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.

Add your event or opportunity

September

The Uncomfortable Glass Slippers celebration

Come along to find out if your short story has won a prize, hear all about Michele's new book, win prizes for fancy dress and join in heaps of fun games like pin-the-tail-on-the-unicorn! (No unicorns harmed in this game).

Writers on Mondays: Short Sharp Script 2: CIRCA Theatre

Short Sharp Script 2: CIRCA Theatre

BWB Talks: Treading Water

Join Mike Joy, Tina Ngata and Peter Fraser in conversation with Maria Bargh (chair) on solving New Zealand's freshwater crisis.

Book Launch | Fifteen Million Years In Antarctica by Rebecca Priestley

Unity Books Wellington and Victoria University Press warmly invite you to celebrate the launch of 'Fifteen Million Years in Antarctica' by Rebecca Priestley. All welcome.

Double Book Launch | Moth Hour by Anne Kennedy & Listening In by Lynley Edmeades

Unity Books Wellington, Auckland University Press & Otago University Press warmly invite you to attend the combined launch of two new poetry collections, 'Moth Hour' by Anne Kennedy (AUP) & 'Listening In' by Lynley Edmeades (OUP). Moth Hour will be launched by Elizabeth Caffin.
With live music by Bill Lake. All welcome.

Greg O'Connell VERSE UNIVERSE

Join one of Christchurch’s wittiest wizards of words for an unforgettable evening of poetry.
https://events.humanitix.co.nz/greg-o-connell-verse-universe

WRITERS ON MONDAYS: Flight across Worlds: Elizabeth Knox and Craig Cliff

Flight across Worlds: Elizabeth Knox and Craig Cliff

October

Holiday Creative Writing Camp - Auckland - North Shore

Learn to write stories like a published author - with a published author! On our fun holiday workshops.

Holiday Creative Writing Camp - Queenstown

Learn to write stories like a published author - with a published author!

Book Launch | Craven by Jane Arthur

Unity Books Wellington and Victoria University Press warmly invite you to celebrate the launch of 'Craven', the debut poetry collection by Jane Arthur. All welcome.

Book Launch | Flying High: The Photography of Lloyd Homer by Simon Nathan

Unity Books Wellington & Geoscience Society of New Zealand warmly invite you to celebrate the launch of
'Flying High: The Photography of Lloyd Homer' by Simon Nathan
to be launched by the Rt Hon Simon Upton. All welcome.

New Zealand Young Writers Festival

A festival for young writers and everyone who loves literature.

Join us for the launch of our 2019 reading research

We would love you to join us for the launch of our 2019 reading research on Thursday October 3, 2019.

In Conversation: Liz Nugent and Kirsten McDougall

Join us for a special evening with two acclaimed storytellers who craft suspenseful tales centred on unforgettable protagonists.

Owls Do Cry - Oamaru

The first ever theatre production of New Zealand’s first great novel by the late Janet Frame. Red Leap brings the delight of reading to life, bringing their signature devising styles to a beloved author. Set in Oamaru, this is a special show about small town love, grief and hope.

Te Hā National Māori Writer’s Hui

Te Hā National Māori Writer’s Hui. More info to follow...

BWB Talks: Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa Talk | The New Zealand Wars

Join award-winning journalist Mihingarangi Forbes and acclaimed historian Vincent O’Malley on the legacy and impact of The New Zealand Wars

WRITERS ON MONDAYS: This Hostile Place: Carl Shuker and Lawrence Patchett

This Hostile Place: Carl Shuker and Lawrence Patchett

Drawing, Art, Illustration Workshop for Kids - Wellington

Learn to create illustrations like a published illustrator - with a published illustrator!
Closed to Public

Find Your Way Forward II with Elizabeth Knox

Whether you are writing short fiction, a novel, or a work of creative non-fiction there is always a way in which your story will want best to be told.
Acclaimed New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox (The Vintner's Luck), will support you to find a clear direction for your story - and, along the way, you'll learn to become a shrewder, more flexible, confident and daring storyteller.

Paint n’ Pen: Free Creative Writing Workshop - 13 Oct

Write a short story, a poem or some lyrics inspired by Christchurch's rich street art and get published! We are offering a series of workshops plus guided tour to work on your ideas. Open to writers, budding and established, of all ages.

Owls Do Cry - Auckland

The first ever theatre production of New Zealand’s first great novel. Red Leap brings the delight of reading to life, bringing their signature devising styles to beloved author Janet Frame

Listening to the Waves: part 1

A two-day workshop with Lynn Jenner which looks at tuning in to the sound and rhythm of your sentences and paragraphs.

This listing is for the first workshop. See the separate listing for the second part, which will be held on November 2.

Paint n’ Pen: Free Creative Writing Workshop - 20 Oct

Write a short story, a poem or some lyrics inspired by Christchurch's rich street art and get published! We are offering a series of workshops plus guided tour to work on your ideas. Open to writers, budding and established, of all ages.

Wham Bam Author Jam

Wham Bam Author Jam is a charity book signing event, showcasing authors from New Zealand and Australia.

The Hallowe'en launch of "The Uncomfortable Glass Slippers"

Join in the spooky fun to celebrate the launch of The Uncomfortable Glass Slippers! There will definitely be treats if you come dressed up, as well as games, awesome books for sale and

November

Listening to the Waves: part 2

The second of a two-day workshop with Lynn Jenner which looks at tuning in to the sound and rhythm of your sentences and paragraphs.
The first will take place on October 19 (see separate listing).

VERB FESTIVAL feat. LITCRAWL

A five-day writers festival celebrating Aotearoa authors and international guests. The festival features LitCrawl (25 events in 3.5 hours in 25 venues in Wellington's CBD) on Saturday 9 November. The programme is launched on 4 September.

2019 New Zealand Children's Writers' and Illustrators Hui

A National Hui for children’s writers and illustrators will take place in Dunedin over the weekend of 8-10 November, 2019, in association with Storylines.

Some of the country’s best and most beloved children’s book creators will join influential industry professionals to deliver a diverse programme of workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions – right in the heart of New Zealand’s UNESCO City of Literature. Full programme details will be released shortly. Contact co-convenors Trish Brooking (trishbrooking@gmail.com) or Jackie McMillan (jackie.mcmillan@dcc.govt.nz) for more information.
Closed to Public

Cultivate: A Writing Retreat with Jesse Blackadder

This three-day residential writing retreat with award-winning Australian novelist and children’s book author Jesse Blackadder will give you the skills and confidence to turn your story idea into something remarkable.

Taking the Sting out of Editing

A one-day workshop with Catherine Robertson helps manage the emotional and practical aspects of editing.