Poets share work at festival

Poets (from left) Gregory Kan (28), of Auckland, Lynley Edmeades (35), of Dunedin, and Hera Lindsay Bird (28), of Wellington, read poetry at the opening of the New Zealand Young Writers Festival in the University Book Shop dockway in Dunedin last night.

Each poet released a book of original poetry this year and read from their collections at the opening ceremony.

Bird said that, as a young writer, the festival was important because it allowed her to share her poems with the public and she could participate with a small body of work.

Edmeades said the festival gave writers a sense of being part of a community.

"Usually the writing process is quite solitary."

The festival features 15 free events and ends on Sunday.