Symposia Magazine is a youth-led online and print literary journal publishing emerging Aotearoa poets.
Symposia was started by six young Pōneke-based creatives who have had their work published and efforts encouraged by organisations like Starling, Redraft, and the Schools Poetry Award.
From our experience, we’ve noticed a demand for youth-led literary magazines dedicated to publishing emerging writers. Symposia was created to act as a bridge between emerging and established writing, curating a small number of quality poems per issue.
WHO WE ARE
Maia Armistead (she/her) is a poet and student originally from Hamilton. She has been published in such places as Starling, Mayhem, Milly, Rejection Letters, a fine line, and as the Friday Poem on The Spinoff.
Cadence Chung (she/they) is a poet, classical singer, and composer, currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music. Her nationally-bestselling chapbook anomalia was released in April 2022 with Tender Press. She also performs as a classical soloist and presents on RNZ Concert. In 2023, she was named an Emerging Practioner by the Fund for Acting and Musical Endeavours. She likes to sing Strauss, write art songs, and buy overpriced perfume.
Amelia Kirkness (she/they) is an Ōtautahi-born, Pōneke-based poet, winged eyeliner aficionado, and student of English Literature and Media Studies at Victoria University. Her work has been featured in various publications including Starling, Catalyst, bad apple, and Tarot, and she has been a finalist in both the Christchurch and Wellington poetry slams.
Jackson McCarthy (he/him) is a poet and musician from Auckland currently studying in Wellington. He is of mixed Māori and Lebanese descent. He was a finalist for the Schools Poetry Award 2021, and was one of the Starling micro-residents at the New Zealand Young Writers Festival 2023. You can read his work here.
Kata Brown (she/her) is an Auckland-based visual artist. Her artistic practice explores themes of personal symbolism, mythology, and memory using a variety of drawing and painting techniques. She graduated from Massey University with a BFA, and has curated shows for The Engine Room and Rice Pudding Gallery. She has just completed Te Whare Hera’s Emerging Artist Residency program, NZAFA Residency program, and received highly commended in the Parkin Prize.
Natasha Kerridge (she/her) is a graphic designer with a focus on branding and editorial design, paired with a strong love for illustration. She excels at translating literary worlds into compelling visual narratives and spends her free time writing and reading poetry and fiction.
