Selina Tusitala Marsh Appointed Inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate
FANZA warmly congratulates celebrated Aotearoa New Zealand poet and academic Selina Tusitala Marsh ONZM, FRSNZ on her historic appointment as the first ever Commonwealth Poet Laureate.
The role, newly created by the Commonwealth Foundation, recognises Marsh’s extraordinary contribution to literature and her commitment to cultural storytelling across the Pacific and beyond. Her appointment, which runs until May 2027, will see her craft original poems for major Commonwealth events — including Commonwealth Day, the Commonwealth People’s Forum, and the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua & Barbuda. She will also act as an advisor on the Foundation’s creative programming.
Currently Professor of English at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Marsh is a multi-award-winning author, former New Zealand Poet Laureate (2017–2019), and the first Pacific person to earn a PhD in English at the University of Auckland. Her acclaimed works include poetry collections Fast Talking PI, Dark Sparring, Tightrope and the illustrated memoir series Mophead, a much-loved bestseller for younger readers.
Of Samoan, Tuvaluan, English, French and Scottish descent, Marsh described her new role as “deeply honoured,” saying:
“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… Through the elevation of our creative voices, we affirm our shared humanity across the Commonwealth.”
Reflecting on her 2016 performance for the late Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, Marsh recalled being “charged with fostering unity through verse.” She now takes up the mantle formally, vowing to amplify voices that “heal, challenge and unite.”
University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater called the appointment “a vital recognition of the humanities at a time of global uncertainty,” adding:
“Selina is a treasure in our community and will represent Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific with brilliance and heart.”
Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, Dr Anne T. Gallagher, praised Marsh’s voice as a “catalyst for justice, understanding and hope,” adding:
“Her poetry travels effortlessly from the smallest community to the global stage… There could be no finer inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate.”
📚 About Selina Tusitala Marsh:
A passionate advocate for the arts and education, Marsh co-directs the University of Auckland’s Centre for Arts and Social Transformation and lectures in Pacific poetry and creative writing. In 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
📖 Explore more of her work: Auckland University Press
🌍 About the Commonwealth Foundation:
The Foundation is the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society and culture, working to empower people across its 56 member states to shape policy and foster creative expression.