Calling all tamariki ages 5-12 to think outside the nest and create a bird-inspired poem.

Your poem can be about anything bird related : extinct birds, native birds, backyard birds, an invented bird, a bird story or experience, a bird-word, told from a birds-eye view (imagine you are a bird) or something else you'd like to write a bird poem about.

The poem must not be longer than 25 lines (it can be as short as you like) and must be all your own work.

Judges
The competition will be judged by The Poets XYZ. The Poets XYZ (Elena de Roo, Kathryn Dove, Melinda Szymanik) are award-winning children's poets from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland whose mission is to encourage children's poetry writing in Aotearoa.

Prizes
The winning poem will be displayed at Huia Lodge Discovery Hub in May and published on our website. The winner will also receive a bird theme prize pack, which must be collected from Huia Lodge Discovery Hub by August 31st 2025.

How to enter
Entries open April 1st and close April 20th 2025, and must include the entrant's full name, contact email, phone number, age and poem.

Enter your poem by emailing it to info@cornwallpark.co.nz or by handing it in person to Huia Lodge.
Huia Lodge is open 7 days, 10am-4pm.


The winner will be notified by email or phone by May 5th 2025. The winning poem will be published online, on our website and social media.

By entering, you give permission for Cornwall Park to use your poem on social media, in-person displays, and online and to add it to our archive.
You may enter poems written in other languages, but an English translation must be provided.

If you have any questions you can contact The Poets XYZ here or Huia Lodge info@cornwallpark.co.nz