Making the announcement yesterday, National Poetry Day, Acting National Librarian Te Pouhuaki Gina Smith described Dr Sullivan’s appointment as recognition for a distinctive and important voice of poetry in New Zealand.
"Robert amplifies Māori and Pacific voices in thoughtful engagement with complex cultural narratives. He has great standing as a poet, teacher and scholar, he holds considerable mana and leads with grace and humility."
Dr Sullivan (Ngāpuhi) said he was "very grateful" to receive the laureateship.
"It recognises the continuum of Māori poets who are publishing such rich, vibrant work. There are too many to name all of the Māori poets writing, composing and performing today but they inspire me through seeing our tūpuna in their soulful words.
"Many poets and writers helped me with my poetry and writing, and especially Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Michele Leggott, Anne Kennedy and Witi Ihimaera, but it’s my mum and dad who did the most. This is such a great boost. I stand on their shoulders, and the shoulders of all our tūpuna, Māori and Pākehā. I’d like to mention the poets who have passed away who inspired me too, especially Hone Tuwhare, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell and Keri Hulme."
The value of the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award is $150,000 over a three-year period.
The Laureate receives $40,000 per year, with the balance held by the National Library to cover travel costs and participation in literary events.
Dr Sullivan’s nine books of poetry include the 1999 bestselling Star Waka , reprinted five times, translated into German and short-listed for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in 2000. His newest collection of poems, the bestselling Hopurangi/Songcatcher: Poems from the Maramataka, was shortlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
His epic Captain Cook in the Underworld was a finalist in the poetry category for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in 2003. It is also a libretto for the oratorio by John Psathas, Orpheus in Rarohenga, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Orpheus Choir of Wellington for the choir’s 50th anniversary. Robert’s poem Kawe Reo/Voices Carry is installed in bronze in front of the Auckland City Library. His first collection, Jazz Waiata, won the Jessie McKay PEN (NZ) Best First Book Award in 1991.
Dr Sullivan is New Zealand’s 14th poet laureate since the role was established in 1997. — Allied Media
