Monica Taylor Poetry Prize 2026
Ends on
- Entries close at 11:59PM 30th September 2026.
- Your poem must be previously unpublished and no more than 50 lines, excluding the title.
- Multiple entries are welcome. Each entry must be submitted separately with a separate entry fee paid. The entry fee is $5 (NZD) per poem.
- Only writers living in Aotearoa New Zealand or New Zealand citizens and residents currently living abroad are eligible to enter.
- No simultaneous submissions. The longlist will be announced around 10th October; the shortlist around 24th October. The winner and runners up be announced around 2nd November 2026.
- takahē does NOT accept any work generated by artificial intelligence. In making a submission, the author and/or submitter confirms no part of their submission has been created using AI.
- Work can be in English, or in Te Reo Māori with English translation.
- The Submission Title is the title of your poem.
- Your name, initials or pseudonym must NOT appear on the poem, the Submission Title, or in the name of the file that contains your poem.
- The winning poem receives $300 (NZD) and publication in the December 2026 issue of takahē. The runner-up receives $150 (NZD).
- takahē acquires first publication rights only, and only for published winners and runners-up. All copyright then reverts to the poet. We appreciate the acknowledgment of takahē as the first publisher if your work is subsequently republished.
- The judge's comments will be published in the December 2026 issue of the magazine, available on our website http://www.takahe.org.nz.
- No member of the takahē board is eligible to enter the competition.
- In the event of the competition being cancelled, entry fees will be refunded.