Last week our Year 10 English classes had an awe-inspiring visit from author and slam poet Te Kahu Rolleston. He wowed us with his poetry skills before leading a thought-provoking writing workshop.
Below is a write-up of the experience from student Delaney Thum:
Te Kahu Rolleston’s visit was more than just a performance – it was an immersion into the power of words. From the moment he stepped onto the stage his presence was electric, pulling the audience into his world of rhythm, emotion, and storytelling. His poetry was beautiful and uniquely him, carrying weight, humour, grief, and hope all woven together seamlessly.
Something I found to be notably impressive was his ability to work with the crowd using just language. One moment, we were laughing with bold playful energy and the next we were silent, caught in the gravity of a poem about loss.
During the workshop, that same energy carried through. He didn’t dictate what poetry should be but instead gave us space to explore. We wrote about anything and everything, no topic too small or vast. He fostered an environment where creativity was free from hesitation or fear. The presentations at the end led me to understand that it wasn’t about writing, it was about being heard.
