Did someone say WETEWETE? Wesley College returns to WORD - The Front Line Semi Finals Heat #2! They have an incredible support crew who in previous years has brought signs and flags, will that be you too? Get your tickets today! 📅 Saturday 16th August 🕰️ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎫 $5/$10 link in bio!

3️⃣ DAYS TILL SEMI’S 🥳 Glendowie College will be stepping up to their frontline this weekend and we want you to come support them! They’ve been working hard over the past few months and it will all be shown on Saturday at WORD - The Front Line Semi Final Heat #2. 📅 Saturday 16th August ⏰1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎫 $5/$10 link in bio!

You know what beats a Jet2 Holiday? Kelston Girls’ College 🔥 They’ll be competing against six teams for a spot at the Grand Slam this weekend! Get your tickets now before they sell out 🏃‍♀️ 🗓️ Saturday 16th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎫 $5/$10 link in bio!

4️⃣ MORE SLEEPS TILL SEMI’S 🎤 If you missed out last weekend, this will be your final chance to clock in! Dilworth School is standing on business but are you? 🗓️ Saturday 16th August ⌚️1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

You thought it was over? WORD - The Front Line Heat #2 is the second and last Semi Final for 2025! Zayed College For Girls will be there and so should you 🫵🏽 📅 Saturday 16th August ⌚️ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎫 $5/$10 link in bio!

TODAY IS THE DAY ⭐️ WORD - The Front Line Semi Finals Heat #1 is happening this afternoon and our last school stepping up to the mic will be Waitākere College! We have a few tickets left and you won’t want to miss out on their poems. Grab’em while you can! 📅 Saturday 9th August (TODAY) ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

1️⃣ MORE SLEEP TILL SEMI’S! You know what’ll make your Friday night even better? Getting tickets for our first Semi Final Heat where Diocesan School For Girls is competing! 7 teams, one mic and one seat with your name on it 🫵🏽 🗓️ Saturday 9th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

We are proud to present our Judges for WTFL Semi’s Heat #1! Michel Mulipola AKA Bloody Samoan is a comic book illustrator and professional wrestler. Auckland-based Mulipola is a self-taught award-winning artist who has produced illustrations for Learning Media, Lift Education, Reading Warrior and independent US graphic novel series Headlocked. In 2006 he won the Gibson Award for Best New Zealand Comic Book Artist, in 2013 he was a grand finalist in the Secret Walls x Aotearoa Live Art Battles, and in 2016 he was awarded the Storylines Notable Book Award for Samoan Heroes with author David Riley. Onehou Strickland is a poet and facilitator from the heart of South Auckland. She now finds herself in the world of film and TV as a writer, editor, media operator and director. She has been a member of the South Auckland Poets Collective since 2012 which has seen her travel the country performing and leading workshops in Spoken Word. “Political, raw, unapologetic” all words you could use to describe Big Sima’s music, a modern day poet laureate. His new album “Stereotypes Of a Polynesian Misunderstood” layers themes and experiences from all walks of life, enlisting one of our country ‘ s most prolific producers in Tiki Taane. Big Sima is one of the most active NZ hip hop artists after being added to Summer Sounds, Electric Avenue & Soundsplash, looks towards his 4th consecutive nationwide tour with 7-piece band ‘Boomtown’. Having just released his 3rd studio project “Early In The Peace” Big Sima & Boomtown are set once again to go back on the road to celebrate the launch of their brand new EP. Matilda Clack is a poet and teacher currently residing in Tāmaki Makaurau. A Word-Up runner up and Word-The Front Line finalist in her final year of high school, Matilda has been involved in coaching, facilitating and performing poetry since. She is a two-time JAFA Regional Finalist and Trans-Tasman Poetry Slam Champion, and her work typically utilises a personal lens to articulate aspects of the human experience. 📅 Saturday 9th August, 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Auckland Live 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

Have you gotten your tickets yet? 🎤 This weekend Marcellin College are stepping up to their frontlines and sharing some incredible poetry! And you won’t want to miss it. 🗓️ Saturday 9th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

2️⃣ DAYS AWAY FROM SEMI’S! WORD - The Front Line Semi Finals Heat #1 is coming to a stage near you this weekend and Birkenhead College wants you there. Bring your signs, flags and all the energy for Birkenhead! 📅 Saturday 9th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio

TANGAROA COLLEGE ⭐️ Is coming to a stage near you this Saturday for WORD - The Front Line Semi Finals Heat #1! These teams have worked hard over the past four months and you won’t want to miss witnessing their greatness. 📅 Saturday 9th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

3️⃣ DAYS UNTIL SEMI’S! Alfriston College is ready to rock the mic, but are you ready to hear it? WORD - The Front Line Semi Finals Heat #1 kicks off this Saturday and we want you there 🎤 Grab your tickets for you and a friend and we will see you on the front line! 📅 Saturday 9th August, 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

WTFL SEMI-FINALS HEAT #1 ⭐️ We are proud to present one of the teams competing this weekend for a spot in the Grand Slam from Ngā Puna O Waiōrea. Come through and experience a once in a lifetime spoken word poetry event powered by our rangatahi! 🗓️ Saturday 9th August ⏰ 1pm 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 🎟️ $5/$10 link in bio!

SUP South is back at Youthline Manukau with some incredible features including an internationally acclaimed poet all the way from the USA! Stand Up Poetry Open Mic nights make spoken word poetry relevant and accessible by providing a public platform for emerging spoken word poets. Open mic is open to all styles, ages and backgrounds. Bring a poem, verse or just yourself! Wednesday Aug. 6th 7PM Youthline Manukau 145 St. George St. Papatoetoe FREE - Sign up on the day. This is an uncensored space but hate speech free. Terisa Siagatonu is an award-winning touring poet, speaker, educator, and community organizer born and rooted on unceded Ohlone territory in the Bay Area. Her voice in the poetry world as a queer Sāmoan artist has granted her opportunities to perform in places such as the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris, the 9th Annual Asia Pacific Triennial in Brisbane, Australia, the 2019 SF Women’s March, and FestPac 2024 with the American Samoa delegation. Her work has been published in Poetry Magazine and The Academy of American Poets and her debut children’s book The Vastness of Us is forthcoming on Penguin Books in 2026. Mafi Tufunga Tavo, born and raised in the heart of South Auckland, Ōtara 274, is a proud first-generation Tongan and founding member of the South Auckland Poets Collective and Word the Front Line. A storyteller and educator, he has spent over 16 years using spoken word and talanoa to instil confidence for every individual to speak their truth, be brave to stand up against any injustices and amplify his community’s voice.

SEMI-FINALS Heat #2 2025! It’s that time of year already! The fiercest poetry competition in Aotearoa is back in Tāmaki Makaurau! More than a poetry slam, Word - The Front Line is a community of leaders, storytellers, and changemakers from across the city that gather to connect and celebrate each other in a poetic battlefield unlike any other in the world. Come along with your whānau and friends to celebrate the top 14 high school teams, across two semifinal heats as they battle for a chance to compete at the Grand Slam. We need to show up for our rangatahi so let’s pack the house out! This year the semifinals will be taking place on two different dates. To support your favorite teams, please make sure you read the details carefully. The top 3 schools from each Heat will make it to the Grand Slam on Sept. 13th! Tickets OUT NOW via the link in our bio! HEAT 2 Zayed College For Girls De La Salle College Dilworth School Wesley College Kelston Girls' College Mount Roskill Grammar School Glendowie College Sat. August 16th 1PM @ Herald Theatre! $10 Waged/ $5 Unwaged

SEMI-FINALS Heat #1 2025! It’s that time of year already! The fiercest poetry competition in Aotearoa is back in Tāmaki Makaurau! More than a poetry slam, Word - The Front Line is a community of leaders, storytellers, and changemakers from across the city that gather to connect and celebrate each other in a poetic battlefield unlike any other in the world. Come along with your whānau and friends to celebrate the top 14 high school teams, across two semifinal heats as they battle for a chance to compete at the Grand Slam. We need to show up for our rangatahi so let’s pack the house out! This year the semifinals will be taking place on two different dates. To support your favorite teams, please make sure you read the details carefully. The top 3 schools from each Heat will make it to the Grand Slam on Sept. 13th! Tickets OUT NOW via the link in our bio! HEAT 1 Alfriston College Marcellin College Diocesan School For Girls Waitākere College Birkenhead College Ngā Puna O Waiōrea Tangaroa College Sat. August 9th 1PM @ Herald Theatre! $10 Waged/ $5 Unwaged

SUP WEST 🎤 It has been a long awaited return for Stand Up Poetry to head back out West and what a reception to return to! Thank you so much for coming through and experiencing a beautiful night of poetry with us. Special shoutout to our WORD teams for sharing on the mic as they prepare for semi-finals in a few weeks 👏🏻 Big mihi to Corban Estate Arts Centre for hosting us. Thank you to Nualān for keeping our winter nights warm 🎧 Thank you to our incredible double feature, Lex Shoemark and Stellar Pritchard! We are blessed to have you both in our spaces, playing various and crucial roles in each and every one of them. Next SUP coming soon 👀

Kia ora poetry whānau, friends and teachers! It’s hard to believe that we are already half way through 2025. We are heading into our busiest season but we are still currently taking bookings for Term 3 and 4 📖 Our award winning facilitation team would love to come to your school or communtiy space to run spoken word poetry workshops. We work with all year levels and can tailor our sessions to fit your class schedules or youth groups. The calendar is filling up fast so make sure you book in ASAP! 📧 Send an email to info@actioneducation.co.nz or visit our website 👩🏽‍💻

Stand Up Poetry is going out WEST 🎤 SUP open Mic nights make spoken word poetry relevant and accessible by providing a public platform for emerging spoken word poets. Open mic is open to all styles, ages and backgrounds. Bring a poem, verse or just yourself! Sign up on the day. This is an uncensored space but hate speech free. ⏰ Wednesday 16th July, 7pm 📍 Old St Michael's Church, Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland 0612 🎟️ FREE FEATURES: Lex (Ngāpuhi, Ngati Hine) is a South Auckland- based creative with roots in spoken word and acting whose talent has seen him perform across the country. He is a 2024 National Poetry Slam finalist and runner-up for the 2024 title. Stellar Aigalefili Makarita Pritchard is a Spoken word poet, author, and actress. She has competed in many slams: a winner of Jafa slam 2019, a word the Frontline finalist, the winner of word up 2019 and co-created in a poetry collection - Pacific Navigators.

Thank you so much to The New Zealand Association of Teachers of English for having us at their 2025 Conference! Having it take place in Tamaki felt like a family reunion where we were able to connect some of our favourite educators from the across the motu. Over the course of the conference, we were able to run multiple workshops, and WTFL Champions Rehekroero delivered a powerful performance on the Wednesday morning! English teachers are our most important partners and we cannot do what we do without you. Thank you for all that you do for your students! Special shout out to Melanie Van Ansem and the organising team for pulling off a flawless event. We hope you enjoy the rest of the school holidays.

SUP Central was ON 🔥 Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported our poets, either on mic or in the audience, in questionable weather; we appreciate you! Special shoutout to our WORD whānau for showing up and sharing. Big mihi to Grey Lynn Library for hosting us in your warm space. A huge shoutout and thank you to our double features, Kate Laughter and Jai Selkirk! Your presence in our communities is important and hearing your stories reminds us of our why. Thank you! Thank you to Nualān for keeping the vibes high! Next SUP will be dropping very soon, in a new location 👀

Rā Toikupu took place a few weeks ago which brings together the 14 teams who advanced from our regional heats for WORD – The Front Line 2025! This day is centred around whakawhanaungatanga - bringing together our young people through poetry, kai and workshops. It is a stepping stone as they journey through WORD and build everlasting connections and foster creativity. We have a village to thank who made this all possible! A big mihi to Te Mahurehure Marae for hosting us. We are so grateful to continue to be in your beautiful space and experience your Manaakitanga. Thank you for taking care of us and our rangatahi! Another big thank you to Peniel Fa’amausilii and Sole Photography for capturing these vital memories for our WORD whanau. Thank you Nualān for spinning the decks all day! To our coaches, guest performers, and staff – thank you for continuing to show up for our rangatahi and us. To our teachers – thank you for all your hard mahi, everyday! The support we have from you does not go unnoticed especially being aware of how important your role is in the lives of your students. A special mihi and mention to Whaea Alice for her incredible leadership helping to guide our waka through her position on our board and supporting us in person on the day. Thank you so much to our poets for creating this experience with your truths and creativity. A huge shout out and thank you to the generous support from Auckland Regional Arts and Culture, Creative New Zealand and Foundation North. #SEEYOUATSEMIS!

SUP Central is back at Grey Lynn Library!!! Stand Up Poetry Open Mic nights make spoken word poetry relevant and accessible by providing a public platform for emerging spoken word poets. Open mic is open to all styles, ages and backgrounds. Bring a poem, verse or just yourself! FREE - Sign up on the day. 📆 Wednesday 2nd July 📍 Grey Lynn Library, 474 Great North Road, Auckland ⏰ 7pm This is an uncensored space but hate speech free. Features: Jai Selkirk is a Natonal Poetry Slam Finalist, WTFL Slam Champion and Auckland Slam Runner Up. Blending elements of Rap with Spoken Word Poetry, Jai showcases a slick wordplay with raw truth telling. When not on the mic you’ll find Jai navigating his forklift with the same precision he would his words. Kate Laughter is a filmmaker, writer, spoken word poet and WTFL alumni born in Amerika, descending from Tokomaru Bay in Tairāwhiti (Ngāti Porou). She is a recent graduate of South Seas: Film & Television School and has a background in the performing arts as well. She writes about reclaiming whakapapa, language and her cultural identity as an urban Māori. She will be attending Te Wānanga Takiura next year, studying Rumaki Reo.

SUP SOUTH 🌊 Thank you so much to everyone who came through for Stand Up Poetry Open Mic last week! It felt like its own showcase which attests to the talented communities we are blessed to be a part of. Big mihi to our double feature, Vitinia and Bridg3! From participants in our programmes, to alumni and now solo artists on all streaming platforms, we are proud to witness and support your journey’s. Check out ‘SHILOH’ by Vitinia and ‘WHAT YOU TRYNA DO’ by Cocoshakim, Bridg3 and Creationkit 🔥 Shoutout to our DJ, Nualān, for keeping the room warm while the weather is cold. Thank you Youthline Manukau for hosting us, we appreciate you! Keep your eyes posted as we will be announcing July SUP soon 👀