Bill Direen


Bill Direen is a musician and poet. In October 2025, Direen was made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Te Tumu Toi laureate, for his contribution to both Literature and Music. Direen has published many books and appeared at reading events and book festivals in New Zealand, the USA and Eastern Europe, but he is better known for his music and songs, recorded and performed with musicians in NZ and overseas. He manages the music group Bilders. Alone or with a group, he has made small tours of New Zealand, USA, Europe, Serbia and Australia. He is the subject of a documentary, Bill Direen, A Memory of Others, directed by Simon Ogston.

Books and Theatre

Direen directed the alternative Blue Ladder Theatre at 87 Cashel Street in 1984–85 Christchurch, and later produced a series of experimental "psycho-musicals" in Wellington. Later writing ranges from criticism and speculative fiction to science fiction and poetry sometimes performed with collaborating musicians.
From 2006 to 2017 he edited a trans-cultural literary annual Percutio, "dedicated to aspects of the creative process and to works that bridge cultures". He edited a special anthology in 2021 to oppose cost-cutting depletion of New Zealand National Library's non-NZ books. He still performs music live, solo and with Bilders.

Awards and fellowships