Tusiata Avia Takes on Columbia

Talofa Lava 

Award winning, acclaimed poet, performer and writer Tusiata Avia MNZM, has been Invited to the 35th Medellin International Poetry Festival in Columbia, 05-12 July 2025 

This year Tusiata will be representing both Aotearoa, New Zealand and Samoa, which Avia says is a huge honour.

 "Medellin is one of the most amazing poetry festivals in the world - particularly famous …for showing how creativity, beauty, free expression and community can flourish amongst and overcome even deeply entrenched fear and violence...".

Tusiata Avia is a celebrated New Zealand poet and performer of Samoan descent, known for her bold work on identity, culture, and colonisation. Her debut Wild Dogs Under My Skirt became an award-winning international stage show. Her 2020 collection The Savage Coloniser Book won the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry, making her the first Pasifika woman to do so. She is an Arts Foundation Laureate, a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and received the 2023 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry. 

Because Tusiata's health has worsened in the last 8 years (severe epilepsy) she can no longer travel alone:

 "I can't count the number of festivals I've attended where I've had seizures and sometimes even ended up in the hospital with head injuries from seizure falls. With such a small timeframe, this Boosted Campaign will go directly to covering flights for myself and my support person."

Jo Ah Kuoi has travelled with me as my support person over the past five years, which has made an enormous difference to my safety.

Your contributions will go directly to travel costs for Tusiata Avia and Jo Ah Kuoi, have the necessary means to Travel to Columbia safely. 

If you're able to Donate, Share, and Spread the word, we would be so grateful for your support!

 Celebrating over three decades, this international gathering of poets provides a unique platform for the exchange of ideas, cultures, and voices from around the world. The International Poetry Festival of Medellín champions the power of poetry as a tool for peace, resistance, and social transformation.

Each year, poets from diverse backgrounds come together to perform, collaborate, and inspire, turning Medellín into a vibrant hub of artistic expression and global solidarity. 

Avia's work, characterised by its bold exploration of identity, colonisation, and cultural heritage, aligns seamlessly with the festival's mission to promote peace, resistance, and social transformation through poetry.

Her acclaimed poetry collections, such as The Savage Coloniser Book and Big Fat Brown Bitch, have garnered international recognition, including the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards—In 2023 Prime Ministers Award for Literary Achievement, the first time a Pasifika woman received both these honours.

Avia's dynamic performances and unapologetic voice aim to resonate deeply with the festival's diverse audience, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and solidarity. 

Tusiata Avia’s voice on the page is a force — fierce, unflinching, and deeply original. Her work is a beacon of truth, crafted with undeniable skill and a rare, powerful vision. By supporting this campaign, you help amplify her artistry, ensuring her bold and resonant voice reaches audiences across the globe.