Check out the latest events in our Kete Calendar...

News & EventsNgā Kawepūrongo me Ngā Taiopenga

What's going on in the world of Aotearoa's books? Browse the latest book news and scroll the Kete calendar for book event listings.

E aha ana i te ao pukapuka o Aotearoa? Tirohia ngā kawepūrongo pukapuka hou, ā, tirohia te maramataka o Kete mō ngā taiopenga pukapuka.

News

New Voices of Aotearoa returns for 2026

New Voices of Aotearoa is back! Entries are open until the 15th March.

6 March 2026

News

Storylines Announces Manuscript Shortlists

Storylines are thrilled to announce their shortlisted writers for the 2026 Manuscript Awards, celebrating talent, imagination and storytelling excellence.

6 March 2026

News

2026 NZSA Kupu Kaitiaki & Kaituhi Mentor Programmes for Kaituhi Māori

Kupu Kaitiaki & Kaituhi Mentor Programmes for Kaituhi Māori open For Applications February 20th - April 10th.

4 March 2026

News

Ockham Book Awards shortlist 2026 lands

New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern’s first book, A Different Kind of Power, has made the shortlist of the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

4 March 2026

News

David Coventry awarded University of Waikato residency

Writing to his own beat: David Coventry has been appointed the University of Waikato's Kaipukahu Writer in Residence.

27 February 2026

News

Readers and Writers Akaroa unveil 2026 Festival lineup

Head to Akaroa for the exciting Readers and Writers Festival 2026.

23 February 2026

News

Verb Festival returns in September

Verb Wellington announces new co-directors Gabrielle Vincent and Kate McDonald and the return of Verb Readers & Writers Festival in September 2026.

20 February 2026

News

Win the best school trip ever!

Enter to win a trip to a day of the Schools Programme at the Auckland Writers Festival for your whole class!

19 February 2026

News

NZ Booklovers Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced

A mix of well-known and debut authors head up the NZ Booklovers Awards 2026 shortlist.

19 February 2026

News

NZSA Youth Mentor Programme seeks Emerging Young Writers

Four secondary school students will have the opportunity to be mentored by one of New Zealand’s best professional authors in order to develop their craft and hone their writing ski...

11 February 2026

News

Sizzling hot fiction arriving in 2026

Our run-down of fiction coming in January-June 2026! Check it out for your next read.

29 January 2026

News

Creativity and determination: 2026's Ockhams Longlist

Authors who are unafraid to tackle the pressing moments of our past, present and future dominate the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist announced today.

29 January 2026

News

Storylines' Hui announced for 2026

Acclaimed illustrator Donovan Bixley and the Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador Kate De Goldi are to be the keynote speakers at the Storylines Children’s Writers and Illustrators’ Nat...

15 December 2025

News

Adam Foundation Prize awarded to Niamh Vaughan

Niamh Vaughan is this year’s winner of the prestigious Adam Foundation Prize in Creative Writing at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. The winner of the Biggs Famil...

10 December 2025

News

Judges announced for 2026 Children's Book Awards

Teachers, librarians, authors, reviewers, former booksellers and passionate advocates for reading and te reo Māori make up the two experienced panels announced today by the New Zea...

10 December 2025

News

Michael King 2026 residencies announced

The Michael King Writers Centre is pleased to announce the 18 New Zealand writers awarded residencies for its 2026 residency programme.

8 December 2025

News

Short Stories shine in new podcast

Some of Aotearoa’s best short stories, read by well-known actors, are now available on podcast. Writers Write : Actors Read was recorded live at Ockham Collective’s The Nix in Auck...

7 December 2025

News

Words in the Gardens: HamLit programme announced

After its successful debut last year, ‘literary festival within a festival’ HamLit (Hamilton Literature) expands to include 11 events across the Festival’s opening weekend, hosted ...

2 December 2025