There’s still time to book your tickets for a night of – well, I don’t think ‘poetic royalty’ would be putting it too strongly – this Saturday night. It doesn’t get much more high–end than this in for a literary do in Godzone: Te Mata Estate, in association with Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters, is getting out all their Poets Laureate at the just-done-up Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings for a ‘glittering’ night out of fine wine and fine words. I've got three words right here: Rock. And. Roll.

The poets? Tsk, as if you don’t know – Bill Manhire, Elizabeth Smither, Brian Turner and Jenny Bornholdt. But that’s only four, I hear you squeal, and you’d be right. Hone Tuwhare will be at another function, but his mate Glenn Colquhoun will read Hone’s poetry on his behalf. And young Russell Kale, finalist in last year’s Bell Gully National Schools Poetry Award will also be making a no-doubt star-struck appearance.

So yes – as the press release says, ‘there’ll be finger food and Te Mata wine in the Opera House foyer and then the audience will repair to the Opera House proper to hear the poets under the stunning fresco ceiling.’ You’ll even get a chance to mingle with the luminous laureates at the end of the readings, because that’s the kind of poets they are. No really, er, they actually are. Nice, normal human beings, that is.

Crikey dick, that’d be a corker night out. If I was anywhere in the area, I’d be down there like a shot. You can get your tickets from from Creative Hastings on 06 878 9447; Email artcentre@clear.net.nz or from the festival director: kthorsen@clear.net.nz. They’re a paltry $30 which includes a glass of Te Mata Wine and some nibbles. But not from the poets I shouldn’t think, despite the cash bar which will indeed be operating.