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
- May2022
- June2022
- July2022
- August2022
- September2022
- October2022
- November2022
- December2022
- January2023
- February2023
May
Blue Dragon Book Fair
The Blue Dragon Book Fair in the Ngaio Town Hall, Wellington on 28 and 29 May 2022 is a chance to donate books to a worthwhile cause and also find some amazing book bargains.
The very popular annual book fair is organised by the Blue Dragon Children’s Trust NZ, set up by a group of Wellington women to raise funds for Blue Dragon Children’s Centre in Vietnam.
NZSA Whangārei Roadshow
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) Regional Roadshow brings professional development to the regions. In 2022, NZSA will offer one-day professional development workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions in regions across New Zealand - starting with the Whangārei Roadshow!
June
$3 Book Fair - June 2022
A $3 Book Fair over ten days at Eureka, Waikato
2022 Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival
Hold the date! Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival will (hopefully!) be held in June this year.
KUPU 2022
KUPU – NGĀ RINGA TUHITUHI | A MĀORI WRITERS FESTIVAL
Celebrating Māori Writers – Past, Present, and Future.
Closed to Public
Writers in Schools visits by Ruth Paul and Juliette MacIver
Wellington-based author and illustrator duo Ruth Paul and Juliette MacIver are visiting schools in Central Otago this week.
July
Marlborough Book Festival 2022
An annual weekend of wonderful writers, curious audiences and beautiful Marlborough vistas
SPEAKEASY Writers Festival
SPEAKEASY Writers Fest features some of the most captivating authors in Aotearoa today, both fiction and non-fiction. Over two days, we're inviting you to push your mind to be observant, let curiosity take over, and challenge your perceptions with modern literature.
The festival includes talks, interviews, Q&A sessions, and book signings with award-winning authors, poets, adventurers, and scholars.
Featuring: Abbas Nazari, Christine Leunens, Jacqueline Bublitz, Jared Savage, Jo Morgan, Julie Zarifeh, Mat Ward, Rosetta Allan, Zirk van den Berg.
Their books have been selected for the beautiful way they allow readers to discover and explore elements of everyday life, letting them into the lives of others and connecting to characters as they overcome difficulties and challenges.
Be inspired by the power of words this July!
SPEAKEASY Writers Fest is presented by Taranaki Arts Festival.
Storylines Hui 2022
Storylines Children's Writers and Illustrators' National Hui 2022
Closed to Public
2022 Booksellers Aotearoa Conference
Hold the date! Booksellers Aotearoa 99th Annual Conference is scheduled for the last weekend in July.
August
2022 Auckland Writers Festival
Hold the date! Auckland Writers Festival will (hopefully!) be held in August this year.
2022 WORD Christchurch
Hold the date! WORD Christchurch will (hopefully!) be held from 31 August to 4 September this year.
September
$3 Book Fair - September 2022
A $3 Book Fair over ten days at Eureka, Waikato
Closed to Public
Writers in Schools visits by David Riley
Auckland-based author and Reading Warrior David Riley is visiting schools in Mid & South Canterbury this week.
Between the Lines: Central Hawkes Bay Readers and Writers Festival
Hold the date for Between the Lines: Central Hawkes Bay Readers and Writers Festival
October
2022 NZ Bookshop Day
Hold the date! NZ Bookshop Day for 2022 is scheduled for Saturday 8 October.
2022 ESCAPE!
Tauranga's biennial ESCAPE! festival will (hopefully!) take place in October this year.
Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture
Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture, 2022
Speaker: Dame Fiona Kidman
Wednesday 12 October 2022
University of Waikato
Start time: 5.30 pm
Venue TBC
2022 Yarns in Barns: Wairarapa Festival of Reading
Yarns in Barns is the Wairarapa's biennial literary festival for the community with a distinctly rural twist. Bringing together some of New Zealand’s best writers, poets and storytellers for two weeks of events held in an eclectic range of venues across the region. From bookshops to libraries, wineries to wildlife centres and of course, it goes without saying – barns!
Next event: 15-24th October 2022
November
2022 VERB Wellington
Hold the date! VERB Wellington is scheduled for 3-6 November 2022.
2022 Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui
The Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui (formerly the Book Council Lecture) is a prominent part of the literary landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand. It provides an opportunity for one of our country’s leading writers to discuss an aspect of literature close to their heart.