Semi-Finals #1 Judges!

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!
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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 Bates

Jess 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. 

Melodownz

Melodownz’ 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