A couple of city centres around the county are having poetry parties over the next few weeks. On Monday the 11th, in Porirua, the immediate past poet laureate Brian Turner reads from 7.30pm at the Poetry Café (The Dizzy Fish Café and Bar, 1 Selby Place, Porirua). And of course, Kissed opens next Saturday.

And in Christchurch, there’s Fugacity happening from 21-23 April. It's named after a word that the fascinating Ursula Bethell (right) used in one of her famous garden poems. The festival includes the launching of an Ursula Bethell page on the nzepc website, where you’ll also find new pages by Michael Harlow and Bernadette Hall. There will be several readings, including an open mic reading at the New Brighton library on the morning of Sat 23, plus various other goodies and loads of guests including Tusiata Avia, Fiona Farrell, Brian Flaherty, David Gregory, and Michele Leggott. Check the festival website for programme and more details.