was published by Burning Eye Books' imprint Bx3 in 2017.
 
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Sara hirsch

Education director

Sara is a London grown poet and spoken word educator. She is a former UK Slam Champion,  third ranked in the World Slam Championships 2014, winner of the European Poetry Slam in Madrid 2016 and a 2017 BBC Slam Finalist. Sara has performed at Glastonbury, is a TEDx speaker, has featured on the BBC and toured extensively both in the UK & internationally. 

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Sara recently graduated with distinction with a Master's in Creative Writing & Education from Goldsmiths University and completed the acclaimed Spoken Word Education Programme.
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She worked as a poet in residence at a London secondary school for two years and regularly runs workshops in schools and communities around the world.
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Alayne dick

Associate producer

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Jordan hamel

Associate producer

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rose northey

Associate producer

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tarns hood

Associate producer

​Tarns Hood’s poetry has energy, character, passion and quick flow. The Wellington 2x Poetry Slam Champion, Tarns has performed at festivals, variety shows, across stages and over airwaves.

Her animated style has been commissioned for charity and awareness fundraisers, opened for bands, emceed gigs and performed at corporate events.

Tarns delivers rhythmic, powerful works around addiction, mental health, identity and general irreverence.

https://www.tarnshood.com
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Travis cottreau

poetry in motion producer

Travis is an IT/technical guy who found a creative outlet in poetry when randomly arriving at Poetry in Motion's first ever event at Happy Bar in 2011.

​Blown away by the experience, he began performing at and now running PIM's monthly events.

Short poetry suits his attention span, and he was runner up in Poetry in Motion's 2012 Haiku Death Match and then the winner in 2013. He was also runner up at PIM's only Limerick Death Match in 2013.
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Kate spencer

Poetry in motion producer

Kate recently escaped the corporate cage to live the life of a starving artist and she's loving it! Poet, performer, writer, editor, photographer - you name it, she does it.

​Check out her website www.creatifkate.com and hire her: you know you want to.
Trustees

Sara Hirsch
Ben Fagan
Nicole Hawkins
Michael Gray
​Ray Fagan
 

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Motif Poetry | Ruri Tūtohu © 2021
Te Matau-a-Māui
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
​Ōtepoti
Charity number: CC55993
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  • Make a Donation
  • Education
  • Te Whanganui-a-Tara
    • Windswept Slam
    • Poetry in Motion Wellington
    • Welly Slam Champs
  • Te Matau a Māui
    • Speak up the Peak
    • HB Slam Champs
  • Ōtepoti
    • Dunedin Slam Champs
  • Hire a Poet
    • Workshops
    • Hotels
    • Weddings
  • Kaupapa
  • About
  • Contact