​Phodiso Dintwe is a multidisciplinary artist and performer from Botswana. He was a Rising Voices 2016 finalist, and is currently pouring his focus into music. His work speaks into the worlds and weavings within the Afrikan continent and all who are tethered to it. Phodiso has recently released his debut album, 'Act I’.

Stevie Davis-Tana is a spoken word poet, youth worker, and māmā to be, born and bred in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is currently working on a new project ‘Kō’, a spoken word poetry visual album about reclaiming identity as a young person in te ao Māori. She is passionate about creativity, culture, community, young people, and pasta.

​Lastman So'oula is an educator, artist, and performer. An alumni of the South Auckland Poets Collective and a Fine Arts Graduate of Elam, he has been a coach for multiple Word the Front Line teams and is the 2017 Auckland University Poetry Slam Champion.

​Aotearoa-born Tokelauan and Samoan poet Luti Richards is the eldest of 12 siblings who was born and raised in Happy Valley, Wellington. She was a member of the critically acclaimed South Auckland Poets Collective and the visionary behind WORD – THE FRONT LINE, Aotearoa’s first inter-high school spoken word program developed under the leadership of Action Education in 2014. Luti has worked in varied roles in film and television production, youth development, business management and more recently in strategic advisory roles within faith-based organisations. She is a visionary wordsmith with an innate ability to reimagine a new and better world through poetry, picture and verse and has performed in various events and conferences including the Queenstown Poetry Festival; the Northern Easter Camp and the Every Nation Conference in Manila, Philippines.

In it’s 7th year, Word – The Front line is the only event of its kind in Aotearoa. A poetic battlefield in which young leaders, artists, and visionaries gather from all over Auckland to share their voices. Come along and celebrate the top 16 high school teams as they battle for a chance to compete in the 2020 Grand Slam.
Due to the current covid safety guidelines all of our semi-final heats this year will be online events streaming from the Action Education Facebook Page.
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Heat 1
Tuesday 29th September, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB
Papatoetoe High School
Saint Kentigern College
Epsom Girls Grammar
Rangitoto College
Heat 2
Thursday 1st October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB
Mangere College
Aorere College Team 2
Birkenhead College
Ngā Puna O Waiōrea
Heat 3
Monday 5th October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB
Onehunga High School
De La Salle College Team 1
Mt Roskill Grammar
Northcote College
Heat 4
Wednesday 7th October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB
De La Salle College Team 2
Aorere College Team 1
Mount Albert Grammar
Saint Dominics
Event is open to all ages. However there may be use of mature language and themes.