About WORD

WORD Christchurch boldly delivers a high-quality annual festival and year-round events, bringing people together in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Our events weave people together  through a shared love of words, whether our communities read, listen or experience them on screen or stage. In 2026 we’re bringing the thrill of a dynamic and caring festival to over 13,000 people from 1- 6 September. We have a bold programme and make the city hum.

Celebrating curiosity, we give Ōtautahi Christchurch audiences direct access to the best writers and thinkers from Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. We showcase the best in everything from contemporary fiction and non-fiction, to Ngāi Tahu stories, poetry and big ideas while providing opportunities for local writers and artists to create new work. A typical programme comprises 60+ events featuring over 100 writers, artists and thinkers. During the festival we flood the CBD with the buzz of excited people and conversations, filling not just our venues, but the whole central city. Our primary venues are The Piano, Tūranga, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and Little Andromeda, plus many other venues around the city. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced live-streaming to boost the accessibility and reach of our kōrero.

WORD began in 1996 as Books and Beyond, and we still have the same remit of bringing the community together through a love of words in all their forms. You can read our current Strategic Plan here.

As Ōtautahi Chirstchurch has emerged from over a decade of rebuilding and urban revitalisation, WORD has played a vital role in the return of life to the city’s heart. We know that words are powerful, emotive and inspiring, so WORD is more relevant than ever. Words can also be really fun!

WORD Christchurch strives to be financially accessible no matter how much is in your wallet. For the 2025 festival 22% of our events were free, with most tickets priced under $25. We also introduced a Pay-What-You-Can option which will continue in 2026.

We love young readers and we help them flourish. Our free and low-cost schools events expose students to writers that entertain, inspire and increase literacy levels while reducing barriers to participation. 

WORD employs three staff:

Steph Walker – Executive Director

Kiran Dass – Programme Director

Bleuette Hille – Marketing & Events Coordinator

For each festival, we also contract a world-class team to assist in the planning and delivery of the festival itself, and have a team of phenomenal volunteers who help make our events run smoothly. If you’re interested in working with WORD or volunteering, please email admin@wordchristchurch.co.nz.