Kokako 30 landed just before I headed off to Japan, a good read as always. If you’re reading this in New Zealand and don’t subscribe to Kokako, what are you waiting for? Find details here.
The first issue of Kokako appeared in 2003, under the helm of (the late) Bernard Gadd and Patricia Prime, who is still co-editor, now with Margaret Beverland. Kokako grew out of winterSPIN, an annual publication of SPIN poetry journal and focusing on the Japanese genres and short poetry. SPIN editor pnw donnelly encouraged Catherine Mair to edit winterSPIN from 1995-2001 with Bernie helping out from 1998. From 2003-2006 Kokako appeared once a year, then moving (by popular demand) to twice a year.
In her editorial to mark the thirtieth edition, Margaret notes that in the beginning most of the submissions to Kokako came from within New Zealand, but now most come from overseas.
If you’re interested in reading more on the history of haiku in New Zealand, click on the link to read an essay, prepared by me for The Haiku Foundation and published in 2016.
Here is a selection of haiku by New Zealand authors from Kokako 30.
flight of a fantail …
we each scatter his ashes
between spells of rain
Kirsten Cliff Elliot (Hamilton)
Photo: Sandra Simpson
family sorrow
the yellow kowhai
pays no attention
Tony Beyer (New Plymouth)
not speaking
the cherry on the fence line
in full bloom
Barbara Strang (Christchurch)
marae concert
a small hole in
the cellist’s sock
Sandra Simpson (Tauranga)
6am flight!
watching the sun take off
on its own journey
Keith Nunes (Pahiatua)
how to smile
at people you don’t like
buttercup
Jenny Fraser (Mt Maunganui)
breath, a collection of haiku 