Haiku Happenings
This Month’s Article
Check out this month’s article:
What I think about when I think about
English-language haiku
by Matthew Paul
New Contests
Check out the latest contests
Publications
Explore publications
Thanks, as always, to the New Zealand Poetry Society for giving us space on its site – free of charge. If you’d consider joining the NZPS, it would be a small repayment for the hosting and support that we receive out of kindness. For those within New Zealand, your membership fees are tax deductible, as is any donation you make over the top of the annual sub. Read more about joining and membership benefits here, including how to join if you live outside New Zealand.
If you’d like to recommend an article, offer to write something for these pages, or generally have something to say about haiku and its related forms, please feel free to get in touch with me, Sandra Simpson. If you find any broken links within an article please let me know. Time passes and websites disappear but clicking on a broken link is always frustrating so I’d like to keep them up to date if I can.
Archives comprise Essays, Articles, NZ Haiku Showcase
and Haiku Commentary.
Contest Results
NZPS Haiku Contest (NZ)
Peggy Willis Lyles Haiku Award (US)
Society of Classical Poets Haiku Competition (US)
Triveni Haiku Awards (India)
HSA Rengay Award (US)
WHJ Summer Contest (Wales)
Martin Lucas Haiku Award (UK)
HSA Haibun Awards (US)
Ama Pearls Waka Contest (US)
HPNC Haibun Contest (US)
Brady Senryu Award (US)
Sanford Goldstein Tanka Contest (US)
TSA Tanka Prose Contest (US)
Japan Fair Haiku Contest (US)
Henderson Haiku Award (US)
Vladimir Devide Haiku Award (Croatia)
News & Events
New Free XpresSion haikai editor
Congratulations to Kiwi haiku poet Anne Curran who has stepped into the role of haikai editor for the monthly Australian journal Free XpresSion, left vacant after the sudden death of long-time editor Cynthia Rowe. Anne’s first selection will appear next month.
Submit: Up to 10 unpublished haiku, tanka and/or haibun that are not under consideration elsewhere, by email to Anne.
Subscribe: Readers outside Australia can receive a free online edition. Email editor Peter Pike to join the mailing list.
Editorial Changes
After 18 years at the helm, John Stevenson is stepping away from his role as managing editor of The Heron’s Nest with Christopher Patchel coming on board to replace him. Having created the cover art for Frogpond from 2012 to 2018, Christopher served as that journal’s editor from 2016–2018. John will remain as an associate editor. Tom Painting, who has been an associate editor since 2021, is moving on to other projects . The current submission window closes on December 15 for the March 2026 edition. Full details from the website.
Jennifer Sutherland has joined the editorial team at Echidna Tracks and will work with Simon Hanson on the next issue. Submissions are open throughout October from Australian poets and poets with a personal knowledge of Australia.
02 Haiku journal
O2 Haiku, which debuted in June this year, accepts two different types of poetry: Original or traditional haiku (which doesn’t necessarily mean 5-7-5), and “one breath” poetry. There is also a monthly kigo challenge.
Submit: Full details from the website.
Free Online Workshop
Wee Sparrow Press had made a free recording available of an online workshop it recently hosted with BHS President Iliyana Stoyanova. The workshop was aimed at beginners but people of all levels of experience are likely to enjoy it too. See the workshop here.
Congratulations
To Mike Johansson who has been placed Second equal in the Society of Classical Poets Haiku Competition (US).
To Sandra Simpson who has received the Grand Prize in the Vladimir Devide Haiku Award (Croatia).
To Katherine Raine who has been placed First in the NZPS Haiku Contest (NZ), and Patsy Turner, who has been placed Fifth. Kiwis Highly Commended are Sue Courtney, Katherine Raine and Sandra Simpson, while Commended are Charline Pocock and Peter Free.
Japan-theme events in NZ
Oct 11-12: Japanese Film Festival, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt. Read more here.
Oct 11-12: Asia Festival, 10am-6pm, Auckland Showgrounds, free. Read more here.
Oct 16: Holding Ground, a dance show with the work of Japanese artist Hiroaki Umeda, 6pm, Municipal Theatre, Napier, various prices. Read more here.
Oct 27: Holding Ground, a dance show with the work of Japanese artist Hiroaki Umeda, 5pm, Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga, various prices. Read more here.
Oct 30: Holding Ground, a dance show with the work of Japanese artist Hiroaki Umeda, 7pm, Theatre Royal, Nelson, various prices. Read more here.
Oct 31-November 9: Japanese Tea Ceremony, 11am-noon or 5-6pm, New Plymouth, $16. Read more here.
Nov 9: Japan Day, 11am-3pm, Dowse Square, Lower Hutt, free. Read more here.
Nov 13: Matcha Moments Workshop, from 10.30am, Totara Park Masonic Village, Warkworth, possibly $100. Read more here.
Dec 20-March: The Superlative Artistry of Japan, 10am-4pm, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt. Read more here.
End Notes
October 1, 2025: Back today from Haiku North America 2025, held in San Francisco. As always with these sorts of events, it was hectic and fun in equal measure. Old friendships were revived, new friendships made and a whole lot of learning took place. Someone said at the end that what goes on in the gaps between the presentations is just as important as the presentations themselves. So true. Naturally, most participants were from the United States, but there was also a smattering of others, from Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. As well as being in the audiences across the 5 days, yours truly gave two presentations and participated in a couple of readings. HNA 2027 is to be in Philadelphia, on the east coast of the US. Some first thoughts are available on my blog.
To continue on with our ‘how-to’ articles, this month’s is a good haiku refresher by Matthew Paul. I like to reacquaint myself with the basics every so often, and think it does me good. The Contest listing has been updated and highlights opportunities through to the end of December (can you believe the end of the year is upon us?) and even into January 2026. – Sandra
HAIKU EVENTS 2025
Oct 23-26 Seabeck Haiku Getaway, Washington State, USA. Read more here.