Friends of Webb's | Chris Tse
We were recently privileged to have poet, short story writer and Aotearoa Poet Laureate Chris Tse provide some beautiful words for our 2024 Christmas gift. Webb’s Senior Copywriter, Katie Ruscoe, caught up with Chris to chat about his year, his inspirations, and what he's looking forward to these holidays.
Photography by Michael Gibson
Kia ora Chris! You very kindly created a beautiful poem for our Christmas gift. Can you please unpack this work a bit for us?
Kia ora! I wanted the poem to be a reminder for us to slow down and be present, particularly when we’re with our loved ones. It often feels like it’s getting harder to find time for stillness and face-to-face connection, which are things that have really helped me to reflect on my place in the world and relationships.
This is the time where we start reflecting back on the year that has been. I'm interested to hear how 2024 has treated you? Any particular highs?
It’s been another great year filled with poetry and art, but I’ll pick a highlight in keeping with the theme of the poem. This year I spent a bit of time with family in Canada, some of whom I’d not seen in 20 years and others I was only meeting for the first time, like my cousins’ children who I’ve seen grow up on social media. I was travelling with my parents and it made me happy to see them so excited about reconnecting with our Canadian family.
Was there a specific event or moment when you realised that poetry was something you wanted to pursue as a career?
My appreciation for poetry really took off while studying English literature and creative writing at Victoria University of Wellington that. I never thought it would be a viable career but I set little goals for myself to keep me motivated to write and submit to publications.
You were made Poet Laureate in 2022 and are the first recipient to hold the new three year term (officially anyway)—how good! What does that extra year allow you to achieve?
The extra year has been such a gift and has given me a little more breathing space because the first two years were so busy and went by so fast. A lot of what I’ve done in the first couple of years has been very reactive, like accepting invitations and commissions for new poems, so I’m hoping the extra year allows me to focus on some of the things that I’d like to do before my term ends.
It's also quite a responsibility to hold isn't it? For someone who has never heard of it before could you please explain what it entails?
There’s two key responsibilities: to write poetry and to promote poetry. Each Poet Laureate can choose how they fulfil those responsibilities, so they can make the role their own. What’s been exciting for me is getting asked to speak or perform to groups and organisations that aren’t part of the usual literary ecosystem, and that to me is the point of the role – to get poetry into places where you normally wouldn’t expect to see it.
It also entails a fair bit of travel? What have been some of the highlight international festivals and events you have been to and/or been part of?
There has been a lot of travel involved, particularly around Aotearoa but I’ve also been very lucky to have received invitations to attend festivals overseas. During my term so far I’ve attended festivals in the U.K., U.S.A. and Bali, which have been such valuable opportunities to introduce audiences to New Zealand poetry and meet poets from around the world.
What have been some exciting people/scenes/publications that you have discovered around the motu that you think more people should know about?
Aotearoa poetry is going from strength to strength, and it’s been wonderful to see people of all ages and backgrounds finding ways to engage with it. The spoken word scene is particularly exciting, so I recommend heading along to a slam poetry heat in your town or city to see some of the amazing talent we have in this country. I edited Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2023, which is worth checking out if you want a taster of some of the great poetry being published at the moment.
What motivates you the most to create your work?
Ultimately, what motivates me to write is to tell stories and prompt conversations, especially about topics or issues that can be difficult to talk about. But I’m also at a point in my career where I want to write poetry that celebrates joy and is fun to read or perform, which is just one way to make poetry accessible and change people’s perceptions of it being a ‘difficult’ artform.
Do you have an interest in other forms of art? Do you collect visual art and/or is there particular artist/s whose work you enjoy?
I don’t collect visual art, but I love going to galleries as a source of inspiration when I’m having a bit of a block or struggling with writing a poem. I’ve got a background in filmmaking and photography so the visual arts have always been an integral part of my creative practice and interests. I’m particularly drawn to abstract artworks that experiment with colour or light.
You're a big fan of pop culture and as a fellow pop-culture obsessed millennial I love that you unapologetically bring these references into your work. I'd love to hear your favourite film/show, album and pop culture moment of 2024?
Like a lot of people I’ve been obsessed with BRAT by Charli XCX since it came out. In particular, I love how Charli fuses heartfelt introspection with dance pop music. It’s the perfect distillation of why I’ve loved her music since her debut album True Romance. Abbott Elementary continues to be one of my favourite new television shows. I Saw The TV Glow was my favourite film of the past year – great 90s vibes and an excellent soundtrack.
Finally, how will you be spending this summer?
I’ve been away on a writing residency for three months so I’m looking forward to catching up with family and friends, making a dent in my to-read pile and plotting out the last few months of my term as Poet Laureate.
It was such a pleasure to catch up with Chris Tse and hear about his experiences, inspirations, and plans. His thoughtful reflections and passion for poetry remind us of the importance of creativity and connection, especially as we head into the festive season. We’re excited to see what the rest of his term as Poet Laureate will bring and look forward to the continued impact of his work in Aotearoa and beyond.
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