In a historic first for the 75-year-old Commonwealth of Nations, acclaimed New Zealand poet and academic Selina Tusitala Marsh has been appointed Commonwealth Poet Laureate, becoming the inaugural voice to represent 56 nations and 2.7 billion people through poetry.
Marsh, an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) and Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (FRSNZ), is celebrated for her evocative verse and accessible style that bridges cultures, histories, and generations.
Marsh, a professor at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, was New Zealand Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019, and is widely known for her poetry collections Fast Talking PI, Dark Sparring, and Tightrope, as well as her award-winning children’s graphic memoir series Mophead.
Her deeply personal and political poetry reflects her Pacific roots and global outlook. She is “deeply honoured” to take on the role.
“In Samoan, we say, O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota. ‘The more torches we have, the more fish we can catch.’ Poetry is our torch, illuminating paths between our diverse cultures and histories.”
For Marsh, the appointment marks a return to a role she first glimpsed in 2016, when she performed a specially written poem at Westminster Abbey in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Commonwealth Day service, “Her Majesty charged me with fostering unity through verse, and I felt the weight and wonder of words that bridge worlds.”
“Today, I accept this torch with alofa (love) and renewed commitment to amplify the voices that heal, challenge, and unite our Commonwealth family. Together, we will kindle more torches, casting light on the stories that connect us all, celebrating the artistic excellence that affirms our collective human dignity.”
Of Sāmoan, Tuvaluan, English, Scottish and French heritage, Marsh was the first Pacific person to earn a PhD in English from the University of Auckland. She teaches Pacific poetry and creative writing, and co-directs the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation (CAST), where she champions arts-led approaches to justice and wellbeing.
Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation Dr Anne T. Gallagher, who made the appointment, praised Marsh as a transformative figure, “It is through poetry that we can learn best about ourselves and each other.”
“Selina Tusitala Marsh embodies that truth. Her poetry travels effortlessly from the smallest community to the global stage… There could be no finer inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate.”
University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dawn Freshwater echoed this sentiment.
“Selina is an absolute treasure in the University of Auckland community. She gives so generously of her creativity and time, both on campus and in the wider community. We are deeply proud she has been honoured in this way.”
Marsh plans to use the platform to bring poetry into classrooms and communities, and is currently working on a long-anticipated book highlighting the first 21 Pacific women to publish poetry in English.
“For me, poetry is in the weave of a fala because it talks in the language of symbols, that’s how poetry behaves, poetry is in the stitching of a tivaevae.”
One of Marsh’s most imaginative ideas is to create a “poetry quilt” — 56 squares representing each Commonwealth nation, each with lines from their poets. Her appointment, which runs until 31 May 2027, will see her craft original poems for major Commonwealth events, including Commonwealth Day, the Commonwealth People’s Forum, and the Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua & Barbuda in 2026.
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