The Best of Best New Zealand Poems is a colourful and diverse portrait of the current robust health of New Zealand poetry. For ten years, guest editors have chosen their 25 favourite poems published in the previous year, for publication in the online Annual, Best New Zealand Poems, hosted by International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University. For this book, editors Bill Manhire and Damien Wilkins have chosen the top 65 poems. They are reproduced here with the poets’ biographies and personal statements about the inspirations of their poems. From Fleur Adcock, ‘Having Sex with the Dead’, to Ashleigh Young, ‘and certain trees reach for me’ . . . Contributors include: Chris Orsman, Tusiata Avia, C K Stead, Michele Amas, Angela Andrews, James Brown, Johanna Aitchison, Andrew Johnston, Jennifer Compton, Lynn Davidson, John Gallas, Fleur Adcock, Hinemoana Baker and Ashleigh Young.