Bill Manhire's published books include a Collected Poems (2001) and Lifted (2006), plus many anthologies. He was the inaugural Te Mata Estate New Zealand Poet Laureate in 1996-1997, received an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate award in 2005, and in 2007 received the Prime Minister's Award for Poetry. He directs the creative writing programme at Victoria University, Wellington. His latest book of poetry is The Victims of Lightning (VUP) and his edited collection The Best of Best New Zealand Poems is out in May (VUP).

See also: Bill Manhire's New Zealand Book Council profile