Daren Kamali

Daren Kamali is an Auckland based poet, writer, musician, and youth worker. Born in Fiji Daren is of Wallis and Futuna, Fijian and Palagi (European)  heritage and moved to New Zealand in 1992.

In 2011, he released his first bilingual (English and Fijian) collection of poetry, songs, and short stories entitled Takes, Poems and Songs from the Underwater World. The book, with an accompanying compact disc, takes readers on a journey from Oceania's underwater world to its landscapes.

Daren's debut album, Immigrant Story (2000), and EP album, Keep it Real (2005), share his personal experiences migrating to Aotearoa New Zealand from Fiji in 1992. Daren infuses his Fijian and Wallis and Futunan heritage with poetry and creative writing by including chants, songs, and oral traditions. Much of his work is inspired and influenced by his experiences and upbringing in Fiji and in Aotearoa/New Zealand. He has facilitated creative arts workshops since 2004 and mentored writers in New Zealand and Fiji. He is cofounder of the South Auckland Poets Collective, ten of whose members completed a four-stop national tour in 2010. Recently, Daren was part of the New Zealand delegation for the Festival of Pacific Arts in Solomon Islands, where he sang and performed poetry and spoken word to huge audiences of other Pacific artists.