Brian Turner |
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Brian Turner was born in Dunedin, NZ in 1944. He is a poet and a freelance
journalist, editor and writer. His first book of poems Ladders of Rain
(1978) won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. This was followed by a number of highly-acclaimed
poetry collections and award-winning writing in a wide range of genres including
journalism, biography, memoir (Somebodies and Nobodies 2002) and sports
writing.
In 1984 he was Robert Burns Fellow at the University of Otago and in 1997 he was
writer in residence at the University of Canterbury. His most recent collection
of poetry Taking Off
was published by Victoria University Press in 2001 and made the final three in
the Poetry category of the 2002
Montana NZ Book Awards.
‘Beneath the wit, the no-nonsense honesty, the rigorous clarity of sense
and the sinewy rhythmic energy of the poems’ surfaces runs the craft of a
sophisticated, confident and well-read poet.’ —Oxford Companion
He lives in Central Otago, NZ.
One
of his poems "Semi-Kiwi" was selected for the online collection Best New Zealand Poems 2001. His poem, "Some reasons why I got this job" was chosen as one of the Best New Zealand Poems 2003. "Chances of Revelation" was chosen for Best New Zealand Poems 2004. Best New Zealand Poems 2005 included Brian's "Cycling in the Maniototo".
Brian Turner was named as the Te Mata New Zealand Poet Laureate 2003.