Book events and opportunities for writers calendar
Our calendar is full of book events and opportunities for writers organised by bookish groups throughout Aotearoa. Whether it’s a festival, book launch, award, grant, poetry reading or live storytelling event, never miss a book event or writers' opportunity in your community again!
Please list your event by clicking the button below. If you are listing a series of events, please note that the event title for each listing must differ in order for the listings to be displayed correctly.
- All upcoming Past
- October2020
- November2020
- December2020
- January2021
- February2021
- March2021
- April2021
- May2021
- June2021
- July2021
October
Writing Funny, Writing Sad
Comedy writing masterclass with stand-up comedian and novelist Eamonn Marra
Pukapuka Talks: Fleeing to Freedom
Behrouz Boochani and Golriz Ghahraman in conversation with journalist Anke Richter.
Our People, Our Cultures, Our Languages
Panel discussion about our multicultural whenua
The launch of Reading the signs a poetry collection by Janis Freegard.
The launch of a new collection of Poetry by Janis Freegard.
Not Just for Laughs: Eamonn Marra and Lil O’Brien
Eamonn Marra and Lil O’Brien discuss the balance between comedy and tragedy in their debut books.
Writing Young Adult Fiction
Multi-award winning author of fiction for young adults Mandy Hager in conversation with local YA writers Rachael Craw, Brin Murray and Robyn Prokop.
NZSA Writing Workshop
Two-hour workshop with award-winning YA author Mandy Hager
Miriam Lancewood: Wild At Heart
Miriam Lancewood talks with Kerry Sunderland about her gripping sequel to the international bestseller, "Woman in the Wilderness".
Pukapuka Talks: Historical Fiction
Christine Leunens and Alexandra Tidswell discuss how they work with both research and imagination when creating characters from the past.
Pukapuka Talks: Our Grandfathers
Ian Trafford and William Moloney have both written fascinating novels based on their grandfathers’ WWI diaries.
Pukapuka Talks: Annabel Langbein
Annabel Langbein discusses her new memoir, Bella: My Life in Food, with Nicola Galloway.
Escaping the Poem
Cliff Fell and John Newton perform parts of their hybrid works, an epic poem and a verse novel.
KISS ME OR KISMET?
Launch of the fourth issue of NMIT’s arts and literary journal "kiss me hardy".
Squiggla - Bringing Arts Back into the Classroom
From the co-developers of Squiggla and Te Uru
Launch of ‘DietVale’
The official launch of 'Dietvale', a horror thriller from multi-genre New Zealand author, Andrene Low.
WORD Christchurch Festival
New Dates! Mark your diaries... the 2020 WORD Christchurch Festival will now be taking place from 30 October - 1 November, with a new grassroots programme.
Whenua Ūkaipō Connetcedness - Free Art Exhibition
A United Nations 75th anniversary art exhibition, bringing forward authentic Māori, indigenous and many cultures artistic visions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
November
Launch of 'The Forger and the Thief'
The official launch of the latest thriller by New Zealand author Kirsten McKenzie - The Forger and the Thief.
Set in Florence, Italy, The Forger and the Thief is set amongst the devastating floods of November 1966, where the River Arno ravaged Florence's artworks, architecture and citizens. The launch of The Forger and the Thief coincides with the 54th anniversary of the floods.
Kirsten's previous thrillers - Painted and Doctor Perry, were both bestsellers in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, enjoying a long run in the horror charts. Kirsten is a full time author based in Auckland.
Mauri Ola Live - Whenua Ūkaipō Connectedness - Wā Kōrero
Our closing night special features spoken word and Taonga Puoro (traditional Māori instruments).
Guests/Speakers:
Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh (performing artist)
Rob Thorne (performing artist)
cancelled: Ignition Children's Book Festival
regretfully cancelled: Our annual children's book festival.
Verb Festival
Wellington’s favourite indie writers and ideas festival returns this November with a programme packed with Aoetearoa’s top writers, poets, storytellers and journalists.
Closed to Public
Writers in Schools visits by David Riley
Auckland-based Reading Warrior author David Riley will be in Wellington for the local SLANZA meeting.
Books from our Backyard
We’re all thinking more about ‘supporting local’ and New Zealand produces outstanding writing.
Storylines National Story Tour - Marlborough Region
Applications for Story Tour visits in 2020 are OPEN!
hold the date: 2020 Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui
We're thrilled to announce that Lyttelton poet Ben Brown (Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Pāoa) will deliver our 2020 Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui (formerly the Book Council Lecture) at the National Library auditorium in Wellington on November 18.
February
Victoria University/Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence
We invite applications for the Victoria University of Wellington / Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence 2021. Writers in all areas of literary activity, including drama, fiction and poetry, New Zealand art, biography, history, music, society and culture, are eligible to apply.
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds - 10 crime writers in 100 thrilling minutes. Covering a criminally large range of small town crime to international espionage and finishing with a sliver of paranormal tension, these ten authors represent some of New Zealand’s best crime writers, together under one roof. Join them as they stalk serial killers through the Coromandel bush, follow undercover cops on their fictional beats. Walk alongside them as they track international terrorists through Malaysia and investigate deadly financiers and dark family secrets. Listen to ten exceptional Kiwi authors at this one off event halfway down Auckland’s iconic Dominion Road.