Paula Justine Harris identified after body found on Waitārere Beach

Paula Justine Harris had earlier been reported missing from Palmerston North. Photo / NZ Police

An award-winning poet who was found dead on Waitārere Beach was “the shiniest, sharpest steel cloaked in velvet,” a fellow writer says.

Police have confirmed the person found dead on the Horowhenua beach was missing woman Paula Justine Harris.

Harris was an award-winning poet whose poetry and essays had been published in multiple journals and content sites.

The 49-year-old’s body was found on the beach this week after she was reported missing from Palmerston North, a police spokesperson said.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and the matter has been referred to the Coroner,” they said.

“Police extend our condolences to the family.”

Harris had last been seen at 9.30pm on Thursday June 22.

Her vehicle was found in the suburb of Awapuni and police had been making inquiries in the area.

Harris, who described herself online as a poet and “accidental essayist”, won the 2018 Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize, the 2018 Geometry | Open Book Poetry Competition and the 1995 Whitireia Poetry Award. She also received the New Zealand Society of Authors’ 2017 Lilian Ida Smith Award and was a writing resident at Vermont Studio Center in October 2018.

She also performed at multiple events, and studied poetry at Victoria University.

According to her website, Harris had a varied job history including working as a jeweller’s assistant, basketball reporter, library assistant and a tango teacher, among other things.

Tributes for Harris have begun pouring in on social media, with other writers describing their grief at her death.

“Just devastated about Paula’s death,” said freelance journalist Naomi Arnold.

“We only met in person a couple of times but I have an abiding impression of her as the shiniest, sharpest steel cloaked in velvet.

“She was so funny, scathing, fearless.”

Poet Chris Tse wrote he hoped Harris was at peace, while writer and producer James Littlewood said he and Harris had “many long kōrero about filming poetry.

“I’ve missed her terribly in the last few weeks, and even more so now. But knowing where and how is everything. So much love.”

Motif Poetry tweeted that Harris was “a force to be reckoned with.

“Her poetry was incisive, honest and beautiful. Rest in power, Paula, rest in love.”

The Te Herenga Waka University Press said they were “so very sad to hear this news.

“Paula Harris had a singular voice. And she just seemed so cool, funny and wise. We were proud to publish her piece in the essay collection Headlands a few years ago.”

Chief executive of the New Zealand Society of Authors, Jenny Nagle, said Harris was a member of the society from 2016 and won the 2017 Lilian Ida Smith award with “an innovative and exciting application for poetry collection.

“Paula was an active and engaged writer, who challenged and enlightened through her poetry and life. She will be missed.”