Amplifying Ōtautahi youth voices through spoken word poetry
'My mother’s tongue is a rākau, a bitta this, bitta that from all over the globe, so diverse yet so ordered. Nǐ hǎo, Privet, Guten Tag and Bonjour, who knew speaking 4 languages was such a superpower? My mum - she doesn’t know easy.'
Sophia Smith, Christchurch Girls' High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora
Traditionally, poetry has been written to be read off the page. Conversely, for some indigenous cultures, oratory is their form of communication and is how their languages, cultures and traditions are passed down. Spoken word poetry is poetry that is written to be performed. This unique combination of poetry with theatre and movement allows the audience to engage with the poem and more importantly, the person behind the words. In recent years, we have seen the exponential growth of spoken word poetry in popular culture. Rangatahi in particular, have connected with this communication medium and have found spoken word poetry to be an accessible platform through which to share their stories, voices and opinions.
Through the Wellbeing impact area, Grow Waitaha has helped foster an appreciation for and celebration of spoken word poetry by supporting across-school and in-school workshops, a Spoken Heard poetry showcase and partnering with Action Education and Creative New Zealand to deliver Word-The Frontline Ōtautahi 2023, the first inter-high school poetry slam competition.
Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani (Ngāti Wai Ngāpuhi): Ngā Hinepūkōrero poet, spoken word artist and facilitator, Action Education.
Claudia Jardine: author, creative, researcher and poet.
Talia Stanley: youth worker, facilitator and spoken word artist, Action Education.
Isla Reeves: te reo Māori teacher, musician and poet.
Eric Soakai: 2019 NZ Slam Poetry champion, facilitator and spoken word artist, Action Education.
Spoken word workshops
The only way to introduce spoken word poetry is to see it in action. Dietrich Soakai and Daisy Lavea-Timo presented across-school and in-school workshops with live performance and YouTube videos.
Sometimes, when you speak about poetry with young people, there may be a negative stigma to it, due to their own perceptions or previous experiences with poetry. Spoken word:
shifts this perception, centering the learner and their stories
creates a safe space to give something new a go, where learners will not feel like they will look stupid or be mocked
promotes equity, inclusion, and accessibility regardless of literacy levels or engagement in the curriculum.
Whanaungatanga and warm-up exercises through icebreakers are essential to the learning process. The physical space helps to strengthen creative outcomes when taking young people through the creative spoken word process. Often, workshops are run by sitting in chairs in a circle, making sure everyone is on an equal playing field and breaking down any power structures. Music plays a big part in the space as a focusing tool for the creative writing aspect too. At the end of each session, everyone has the opportunity to share their writing with their peers. This helps build the mana of the person sharing and empathy, rapport, and connections for those who are listening. At these workshops, rangatahi have the choice to share rather than ‘having to’. They can choose to share a sentence or two, or a whole page – the power is in their hands.
'If you really knew me you would know I dream of a life with no expectations. I fear being in the spotlight. I worry about my future. If my teachers would listen to me, I’d say…See, Hear and Feel my struggle.'
Participant, in-school workshop, Hillmorton High School
Spoken Heard poetry showcase
On the 28th of June, 'Spoken Heard' a poetry showcase featured a stellar line-up of international and national slam poetry champions, published poets, and creatives. This free event served as an engagement tool, to spark the fire for poetry, and a high-quality arts event so that young people and their families and kura could experience a showcase of spoken word poetry from experienced practitioners.
Papanui High School poet, round 2.
Haeata Community Campus poet, round 2.
Te Aratai College poet, round 3.
Christchurch Girls' High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora poets, round 3.
Cashmere High School Seniors poet, round 3.
Haeata Community Campus poet, round 3.
Cashmere High School Juniors poet, round 1.
Bringing youth voices to the fore at the Word – The Frontline Ōtautahi inter-high school Poetry Slam
Word-The Frontline (WTFL) is an inter-high school Spoken Word poetry competition facilitated by Action Education. It brings together teams of young people from across Auckland high schools to share their stories in an explosion of youth expression. It is the only creative battlefield of its kind in Aotearoa, equipping young people with poetry prowess and leadership principles for an opportunity to battle for themselves and the challenges that their generation faces.
Grow Waitaha partnered with Action Education and Creative New Zealand to launch Word-The Frontline Ōtautahi in 2023. On the 22nd of August, six poetry teams from Cashmere High School, Haeata Community Campus, Te Aratai College, Papanui High School, and Christchurch Girls' High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora brought three original spoken word poems each to an intense battle at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts.
It was an incredible and inspiring display of storytelling by the courageous poets who lit up the stage.
Christchurch Girls' High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora were crowned the inaugural WTFL Ōtautahi champions! They then travelled to and performed at the Auckland WTFL Grand Slam in September.
Where to next?
More spoken word poetry workshops for young people in Ōtautahi.
A regular open-mic platform in Ōtautahi for young people to share their spoken word poetry. Wrap around professional support (youth work, social work, counselling) to tautoko young people is important.
Professional development on the importance of youth voice. We need to create a space for practitioners to hear about how diversity, equity and inclusion issues affect young people. Spoken word is a powerful pedagogical tool, a tool for student voice, and a driver for transformative change.
Additional resources
Action Education is a community organisation in Tāmaki that provides platforms and opportunities for young people to connect, reflect and express who they are and strengthen community and identity through creative self-expression. Download their best practice guide for educators.
