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Grand Slam 2019 Judges!8/29/2019 Back for it's 6th year, the Word - The Front Line Grand Slam is the biggest poetry event in New Zealand. Happening Saturday 14th September, 7pm at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, the top 6 teams from around Auckland will compete for the title of 2019 Grand Slam Champs. Tickets can be purchased at the Ticketmaster website here! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we are fortunate to have an incredible judging panel of officials, poets, artists, and community figures. For the first time ever we will also be having 5 judges! So without further delay, here are our judges for the Word - The Front Line 2019 Grand Slam.  Photo credit: Neil Mackenzie Judge Andrew Becroft |
 Jordan Vaha'akoloJordan Vaha'akolo, also known as 'The River Jordan' by his social media followers, is known for his ability to make people laugh and spit some serious truth. Having previously worked for Attitude, he has a natural gift for speaking to young people and communities about some of our toughest topics. For the most part Jordan works in television and film. Having acted and presented he also spends his time behind the camera, currently producing for Māori TV. He’s passionate about people, food and story telling with hopes to one day create world renowned movies about the Pacific and our culture. |  Photo credit: Pati Solomona Tyrell Jahra 'Rager' WasasalaJahra ‘Rager’ Wasasala is of Fijian/Euro origin based in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and is an award-winning cross-disciplinary activation artist and world-builder. Jahra’s mahi has toured across Aotearoa, Australia, Hawai’i, New York, Berlin, Guahån and Canada so far. Recognised as a performative force of nature, Jahra utilises her training within performance activation, contemporary dance technique and poetry soundscape as a psychopomp for ancestral attunement, shape-shifting and story-telling through her work. Jahra is currently in development for the new solo activation work ‘GOD-HOUSE’, commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. |
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| Photo credit: Peniel Fa'amausili/Sole Photography | Photo credit: Peniel Fa'amausili/Sole Photography |
Te Kahu Rolleston | Carrie Rudzinski |
| Te Kahu Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi) is a Māori poet, spoken word performer, actor and battle rap artist from Tauranga. He has been called 'The Taniwha of Slam Poetry'. His work often honours his ancestors, the land, and the ongoing Māori struggles for Tino Rangatiratanga and socio-economic betterment. His poetry speaks to what it means to be Māori, combining mythology, history and modern politics. Te Kahu was the 2014 winner of The National Poetry Slam Competition, and in 2015 was invited to attend The Banff Centre’s Indigenous Writing Programme alongside Witi Ihimaera. He has since performed his work nationwide and internationally, working particularly with youth, schools and community groups. | Carrie Rudzinski is a poet and published author who ranked 4th in the world at the 2014 Women of the World Poetry Slam. Featured in Bustle, the Huffington Post, and Teen Vogue, she has performed her work over the past 14 years in 6 countries and in almost all 50 of the United States. She recently won the 2019 Pussy Riot award at the Auckland Fringe Festival and performed at the 10th annual Tedx in Christchurch. Her poems have been published in Landfall, University of California Press, Learn Than Burn, We Will Be Shelter, Catalyst and Muzzle. She is currently a lecturer of performing arts and creative writing at Manukau Institute of Technology and a program coordinator for the Michael King Writer’s Centre’s Young Writer’s Program. |
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Semi-Finals #2 Judges!
8/8/2019
We are pleased to announce the judges for our WORD - The Front Line Semi-Finals Heat #2 this coming Saturday August 10th at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #2:
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #2:
VilletteVILLETTE is an award-winning all round creative - from singing producing & DJ’ing to song writing. Born & raised in New Zealand, VILLETTE’s sound is a mix of RNB, Hip Hop & Electronic Soul. in 2016 she was signed with Red Bull Sound Select which provided her with opportunities to travel NZ and go to LA to work in studio sessions with prominent writers and open for AlunaGeorge alongside Xavier Omar. Most recently, VILLETTE won the award for Best Pacific Music Video at the 2019 Pacific Music Awards. Her production & vocals has taken her on a NZ & USA tour, and travelling around Australia opening for UV Boi.  | Sonya Renee TaylorSonya Renee Taylor is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice. Sonya has shared her work as an award-winning Performance Poet, Activist, and educator in numerous countries and on major media outlets around the world,reaching hundreds of thousands of people with her commitment to radical self-love and transformation. Sonya continues to perform, speak and facilitate workshops globally.  |
Te Karere Scarborough | Billy Revel |
| Two time Poetry Idol winner and judge Te Karere Scarborough (Ngāpuhi) is formerly a member of the South Auckland Poets Collective. He has taught and performed poetry internationally and works for the charity Parenting Place | As a member of The Black Friars Theatre Company, Billy has a passion for building bridges and making mirrors particularly for Pasifika youth, through various mediums and sectors. Privileged to stand on the shoulders of giants, he too hopes to offer his shoulders and grow to be a giant for others. |
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Semi-Finals #1 Judges!
7/31/2019
We are pleased to announce the judges for our WORD - The Front Line Semi-Finals Heat #1 this coming Saturday August 3rd at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #1:
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #1:
Te Kahu Rolleston | Alice Canton |
| Māori poet, spoken word performer, actor and battle rap artist Te Kahu Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi) won the National Poetry Slam Competition in 2014 and has since performed his work nationwide and internationally, working particularly with youth, schools and community groups. | Alice is a performer, theatre-maker and teaching-artist. She has performed and taught throughout New Zealand, Australia and Asia, and is the founder of White_mess, a creative, open structure that facilitates the production of highly diverse theatre projects and collaborations. |
 Jess Holly BatesJess Holly Bates is a queer, pakeha and an award-winning poet, theatre-maker and artist. She makes performance work about the embodied and cultural responsibilities of whiteness (Inheritance, The Sacred Settler Real Fake White Dirt). She stands for mana motuhake, extra-capital joy and the dismantling of the patriarchy.  |  MelodownzMelodownz’ hip-hop lyricist, Bronson Price, is an urban poet and artist raised in the phone line tangled village of Avondale, Auckland. Melodownz’ sound is shaped by a variety of local producers who honour his smooth melodies. His diverse style travels from hip-hop, reggae, G-funk and soul all accompanied by his punchy lyrics  |
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Word - The Front Line Semi-Finals #1
7/31/2019
At the start of the year 40 high school teams from around Auckland came together to compete at the Word - The Front Line Regional Heats. From there we took the top 14 teams on an incredible journey of poetry, community, leadership, and growth.
7 of those teams will now compete at Semi-Finals #1. The top 3 teams from each Semi-Finals heat will advance to the Grand Slam to battle for the title of 2019 Grand Slam Champs! Get your friends and family along to support our young poets as they step up their own front lines to slay their giants.
Saturday 3rd August, 3-6pm
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
Gold coin entry
Competing teams are:
- De La Salle #1
- Mount Albert Grammar
- Aorere College
- Epsom Girls Grammar
- Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
- St Pauls College
- Rangitoto College
Event is open to all ages, however there may be use of mature language and themes.
7 of those teams will now compete at Semi-Finals #1. The top 3 teams from each Semi-Finals heat will advance to the Grand Slam to battle for the title of 2019 Grand Slam Champs! Get your friends and family along to support our young poets as they step up their own front lines to slay their giants.
Saturday 3rd August, 3-6pm
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
Gold coin entry
Competing teams are:
- De La Salle #1
- Mount Albert Grammar
- Aorere College
- Epsom Girls Grammar
- Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
- St Pauls College
- Rangitoto College
Event is open to all ages, however there may be use of mature language and themes.
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Welcome Back!
2/11/2019
Happy New Year and welcome back!
2019 has already proven to be extremely busy for our team, and we have hit the ground running. We have some exciting projects lined up for this year, and can't wait to share them with you all.
We are back into the flow of things and our calendars for Term 1 and 2 are already booking up fast. However, we do still have spaces available so if you are interested in getting us in to run workshops or do presentations in your school, organisation, or community, please get in touch with us as soon as possible at info@actioneducation.co.nz
2019 has already proven to be extremely busy for our team, and we have hit the ground running. We have some exciting projects lined up for this year, and can't wait to share them with you all.
We are back into the flow of things and our calendars for Term 1 and 2 are already booking up fast. However, we do still have spaces available so if you are interested in getting us in to run workshops or do presentations in your school, organisation, or community, please get in touch with us as soon as possible at info@actioneducation.co.nz
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Ko tenei Te Wiki o te Reo Māori!
9/10/2018
What better way to celebrate than to showcase some incredible champions of Te Reo and Te Ao Māori, our 2018 WORD - The Front Line Grand Slam Champs from Ngā Puna o Waiorea. Their passion, and ability to weave Te Reo Māori seamlessly into their poetry is breathtaking, and has seen them stack up incredible scores from the judges across the competition.
A huge shout out to Māori Television and Te Kāea for doing this follow up story on this amazing group of poets. Every week is Māori language week for Māori Television, and it is so amazing that they are regularly sharing positive stories about young people on the news. Check out the video below, which was one of the poems the team performed at the Grand Slam, or you can check out the full story here (they come on at 11:10).
Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori! Let's make the Māori language strong! Ahakoa iti, ākona, kōrerotia - Learn a little, use a little.
You can find out more about Te Wiki o te Reo Maori here!
A huge shout out to Māori Television and Te Kāea for doing this follow up story on this amazing group of poets. Every week is Māori language week for Māori Television, and it is so amazing that they are regularly sharing positive stories about young people on the news. Check out the video below, which was one of the poems the team performed at the Grand Slam, or you can check out the full story here (they come on at 11:10).
Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori! Let's make the Māori language strong! Ahakoa iti, ākona, kōrerotia - Learn a little, use a little.
You can find out more about Te Wiki o te Reo Maori here!