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Programme

Welcome to WORD Christchurch Festival! Our goal? To bring us all together through the power of books, storytelling and ideas.

Events are listed chronologically; use the filters below to sort by date, author and genre.

Download a PDF version of our printed programme brochure here.

Date

Thursday, 21 May

Tuesday, 26 May

Writers

Louise Erdrich

Nic Low

Rachael King

RF Kuang

Genre

Fantasy

Fiction

In Conversation

Special Event

Venues

The Piano, 156 Armagh St

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RF Kuang (USA): From Yellowface to Katabasis

Thursday, 21 May 7:00 pm

The #1 New York Times bestselling writer RF Kuang (USA) in conversation here in Ōtautahi Christchurch!

Louise Erdrich (USA): Land, Legacy and the Python’s Kiss

Tuesday, 26 May 6:00 pm

One of America's greatest living writers.

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wordchch

📚 WORD Christchurch gets the city buzzing with books, ideas and kōrero.
Next festival: 1 - 6 September 2026
Watch out for events through the year!

WORD loves bringing the buzz to Ōtautahi tamariki.

WORD loves bringing the buzz to Ōtautahi tamariki. The 2025 Rangatahi Boogie brought the love of stories and words to young people through music, movement and fun! 💚

Our WORD Champions keep events like this free, uplifting the next generation of page turners, orators, and curious minds.

Go to our website to learn more about becoming a WORD Champion. Link in bio.

#youngreaders

Last night Karen Hao joined Victoria Meakin for a

Last night Karen Hao joined Victoria Meakin for a kōrero about her brilliant book, Empire of AI. We knew Karen would be an excellent speaker but we were wowed by her generosity, thoughtfulness and warmth. Please come again, Karen!

She now zooms up to Tāmaki Makaurau for @aklwritersfest and to meet with the Te Hiku Media team, who she writes about as a community-driven innovator in her hope-filled epilogue in the book.

Art, literature and crafts collide in Christchurch

Art, literature and crafts collide in Christchurch Art Gallery’s upcoming zine making workshop.

Join acclaimed essayist, @nadineannehura (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Pākehā) and make a zine with her over a leisurely few hours. Maybe you’ll want to respond to Ana Iti’s (Te Rarawa, Ngāi Tūpoto, Ngāti Here) Ngahere Behind a Pile of Metal installation? The exhibit explores the artist’s research into kauri logging, inspecting our relationships to the natural and built environments.

This intimate workshop is ticketed and bound to sell out. Head to @chchartgallery's website to book.

Our pātaka pukapuka (little library) is chocka ful

Our pātaka pukapuka (little library) is chocka full of great reads. Bleu has nabbed Louise Erdrich’s newest short story collection, Python’s Kiss, but luckily you can hear from her in person on 26 May at WORD. Tickets on sale now through our website. Link in bio.

What are you doing on Monday night? Last call for

What are you doing on Monday night? Last call for tickets to see Karen Hao in conversation! Her incisive book, 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘐, reveals the truth behind ChatGPT. Karen illuminates a world shrouded by jargon and NDAs, and has been recognised for her contributions to journalism by the National Book Critics Circle, among others.

She speaks to Ōtautahi for one night only, next Monday 11 May. Tickets found at the link in the bio.

Louise Erdrich is coming to Ōtautahi in May, and f

Louise Erdrich is coming to Ōtautahi in May, and for many, she is one of their favourite writers. She is a poet, memoirist and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and fiction writer, with books for tamariki and adults alike.

Louise is one of the most significant writers of the second wave of the Native American Resistance, and her stories have a powerful resonance here in Aotearoa. Kate De Goldi has written a glowing primer about Louise’s writing, here: https://readingambassador.nz/posts/holiday-reading-with-louise-erdrich

Louise joins Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu) in conversation on Tue 26 May. Tickets are still available at the link in bio.

Happy New Zealand Sign Language week! It’s a miles

Happy New Zealand Sign Language week! It’s a milestone year for Aotearoa’s third official language, marking 20 years since it has held that title and recognition.

This year, the theme is “An Aotearoa Where Anyone Can Sign, Anywhere”. Bleu has been learning NZSL and shares some common signs for our office essentials (especially the last sign!). Save this video for later as a reminder to practise your NZSL. There are heaps of great resources over at @deafaotearoa to brush up on your skills.

We’re keen to ensure there is some NZSL interpretation at WORD festival this year. What sort of event would you like to share with your D/deaf friends, colleagues and whānau members?

#nzslweek

Today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, so we’

Today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, so we’re raising a glass to our wine partner.

Main Divide @pegasusbaywine makes a gorgeous Sav that pairs beautifully with a good read on any day of the year.

Main Divide is found at all good supermarkets, and also at WORD events as one of our long term partners. Cheers!

From late night ‘reading raves’ to dedicated cafe

From late night ‘reading raves’ to dedicated cafe reading hours, silent reading gatherings are taking the world by storm and now hit Ōtautahi Christchurch.

How does it work?

BYO book or peruse the shelves at Te Wā. Slip into companionable silence with other readers, and talk about your book in an optional kōrero afterwards. Bringing snacks and drinks is encouraged, as is koha to Te Wā. Everyone and any book genre is welcome.

Reading sessions run most Sundays, with the next this weekend: Sun 3 May.

For more info, get in touch with the team: silentreading74@gmail.com

This Friday 1 May, join four Kiwi mystery novelist

This Friday 1 May, join four Kiwi mystery novelists for an evening of intrigue, suspects and insights into sculpting a convincing twist. WORD friend Doc Drumheller will be keeping the kōrero sharp as a knife.

Lucky us, this event is free, thanks to @ngaiomarshawards! You can get registration info from their Facebook page.

Join Kiran in the Kōrero Corner as she talks about

Join Kiran in the Kōrero Corner as she talks about author Karen Hao and her vital new book: Empire of AI.
Keen to come? You can get tickets from the link in the bio

Congratulations to WORD friend @rachfking; her new

Congratulations to WORD friend @rachfking; her new book 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 is out today!

Rachael shares that the book is “𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴”. We can’t wait to get our hands on a copy.

Rachael will be in conversation with @kuangrf on 21 May. We’re excited to see the two best RFKs on stage together, both at the top of their game.

We could listen to Niall’s lyrical brogue for hour

We could listen to Niall’s lyrical brogue for hours. We saved you a snippet from Tuesday night; a generous and wry insight to his writing process.

Nici Wickes, (@niciwickesfood) a 2025 WORD guest,

Nici Wickes, (@niciwickesfood) a 2025 WORD guest, has a splendid ANZAC biscuit recipe in her first cookbook, A Quiet Kitchen. Make sure you save it so that you can bake it over the long weekend!

Unlike AI, Bleu needs vitamin D, so took Empire of

Unlike AI, Bleu needs vitamin D, so took Empire of AI for some time outside.

Spend some time inside at The Piano on Mon 11 May for Karen’s kōrero at WORD. Link in bio!

On Tuesday, WORD and friends spent a wonderful eve

On Tuesday, WORD and friends spent a wonderful evening enjoying Niall Williams and Kate De Goldi’s kōrero about writing, family, and the concept of place.

Niall spoke about letting the writing direct the narrative, following a single sentence to its second, to a novel. His characterisation - laden with symbolism and personal experiences - makes for a deep and nourishing read, or an equally joyful meander in Faha, the quasi-real town in which many of his books are set.

Thank you Niall and Kate, and thanks to our partners @universitybookshopcanterbury and @christchurchlib for supporting our autumn season.

Did you catch Mihingarangi Forbes' kōrero with Pul

Did you catch Mihingarangi Forbes' kōrero with Pulitzer Prizewinning author Louise Erdrich? Find the rest of the interview on the RNZ website, or see her live at WORD in May. Link in bio.

Ōtautahi, autumn has arrived, alongside some truly

Ōtautahi, autumn has arrived, alongside some truly superb authors. Come along to one or all of these conversations - they are bound to warm and inspire.

Save this post for later or buy your tickets today. Link in bio.

Now living in Texas, Aotearoa author and friend of

Now living in Texas, Aotearoa author and friend of WORD Andrea Eames is coming back to kōrero about her first fantasy novel for adults. A Harvest of Hearts, is a Sunday Times bestseller and the Target Book Club Pick for March 2025.

Join Andrea at UBS on Thursday 23 April. You can find all the details at @universitybookshopcanterbury.

Steph tells it how it is: getting books by Louise

Steph tells it how it is: getting books by Louise Erdrich in the post is like Christmas!

Come and hear the Pulitzer prizewinner kōrero with us on Tue 26 May. Link in bio.

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About WORD Christchurch
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Ph: +64 3 377 5313 admin@wordchristchurch.co.nz

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