In August 2007, the National Library of New Zealand took over the New Zealand Poet Laureate Award, with Te Mata Estate remaining in a supporting role. This gives the award a more official status, a large increase in funding and access to all the networks which the National Library generates.
The first appointment under this new administration was Michele Leggott. The current New Zealand Poet Laureate is Cilla McQueen. Te Mata Estate, in its centenary year, established the New Zealand Poet Laureate award to recognise outstanding contributions to New Zealand poetry. Each winning poet was appointed for a two year tenure and received from Te Mata Estate, a grant of both money and wine, together with an individual tokotoko (a ceremonial carved walking stick) symbolising their achievement and status.
In 2003 Te Mata Estate joined forces with Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters to enhance the public profile of New Zealand poetry through a range of Laureate visits to secondary schools and public engagements. For more information CLICK HERE. At the end of each poet's term Te Mata Estate teamed with international publisher Random House for the production of a volume of the Laureate’s work.
The Te Mata New Zealand Poet Laureate’s and their published Laureate works are:
5th - Jenny Bornholdt - Mrs Winter's Jump - 2007
4th - Brian Turner - "Footfall" - 2005 -
3rd - Elizabeth Smither -“Red Shoes” -2003 -
2nd - Hone Tuwhare - “Piggy Back Moon” - 2001
1st - Bill Manhire - “What to call your Child” - 1999
TE MATA ESTATE LINK TO POETRY
Te Mata Estate’s association with the poet laureate reflects the company’s belief that wine is an active part of a nation’s culture, and that New Zealand poetry’s articular qualities are worthy of long term support. There is a natural symbiosis between wine and poetry, but there is also a particular association with wine and the British laureateship which has attracted Te Mata’s attention.
Originally the royal appointment of Poet Laureate carried a grant of wine as part of its stipend. For Te Mata there is also the coincidence of the death of Alfred Lord Tennyson, the longest serving Poet Laureate, in 1892, the year grapes were first planted at Te Mata. Tennyson’s successor was subsequently appointed in 1896, the year Te Mata first began operating as a commercial winery.
In keeping with the history of the British award, each New Zealand Poet Laureate will be given a selection of Te Mata wine.
THE TOKOTOKO
In Maori tradition, the Tokotoko (a ceremonial carved walking stick) is a symbol of the authority and the status of a speaker, and it tells of the history from which that authority comes.
Bill Manhire’s Tokotoko symbolises the special nature of New Zealand’s Polynesian and European poetry tradition, and the terroir aspect of Te Mata Estate (terroir is a French term referring to the physical features, winery practices, and the human histories which are attached to a specific site which all interact to give wine its individual characteristics). It tells of the mountain, the river and the people using wood, stone, gold and silver.
Hone's is only similar to the extent that the Rata timber used in the carving of the stick comes from the original press block at Te Mata, milled late in the 1880's or 1890's. Jacob Scott, who made the Tokotoko, had this to say about it: In my mind the design of this stick for Hone needed to be simple, practical and functional. I thought it would be good for my mate to have a dip stick that he couse use to check the level in the barrel of wine that comes with it. Something Hone could use on a daily basis, comfortable, non-ostentatious. A tokotoko to wear down a bit through use. I wanted it to have a quiet, sexy feel about it The kowhaiwhai painted on the shaft were strung together like sets of words in a line of Hone's poetry, linking with each other, twisting as they go to a beat, to be read and interpreted. The designs represent nothing in particular but a whole lot of things about this beautiful vital man, the ideas, insights, truth, humour and vibes he communicates were thoughts enjoyed in the making.
Elizabeth Smither's tokotoko was made with a gear lever. Brian Turner’s tokotoko is made from a hockey stick, in recognition of his various sporting achievements. (He was a New Zealand representative in hockey.) Starting from the base. Jenny Bornholdt's tokotoko has the upside down ritorito and mamaku markings that represent root systems reaching deep down into the earth. The ritorito also represents family, plant, growth, and the female element. Above these markings is a kowhaiwhai pattern representing family, and a main Manawa line representing a life line - in this case a river or body of water. There is a female head at the top, which represents Wharetangata and women as the guardians of tikanga.
A new Tokotoko will be created in Hawkes Bay for each subsequent Poet Laureate.
