AUCKLAND, Today: Phantom Billstickers is bringing poetry back to the streets with its 2025 season of poem posters, rolling out across Aotearoa over the next few months.
The campaign runs alongside their ongoing support for Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, a full-day celebration of creativity and verse happening Friday, August 22nd, 2025.
Expect a powerful mix of talent on the posters this year – from local legends Ben Brown and Glenn Colquhoun to fresh face Taylor Grace. Even Ockham finalists make the cut.
C.K. Stead, Richard von Sturmer, Robert Sullivan and winner Emma Neale will feature too, bringing punch, prestige, and plenty of poetic flavour to the mix.
“Poetry on the street is a simple, yet profound way to connect with people. It offers a moment of reflection, a flash of beauty, or a spark of thought in their daily lives.” – Robin McDonnell
“Poetry on the street is a simple, yet profound way to connect with people. It offers a moment of reflection, a flash of beauty, or a spark of thought in their daily lives,” says Robin McDonnell.
He adds, “As Phantom Billstickers founder and patron of the poems on poster initiative, Jim Wilson, aptly puts it: ‘When you put a poem on the street, you’re putting up words straight from the heart, you’re sparking conversations and igniting imaginations.'”
But it’s not just posters. Phantom also powers events across the country for Poetry Day – think open mics, school readings, live performances and more.
For decades, Phantom has turned plain walls into galleries, and now they’re once again inviting Kiwis to stop, read, and feel something unexpected.
So keep your eyes peeled for poem posters popping up near you, and don’t forget to circle Friday August 22nd – it’s poetry’s time to shine.
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