Judge Emma Neale has read through all 192 poems that were entered from poets across the world (New Zealand, Australia, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, UK, USA, and Venezuela) and selected the winners for our 2026 Caselberg Trust International Poetry Prize.

The competition is in its 16th year, and this year’s winner is Linda Collins from Oamaru with her poem ‘Rambling’.

Linda says ‘I am thrilled to win the Caselberg Trust International Poetry Prize 2026. It is wonderful to have my work recognised at home, after being placed in contests in the UK and the US.”

For her winning poem Linda wins $600, a week in the Caselberg house in 2027, and her poem will be published in the Landfall Tauraka Spring 2026 edition in November 2026. Our two runner up poems received $300 each.  All of the winning poems and Dr Neale’s judge’s report will be posted onto our website later in November

For a list of all of the winners please click here.