Cilla McQueen has lived in Te Waipounamu for most of her life. After her formative years in Dunedin, Cilla has been resident in Motupōhue, Bluff since 1996. Poet, performer and artist, Cilla has published multiple poetry collections during her impressive career.

She has been the New Zealand Poet Laureate (2009–2011), was presented the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry (2010) and awarded an MNZM for services as a poet in the 2020 Queens Birthday Honours. Three-time winner of the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry, she has received an extensive list of accolades throughout her career.

Cilla has 17 poetry publications, often laced with humour, her poetry explores diverse themes such as displacement, love, loss, colonisation, modern science and politics.