All Events
Sinéad Gleeson: Islands, Art & Identity
WORD Christchurch hosts Sinéad Gleeson: Islands, Art & Identity
Take a look at the WORD website for event information and ticket details: https://wordchristchurch.co.nz/programme/sinead-gleeson-islands-art-identity/
Ockham New Zealand Book Award Ceremony — winners announced
The winners of the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024 will be announced in a ceremony at the Auckland Writers Festival.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults —finalists announced
Category finalists for the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults will be announced.
View the Awards website.
National Flash Fiction Day 2024
A celebration of flash fiction in Aotearoa New Zealand. June 22 is the shortest day of the year — and the day we know and love as National Flash Fiction Day. Since 2012, National Flash Fiction Day has been celebrating the small form with this big competition.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults —awards ceremony
The award ceremony for the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
View the Awards website.
WORD Christchurch
WORD Christchurch Festival 2024 takes place from 27 August to 1 September. View the website: https://wordchristchurch.co.nz
Launch of Foraging New Zealand
Join Scorpio Books and Penguin Random House to celebrate the launch of Foraging New Zealand by Peter Langlands, the ultimate guide to unearthing more than 250 of our tastiest wild plants. Packed with stunning photography, up-to-date information and helpful tips, this book will have you venturing into the countryside, viewing urban weeds with fresh eyes, and returning to the larder with zest.
All welcome, refreshments provided. Arrive from 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
This event is free to attend – please RSVP by filling in this Google Form here or by going to tinyurl.com/ScorpioBooksRSVP.
For more information go to: https://scorpiobooks.co.nz/event/book-launch-foraging-new-zealand-peter-langlands/
Book launch for To Free the World
James Robb invites you to the launch of his book To Free the World: Harry Holland and he rise of the labour movement in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
View the invite and speaker details here.
Between the Lines — Central Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Festival
Between the Lines will run from the 11th to the 14th April featuring some fabulous guest speakers including NZ authors, journalists, culinary masters and screen writers speaking at some small and unique venues.
View the festive Facebook page
View the festival website
Launch of Alpine Panorama: A View to A Climb
On behalf of Scorpio Books and Quentin Wilson Publishing, you are warmly invited to the book launch of Alpine Panorama: A View to A Climb by Andy Buchanan, launched by Colin Monteath.
This beautifully illustrated narrative is more than a recounting of mountaineering exploits; it is a testament to a lifetime’s fascination with nature’s grandeur. Each page resonates with the author’s reverence for the alpine landscape, inviting readers to join him on a visual and literary odyssey through the soaring beauty that is the glorious backdrop loved by all Cantabrians.
All welcome, refreshments provided. Arrive from 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
This event is free to attend – please RSVP by filling in this Google Form here or by going to tinyurl.com/ScorpioBooksRSVP.
For more information go to: https://scorpiobooks.co.nz/event/book-launch-alpine-panorama-by-andy-buchanan/
Launch of The Beautiful Afternoon
Te Herenga Waka University Press welcomes all to the launch of The Beautiful Afternoon, a new collection of essays by Airini Beautrais.
https://teherengawakapress.co.nz/the-beautiful-afternoon/
WOMAD World of Words
For three days, some of the world’s best musicians, artists, dancers, storytellers and speakers come to Taranaki, including a fine line-up from Aotearoa.
Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024 — shortlist announcement
The shortlist for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024 will be announced on Wednesday 6 March.
Kapiti Writers Retreat
A three-day gathering for writers which encompasses intensive morning workshops, lively discussions, and space to write, relax and engage with topics critical to your work.
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
Head along to the writers programme at Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. A world of words and expansive conversation.
Samesame But Different — Camp Rage
Take a look at the lineup for Camp Rage Samesame But Different 2024 — New Zealand’s only LGBTQIA+ literary festival. Held during Auckland Pride.
Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024 — longlist announcement
Books long-listed for Aotearoa’s premium literary awards will be announced.
Queenstown Writers Festival
A biennial boutique festival that brings writers and readers together to celebrate the written word in many forms.
NZ Bookshop Day
A celebration of bookshops across Aotearoa! Visit your local or read Kete’s guide to celebrating Bookshop Day here.
Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai Launch
Attend a celebration of the launch of Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai
Whanganui Literary Festival 2023
The Whanganui Literary Festival is a biennial event organised and run by the Whanganui Literary Festival Charitable Trust, chaired by Whanganui writer Joan Rosier-Jones.
The main Festival weekend begins with the Gala Opening on Friday 29 September and is followed by individual sessions with each of eight invited authors on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October.
The venue for these events is the Whanganui War Memorial Centre.
The “Dinner With the Stars” on Saturday 30 September is at Bushy Park Homestead which provides an exceptional Whanganui experience for Festival attendees and authors.
The confirmed invited authors are
Witi Ihimaera, who took part in the 2013 Festival, will discuss his life and career as a revered New Zealand and international writer.
Chris Tse is the current New Zealand poet laureate. His poetry, fiction, and non-fiction have been recorded for radio and widely published in magazines and anthologies.
Stephanie Johnson received the 2022 Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. Stephanie will discuss her latest novel, Kind, written during the first Covid lockdown.
Sue McCaulay has had a long and varied career as a novelist, copywriter, journalist and farmer. Her first novel, Other Halves, won many awards. She will talk about her new novel, Landed.
Steven Davis is a former NZ Listener columnist, investigative reporter, writer, producer, editor and educator who has worked in New Zealand and internationally to combat misinformation.
Fiona Sussmann, GP turned short story writer and novelist, is a twice winner of the Ngaio Marsh Mystery Fiction Award. Her novel, The Doctor’s Wife is very popular with Whanganui readers.
Jock Philipps is a leading historian, previously the country’s Chief Historian. His latest book, The History of New Zealand in 100 Objects, is a colourful retelling of our shared past, relevant to today.
Gordon Collier is a leading plantsman and designer of three famous New Zealand gardens, including a new one in our region. Gordon is the nephew of well-known Whanganui artist, the late Edith Collier.
Fringe Festival
The Fringe Festival precedes the Literary Festival in the previous week. During the Fringe, the focus is on the many local writers who have either been born and bred in Whanganui or chosen it as their home.
Some key events planned are:
a Book Fair to give local authors exposure and an opportunity to sell their work
an exhibition by local graphic artist, Desmond Bovey, and the launch his accompanying book on the flora and fauna of Tongariro National Park (Potton & Burton), hosted by Space Gallery
the very popular literary quiz
A Sarjeant Gallery event around three authors and their artistic connections to Whanganui
What sets the Whanganui Festival apart:
The size and style of the Whanganui Festival provide the audience with a chance to personally meet the authors. Festivals in larger centres often place in huge auditoriums where the author is quite distant and book signings afterwards are hustled because of numbers and timing. In Whanganui it is much more relaxed and the authors are available and invariably approachable.
New Zealand Young Writers Festival
By young writers, for young writers, the festival welcomes writers (aged 15-35) of all stripes to celebrate a diverse range of wordsmithing.
Kupu Māori Writers Festival 2023
The Kupu Festival is a celebration of Māori writers – past, present and future.
We Read Auckland Closes
We Read Auckland / Ka Pānui Tātau i Tāmaki Makaurau celebrates Auckland’s readers and writers, and the stories that bring us together.
Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize Winner Announcement
Announcement of the winner of the 2023 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize.
WORD Christchurch
WORD Christchurch gets the city buzzing over 5 days this August with stories, ideas and conversations…
Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize shortlist announced
This year the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize creates a unique opportunity for an unpublished New Zealand-based illustrator to showcase Seventeen Kings and Forty-Two Elephants. Originally published in 1972 this poem is one of Mahy’s earliest works.