Local school pupils have thrown their hats in the ring for a chance to see their haiku on the Arawa Street to Hetana Street laneway wall, as part of the Pride of Place Matamata laneway transformation project. The competition now has over 100 entries from all ages.

A class of 30 Matamata Intermediate students boosted the number of three line, 5-7-5 syllable structure, haiku competition entries for the youngest age category, and their teacher Mrs Genivieve Southcombe couldn’t be prouder.

“Our tamariki enjoyed writing haiku about Matamata and there are some really lovely ones in there,” said Mrs Southcombe.  “They can’t wait to see if any of their poems get chosen for the wall and look forward to visiting the completed laneway with their families to read all the haiku,” she said. 

Council’s Pride of Place team, who is working with the owner of Shed Boutique Style to transform the lower half of the block wall lining the laneway, is thrilled to see haiku flowing in and the first block of entries from a local school. “We’re encouraged to see local tamariki be a part of an initiative that will help make the town centre more vibrant and walkable,” they said. “Hopefully more young people and their families will be inspired to enter haiku too, so we can celebrate our local talent.”

Shed Boutique Style owner Sonya Church is pleased to see the school-age entries come through. “Children are so creative and have wonderful thoughts and ideas,” she said. “I've had a look at the entries so far and they’re doing a great job, keep it up kids!”

The haiku competition is open to all ages, with a People’s Choice prize for each age category. Entries can be in NZ English or te reo Māori. All entries will also be entered into the Judges’ Choice, with selected haiku to be applied to the laneway wall. The judges, made up of Shed Boutique and Council staff, said they are looking for a variety of haiku that tell the story of Matamata, past and present.

“It is not necessary to use the name 'Matamata' (that's a lot of syllables!), just keep the town in mind when writing your haiku,” they said. “It is more important writers capture the 'essence' of Matamata over time including tangata whenua, early settler and current day stories”.

This project, including category prizes, is funded by the NZTA Waka Kotahi Transport Choices fund with paint kindly provided by Resene Paint.

Entries are automatically entered into the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice. Entries are published live on the web page for all to read and vote for People’s Choice. Voting will remain open for one week after the competition closes.

For more information or to enter the haiku competition, please visit mpd.nz/haiku. Entries close 31 May.

Image: Matamata Intermediate haiku entrants dressed to impress on Pink Shirt Day.