Chris Tse

Contributing writer

Chris Tse is the author of three poetry collections published by Auckland University Press: How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, HE’S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority. He and Emma Barnes edited Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa. In 2022, Chris was name Aotearoa's 13th Poet Laureate.

The Tse’s stall in the Queensgate Mall in the 1990s.

Life behind the counter of Queensgate mall's first Chinese takeaway

Growing up in a Chinese takeaway left Chris Tse with a deep appreciation for his parents’ hard work – and a years-long aversion to sweet and sour pork.

By Chris Tse | 4th February, 2025

Contributing writer

Image: National Schools Poetry Award

Announcing the 2024 National Schools Poetry Award winner

Read 'But i wish / .' by Chantelle Xiong of St Andrew’s College, Christchurch.

By Chris Tse | 23rd August, 2024

Contributing writer

Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, the remarkable new book from Lee Murray

A full-body experience: Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, reviewed

A unique and spellbinding book that breathes life into stories that would otherwise have been lost to time.

By Chris Tse | 3rd June, 2024

Contributing writer

The day-to-day work of the poet laureate

The day-to-day work of the poet laureate

A lot goes on behind the scenes of being poet laureate – and it's not all writing poems.

By Chris Tse | 15th June, 2023

Contributing writer

Celebrating the poetry winners from the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

Celebrating the poetry winners from the 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

Two poems from Alice Te Punga Somerville and Khadro Mohamed, this year's winners of the Ockhams' poetry categories.

By Chris Tse | 18th May, 2023

Contributing writer

Poet laureate Chris Tse is a descendent of a Cantoneses-speaking poll tax payer (Photo: Supplied / Design: Archi Banal)

Sorry seems to be the hardest word (to hear in the wrong language)

The government's first apology for the Chinese poll tax in 2002 was delivered it in Mandarin. It's estimated that 98% of those who paid the poll tax spoke Cantonese.

By Chris Tse | 19th February, 2023

Contributing writer

A collection of thoughts on New Zealand Chinese Language Week

A collection of thoughts on New Zealand Chinese Language Week

Chris Tse collects thoughts from those within New Zealand's Chinese communities of their relationship to, and memories growing up with, their Chinese language.

By Chris Tse | 30th September, 2022

Contributing writer

Your 2021 Ockhams poetry finalists (Images: Supplied)

Please excuse Chris Tse as he freaks out over these poetry finalists

Honouring a huge moment for poetry in Aotearoa.

By Chris Tse | 3rd March, 2021

Contributing writer

Getty Images

Rhymes of the ancient murderer: How a racist killer became an NCEA question

An NCEA history exam this year included a poem by Lionel Terry, who murdered a stranger in the name of white supremacy.

By Chris Tse | 15th December, 2020

Contributing writer

Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk in the grounds of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas (Photo: Getty Images)

The Friday Poem: (Turquoise: Art & Magic) by Chris Tse

A new poem by Chris Tse.

By Chris Tse | 17th July, 2020

Contributing writer