‘Don’t bury my delusions of grandeur. They must continue to
walk the earth, crowds pouring out of houses to cheer them on,
saluted by sailors, curtsied at by wenches.’ newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/07/t...
walk the earth, crowds pouring out of houses to cheer them on,
saluted by sailors, curtsied at by wenches.’ newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/07/t...
The Sunday Poem, by Nick Ascroft
Merry thoughts at yuletide on the subject of planning your own funeral
newsroom.co.nz
December 7, 2025 at 6:49 AM
‘Don’t bury my delusions of grandeur. They must continue to
walk the earth, crowds pouring out of houses to cheer them on,
saluted by sailors, curtsied at by wenches.’ newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/07/t...
walk the earth, crowds pouring out of houses to cheer them on,
saluted by sailors, curtsied at by wenches.’ newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/07/t...
We’ve come along way, though a hurricane. Please come to the reading/launchette at Scorpio Books on Friday (24 Oct), 6pm.
October 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We’ve come along way, though a hurricane. Please come to the reading/launchette at Scorpio Books on Friday (24 Oct), 6pm.
‘I had thought of calling a section of my recent book “Get out of the Bike Lane, Pedestrian Scum” but someone might’ve taken me seriously. Not something I have to worry about much as it happens.’ thespinoff.co.nz/books/18-10-...
‘I didn’t write any poems today’: the diary of a modern poet
'Could the truth be so disgusting? That being a poet is mostly about hanging out with other poets?'
thespinoff.co.nz
October 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
‘I had thought of calling a section of my recent book “Get out of the Bike Lane, Pedestrian Scum” but someone might’ve taken me seriously. Not something I have to worry about much as it happens.’ thespinoff.co.nz/books/18-10-...
Christchurch! Next Friday, 24 October at 6pm at Scorpio Books. Wellington’s least annoying poets will read while you eat cheese. Ashleigh Young! Rebecca Hawkes! Stacey freaking Teague! Erik Kennedy?! Oh and me-sir. IT’S WHAT THEY WOULDA WANTED. Part of the nationwide celebration of my new book. 🍷
October 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Christchurch! Next Friday, 24 October at 6pm at Scorpio Books. Wellington’s least annoying poets will read while you eat cheese. Ashleigh Young! Rebecca Hawkes! Stacey freaking Teague! Erik Kennedy?! Oh and me-sir. IT’S WHAT THEY WOULDA WANTED. Part of the nationwide celebration of my new book. 🍷
Reposted by Nick Ascroft
This new collection from @assscroft.bsky.social will blast you into the sun
A new book by Nick Ascroft! This truly terrific collection is about lost friends, new frailties, new braveries, and being stuck in an organ pipe during recital and not wanting to bother anyone about it. It's What He Would've Wanted is out in September. 🧨
teherengawakapress.co.nz/it-s-what-he...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/it-s-what-he...
May 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
This new collection from @assscroft.bsky.social will blast you into the sun
Hoping to die before it comes out to give the marketers a humorous angle. 😃
A new book by Nick Ascroft! This truly terrific collection is about lost friends, new frailties, new braveries, and being stuck in an organ pipe during recital and not wanting to bother anyone about it. It's What He Would've Wanted is out in September. 🧨
teherengawakapress.co.nz/it-s-what-he...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/it-s-what-he...
May 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Hoping to die before it comes out to give the marketers a humorous angle. 😃
Minimums or minima? Synonyms or cinema?
April 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Minimums or minima? Synonyms or cinema?
Reposted by Nick Ascroft
We've been waiting for the media release to show up on our website, but can contain ourselves no longer: Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2024 has gone live this morning, and it's giving the Bird of the Year competition a run for its money! Editor Nick Ascroft talks about his selection here.
Editorial 2024 – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
We've been waiting for the media release to show up on our website, but can contain ourselves no longer: Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2024 has gone live this morning, and it's giving the Bird of the Year competition a run for its money! Editor Nick Ascroft talks about his selection here.
Thanks so much @modernletters.bsky.social for the opportunity. Very pleased New Zealand’s Bluff-most poet is next.
Handing on the torch: Nick Ascroft has selected a poem by Cilla McQueen, who is the editor of the 2025 edition of Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
Cilla McQueen 2024 – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 31, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Thanks so much @modernletters.bsky.social for the opportunity. Very pleased New Zealand’s Bluff-most poet is next.
Great piece argh! Also have to thank Talia for putting me onto the Selina Tusitala Marsh poem and Carin Smeaton’s Hibiscus. Would send hotel room if I had one.
Third time in NZBP. Makes up for zero festival invites in 2025. My kingdom for one night in a hotel room tbh.
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
Talia Marshall 2024 – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 31, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Great piece argh! Also have to thank Talia for putting me onto the Selina Tusitala Marsh poem and Carin Smeaton’s Hibiscus. Would send hotel room if I had one.
Reposted by Nick Ascroft
OK why isn't Talia at every festival she's like a very funny, very cool Maaori oracle
Third time in NZBP. Makes up for zero festival invites in 2025. My kingdom for one night in a hotel room tbh.
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
Talia Marshall 2024 – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 30, 2025 at 11:03 PM
OK why isn't Talia at every festival she's like a very funny, very cool Maaori oracle
Also an honour not to have been selected by this middle-aged middle-of-the-roadster.
🎉 It's here! Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2024
Edited and introduced by Nick Ascroft.
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-contents/
Edited and introduced by Nick Ascroft.
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-contents/
2024 contents – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 31, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Also an honour not to have been selected by this middle-aged middle-of-the-roadster.
The thing I feared the most, judging Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems, was that people would feel they had to be nice to me all year. Luckily none did. www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
Editorial 2024 – ŌRONGOHAU | BEST NEW ZEALAND POEMS
www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz
March 31, 2025 at 2:40 AM
The thing I feared the most, judging Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems, was that people would feel they had to be nice to me all year. Luckily none did. www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/2024-content...
Today, my least favourite word is ‘filigree’. That is all.
January 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Today, my least favourite word is ‘filigree’. That is all.
New collection out next year. Nearly none of it is like this.
December 22, 2024 at 3:51 AM
New collection out next year. Nearly none of it is like this.
My not entirely disingenuous best poetry books of 2024 newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/11/x...
Xmas: The best poetry books of 2024
Poetry tsar Nick Ascroft selects the 10 best books of 2024, topped by the Bard of Warrington.
newsroom.co.nz
December 10, 2024 at 7:39 PM
My not entirely disingenuous best poetry books of 2024 newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/11/x...
2023 Riot Dad. Playlist at last of my 31 favourite ‘singles’ of last year. open.spotify.com/playlist/533...
May 5, 2024 at 7:37 AM
2023 Riot Dad. Playlist at last of my 31 favourite ‘singles’ of last year. open.spotify.com/playlist/533...
‘There's shoot-outs and fist fights by night in the graveyard, multi-car pile-ups by day. And the freight train derailed and sank in the lake. Like a lobster it bubbles away.’ Grandaddy, ‘In the Town Where I’m Livin Now’ (2023). m.youtube.com/watch?v=RGOH...
April 17, 2024 at 8:43 PM
‘There's shoot-outs and fist fights by night in the graveyard, multi-car pile-ups by day. And the freight train derailed and sank in the lake. Like a lobster it bubbles away.’ Grandaddy, ‘In the Town Where I’m Livin Now’ (2023). m.youtube.com/watch?v=RGOH...
Reposted by Nick Ascroft
'The expiry date on our promise had passed, and we knew it' - poet Nick Ascroft turns 50 (and gatecrashes the 60th birthday party of Damien Wilkins as research). Happy birthday @assscroft.bsky.social!
A reckoning on Rabbit Island
Wellington writer Nick Ascroft celebrates his 50th birthday today with thoughts of existential dread
newsroom.co.nz
December 4, 2023 at 8:04 PM
'The expiry date on our promise had passed, and we knew it' - poet Nick Ascroft turns 50 (and gatecrashes the 60th birthday party of Damien Wilkins as research). Happy birthday @assscroft.bsky.social!
<cough> I may appear briefly if not cut. Was miked up and filmed.
The SpinOff has a documentary on scrabble players coming up for release on 7 November: but where is Nick Ascroft?
What does it take to become a Scrabble champion?
Follow three passionate Scrabble players from around the country as they hone their skills ahead of the fiercely competitive national championships. Every Word Counts, coming November 7 on The Spinoff...
thespinoff.co.nz
November 1, 2023 at 7:31 AM
<cough> I may appear briefly if not cut. Was miked up and filmed.
Friday next, we’re going to ruck Kaff. Get tix.
Her First Roast — Verb Wellington
Four of Wellington’s sharpest comedians and poets celebrate our literary
legend.
www.verbwellington.nz
November 1, 2023 at 7:28 AM
Friday next, we’re going to ruck Kaff. Get tix.