New Zealand Poet Laureate

[1] The Poet Laureate for New Zealand was not originally appointed by a government agency, but by a commercial company.

[2] In 2007, the National Library of New Zealand took over the appointment of the Poet Laureate, and has appointed the last eight laureates: Michele Leggott, Cilla McQueen, Ian Wedde, Vincent O'Sullivan, C. K. Stead, Selina Tusitala Marsh, David Eggleton, and Chris Tse, 2022–2025.

The National Librarian of New Zealand then makes the decision following advice from the Poet Laureate Advisory Council, which currently includes first Laureate Bill Manhire and Te Mata Estate chairman John Buck.

[1] A tokotoko is a Māori carved ceremonial walking stick which is presented to the Laureate upon their appointment.

The tokotoko are created by Hawke's Bay artist Jacob Scott, with the matua carved from black maire and containing a poem by the late Hone Tuwhare, the 1999–2001 Laureate.