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Bel Monypenny

Bel Monypenny

Bel Monypenny is a bookseller, writer and editor from Naarm/Melbourne who now calls Ōtautahi/Christchurch home.

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

The Ockham @newzealandbookawards finalists were an

The Ockham @newzealandbookawards finalists were announced today!
Whakamihi - Congratulations - to all the finalists.

We're especially pleased for those writers we hosted at the festival last year: @naomijarnold , @catherinechidgey , @erikcurtiskennedy and @tina.makereti.

Amazing mahi!

The winners of the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards will be announced live on stage at @aklwritersfest on Wednesday 13 May. Who are your picks?

#theockhams #bookawards #nzlit #supportlocal #getreading

This Tuesday after work: see you at an author tal

This Tuesday after work: see you at an author talk with Eva Wyles, chaired by our Programme Director Kiran Dass and with an introduction by Tina Makereti.

Eva Wyles is the author of Deliverywoman, a stunning debut collection of thirteen short stories that dive into the complexities of human connection, the pursuit of meaning, and modern-day loneliness.

🗓 6pm, Tuesday 3rd March
📍Scorpio Books
All welcome, Free event
Drinks & Nibbles
To RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CvC83EJ5B/

How is it March next week? @theartsnz are hosting

How is it March next week? @theartsnz are hosting a free rallying cry on Friday morning to get you amped for the arts.

All in for Arts: He waka toi e eke noa nei tātou has a great lineup of speakers including a couple of WORD favourites: Artist, Storyteller, Lecturer and Researcher, @juanthefool and Director, Producer, and actress (in @tinathefilm) @anapelapolataivao. Oh, and the Mayor!

All you need to come along is register via The Arts Foundation. We'll see you there.

📅 Friday 6 March
⏰ 7.30am - 9am
📍our home base, @thepiano.nz

#backingthearts #artsinaotearoa #supportlocal #wordchch

A gig guide, but for readers and writers? Yes plea

A gig guide, but for readers and writers? Yes please.

@uriel.septim.piercing AKA Claudia Herz Jardine keeps an eye on all the things, and has taken her wonderful Lit Scene Zine in to email form. Sign up now to make sure you get the March edition!

🔗claudiajardine.co.nz/lit-scene-zine/

#whatsonchchnz #wordchch #bookevents #supportlocal

Ōhinehau Lyttelton is a creative hub, but even mor

Ōhinehau Lyttelton is a creative hub, but even more so this coming week with @port.noise. Two special collaborative events we are especially keen on are Lines & Freq. on Tuesday night, and Hands Across the Water on Friday. Each have some WORD favourites featuring including @dominichoey, @hestermaryida, @jjosiah.jj, @benbrownthepoet, @kommi_immok and more.

We might see you there! Find out more at portnoise.co.nz.

#wordchch #toiotautahi #lyttelton #supportlocal

The poets of the city will warm us up once we hit

The poets of the city will warm us up once we hit autumn thanks to this wonderful poetry in performance series from the @canterburypoetscollective! Pop all four dates in your diary and get a season pass for $30. A bargain.

#poetrycapitalofnz #wordchch #nzpoetry #toiotautahi

Toitū Te Tiriti This Waitangi Day we'll be listeni

Toitū Te Tiriti This Waitangi Day we'll be listening and learning, especially to the new @rnznewzealand podcast 'The Negotiators' hosted by @moananz. Seven Treaty settlement negotiators tell their stories. Episode one is with Tā Tipene O'Regan, pictured here at our 2023 festival. The Ngāi Tahu negotiator looks back to he faced the might of the Crown.

We are so thankful to @terunangaongaitahu for working in partnership with us to tell many important stories at our festival each year.

📷 Petra Mingneau Photography
🔗 www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/the-negotiators-podcast

#toitutetiriti #nzpodcast #wordchch

Not too long now until Akaroa hosts some of our be

Not too long now until Akaroa hosts some of our best writers for a weekend at @rawafestival. A certain native birdy told us there are now 1-day passes available for locals keen on a day trip rather than a full overnight stay.

Our Executive Director @el_stepho will be there facilitating a Book Club on Saturday about Michael Bennett's latest, Carved in Blood.

🔗: www.rawafestival.com

#christchurchnz #rawa #festivalsnz #nzbookstagram

Waitaha represent! We're gunning for an 03 clean s

Waitaha represent! We're gunning for an 03 clean sweep of the @newzealandbookawards after seeing the longlist today.

Here's our local favourites, and a full visual rundown of books in the running. Have you read any? What's your pick of the bunch?
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#wordchch #theockhams #toiōtautahi #christchurchnz #bookawards #bookstagram

Did you know WORD has a little community library?

Did you know WORD has a little community library? Take a book, leave a book at our Pātaka Pukapuka, a special collab with @hewakatapu

Rā whānau to WORD’s wonderful Executive Director S

Rā whānau to WORD’s wonderful Executive Director Steph Walker! We wish Steph a lovely Monday with cake and sunshine! 🎂🌞💐

LAST CHANCE to catch Blue Sky Dreaming on the stre

LAST CHANCE to catch Blue Sky Dreaming on the streets!

We’re down to the final few days of our poster run of these great pieces of writing with @0800phantom . Don’t miss out—keep your eyes peeled and give them a read while you can. The big question to consider: What does your life look like in 100 years?

With thanks to all our writers and @christchurchcc 💚

#christchurchnz #wordchch #ArtInstallation #BlueSkyDreaming #LastChance #toiōtautahi

JOB ALERT! WORD Christchurch is looking for an ent

JOB ALERT! WORD Christchurch is looking for an enthusiastic, efficient and creative part-time Marketing & Events Coordinator to join our small but mighty team in Ōtautahi Christchurch. This is a great chance to help shape the voice of a vibrant festival in our city.

No day is the same at WORD HQ - are you keen to join us? Find more info on our website: https://wordchristchurch.co.nz/news/join-the-word-team-marketing-events-coordinator-role/ or via the link in our bio. Applications close 8 February.

#artsjob #christchurchnz #wordchch

We're blue sky dreaming this Summer... 15 writers

We're blue sky dreaming this Summer... 15 writers from around the city have imagined everyday life in 2125 - hotter, drier, wetter and more intense were just some of the situations they so brilliantly depicted. Look out for their writing on posters around the city this summer. Here's just a couple we've spotted around!

For more: https://wordchristchurch.co.nz/blue-sky-dreaming/

A creative collaboration with @christchurchcc
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#clific #christchurchnz #blueskydreaming #nzwriters

It’s the last day of work for the WORD team, so le

It’s the last day of work for the WORD team, so let’s see what Kiran will be reading during the summer break:

John of John by Douglas Stuart
I just finished Good Things Come and Go by @josie_shapiro which is so great! I’ve passed it on to Steph. As soon as the summer break begins I’m diving into one of the most anticipated Not Yet Published books of 2026 John of John by Booker Prize winning author of Shuggie Bain. Douglas Stuart is such a beautiful writer. Due in May.

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin (translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins)
Blurbed as being “for fans of Anne Enright and Tessa Hadley.” Sign me up! A chic novel set in the French countryside, this will be the perfect summer read.

A State of Siege by Janet Frame
I’m thrilled that this new edition from my favourite publisher Fitzcarradlo Editions will introduce Janet Frame to new and international audiences. A different kind of sub-tropical island novel.

The Best American Essays 2025 edited by Jia Tolentino
A yearly summer break tradition for me is to dip in and out of the year’s Best American Essays collection.

Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor
Brandon Taylor is an exquisite writer and I’ll read anything by him. This novel brings together a black painter and a white priest in the contemporary Manhattan art scene.

A Breed of Woman by Fiona Kidman
I snapped up this snazzy 1980s edition of Fiona Kidman’s 1979 novel A Breed of Woman from Wellington’s excellent Ferret Bookshop after hearing Fiona talk about it in the intensely moving and beautifully made documentary about her The House Within.

Forbidden Notebook by Alba De Céspedes (translated by Ann Goldstein)
I didn’t know anything about this book but saw two of the team at one of my favourite publishers Daunt Books included it on their Favourite Reads of 2025 roundup. I trust their recs so promptly got it out of the library.
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#SummerReading #Bookstacks #TBRPile

Stuck for Christmas gifts? Our WORD festival partn

Stuck for Christmas gifts? Our WORD festival partners have you sorted - @universitybookshopcanterbury has some great deals at the moment, @threeboysbrewery and @pegasusbaywine always are welcome around a table, @noodnz have stocking stuffers and more, or @fablehotelsandresorts, @crowneplazachristchurch and Carnmore (@chchristchurch) could do vouchers for a staycation? If all else fails, a @booksellersnz token means they can do the choosing. We also have our Simon Winchester event on 6 March on sale!

#giftideas #supportlocal #christmasinNZ #wordchch #thejoyofwords

We’re sharing what we are looking forward to readi

We’re sharing what we are looking forward to reading over the summer break! First up is Steph:

Every year I try to limit my stack because I know things will fall in my lap during the summer, but here’s my priority pukapuka!

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
The running joke here is that Kiran Dass wrote it, but really of the Booker Prize shortlist this sounds like the best holiday read for me. I love a generation-spanning story and while it’s quite the chunk of a book I hear it’s a page-turner.

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett
I’m hosting a Book Club about Michael’s books for @rawafestival next year... and Michael will be in attendance. I better scrub up. I have all three of his Hana Westerman series on the stack.

Netherland by Joseph O’Neill
It’s a cricket book! Those who know me know I’m a cricket tragic, so this will likely be read in innings’ breaks. This 2009 book is set in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York, and won awards and praise that year. Once read it will settle in the bookshelf next to Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Matthew by Shehan Kurunatalika, another stellar cricket novel.

The Luminous Solution by Charlotte Wood
I am in love with our WORD 2025 guest, and I think this book on thinking creatively will be good new year inspiration. I’m hoping also a great companion book for Jo Randerson’s wonderful Secret Art Powers which I devoured and dogearred.

Good Things Come and Go by Josie Shapiro
This is on my shopping list after next pay day - if the Chidge [Catherine Chidgey] calls it ‘’Poignant, redemptive, electrifying.” then that’s me sorted.
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#SummerReading #Bookstacks #TBRPile

Our top stress-busting tip for the silly season.

Our top stress-busting tip for the silly season.

NEW EVENT ALERT! Our first event for 2026 is write

NEW EVENT ALERT! Our first event for 2026 is writer, journalist and broadcaster Simon Winchester OBE (UK/USA). Known for his deep dives in to so many subjects with top notch storytelling. His latest book is on wind - hopefully he doesn't get any turbulence on his way over here.

Friday 6 March 2026
6.00pm
@thepiano.nz
tickets: $30 / $20

PLUS! $65 / $55 Ticket & Book Package for the person who has everything this Christmas - we've got a special package on our website now with our friends @universitybookshopcanterbury.

In partnership with @harpercollinsnz.

#bookstagram #christchurchnz #simonwinchester #wordchch #thebreathofthegods #bookevent

WORD CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVAL 2026 DATES FOR THE DIAR

WORD CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVAL 2026 DATES FOR THE DIARY: 1- 6 September

If you're getting your 2026 sorted, be sure to be in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the first week of Spring. Our annual festival will have the city buzzing.

#datesforthediary #wordchch #christchurchnz #nzlit #nzfestivals

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