Samesame but different: Te Whanganui-a-Tara edition

Join us as we hear from a panel of exceptional poets – Cadence Chung, Ruby Solly, Chris Tse, and Oscar Upperton – poised right at the heart of where we are in our literary history, and where we’re going. Chaired by the brilliant Emily Writes.

Celebrating poets of Te Whanganui-a-Tara
While Te Whanganui-a-Tara is well-known as a political hub, it has also garnered an unofficial title as the poetry capital of Aotearoa. Rightly so, we think. The city is teeming with talent, wide-ranging and innovative, bold and self-knowing.

Following the disruption the pandemic caused to many recent releases, we wanted to create a space to celebrate these poets, and to hear more about their work. So — we're coming to town.

Join us at the National Library as we hear from a panel of exceptional poets. Our line-up includes Cadence Chung, Ruby Solly, Chris Tse, Oscar Upperton, and will be chaired by Emily Writes.
The Samesame but Different LGBTQIA+ Writers and Readers Festival celebrates the creativity of LGBTQIA+ writers.
About the speakers
Cadence Chung (she/they) is a poet, student, and musician from Wellington, currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music. Her poems started being published in her junior years of high school, and her debut chapbook anomalia was published by We Are Babies Press in April 2022. Her writing takes inspiration from antique stores, Tumblr text posts, and dead poets.

Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) is a writer, musician, taonga pūoro practitioner, and music therapist living in Pōneke on the old riwai plantation of her Kāti Māmoe ancestors. She has been published in journals such as Landfall, Sport and Starling, as well as had poetry published in America and Antarctica as well as Aotearoa. Her first book Tōku Pāpā was released by Te Herenga Waka University Press in 2021.

Chris Tse (he/him) is the author of three poetry collections published by Auckland University Press: How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes (winner of the 2016 Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry), HE'S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority. He and Emma Barnes are the editors of Out Here: An anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa. Chris is The Spinoff’s Poetry Editor and a regular contributor to Capital.

Oscar Upperton lives in Wellington. His first collection of poetry, New Transgender Blockbusters, was published by Te Herenga Waka University Press in 2020. His second collection, The Surgeon's Brain, follows the life of 19th century surgeon Dr James Barry. It was published by Te Herenga Waka in 2022.

Emily Writes is a mum of two, a columnist, an activist, a volunteer, a writer and a friend. She is the best-selling author of Rants in the Dark - From One Tired Mama to Another, Is it Bedtime Yet? and Needs Adult Supervision out 30 August 2022. Emily writes a newsletter, Emily Writes Weekly, and is the director of Awhi Nga Matua — a charity supporting parents of disabled and medically fragile kids.