Human Touch: A Sweet Mammalian Reading

In a world where AI can churn out rhymes by the thousands, what makes poetry unmistakably human? Come feel the pulse of the real thing as poets from Sweet Mammalian, Aotearoa’s warm-blooded literary journal, take to the stage with verse that is raw, vivid, funny and full of life. Featuring Rebecca Hawkes, Chris Tse, Leah Dodd, Joshua Toumu'a, Morgan Bach, Niamh Hollis-Locke and Jackson McCarthy, this celebration of poetry brings us back to the beating heart of language, and the beautiful mess of being human. Meet the poets Rebecca Hawkes - Poet and painter, and co-editor of Sweet Mammalian. Her collection Meat Lovers explores desire, rural life and the complex relationships between humans and animals. Chris Tse - Acclaimed poet and former New Zealand Poet Laureate (2022–2025). His collections include Super Model Minority and Dance-Floor Romance, exploring identity, culture and relationships. Leah Dodd - Wellington-based poet whose debut collection, Past Lives, was shortlisted for the New Zealand Listener Best Books of 2023. Her writing blends humour and tenderness with reflections on everyday life and the past. Joshua Toumu'a - Queer Pasifika poet and writer based in Wellington. He won the 2022 National Schools Poetry Award, and his work has appeared in literary journals including Starling. Morgan Bach - Wellington poet and co-founder of Sweet Mammalian. Her collections include Some of Us Eat the Seeds and Middle Youth, exploring relationships, hope and life in an uncertain world. Niamh Hollis-Locke - Yorkshire-born writer, editor and poet whose work draws on landscapes, folklore, archaeology and personal histories, often exploring ecological themes and belonging. Jackson McCarthy - Wellington-based poet and musician of Lebanese, Māori and Pākehā descent. His debut collection, Portrait (2026), explores desire, identity, memory and solitude. This event is part of VerbCrawl, a one-night literary festival that brings the streets of central Pōneke alive with writers, readings and literary happenings. For the full programme and more information, visit verbwellington.nz.