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Julie Hill

Julie Hill

Julie Hill is a journalist, essayist, short story writer and playwright from Tāmaki Makaurau and previously of Christchurch.

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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!

How lovely, two free poetry events in one week! O

How lovely, two free poetry events in one week!

Our partner the University of Canterbury has a verdant and peaceful community garden - @waiutuutugarden. It’s a treasure.

This Thursday, the gardens and Ōtautahi Christchurch poet @hey.ray.shipley are running a free kai (meal) and tuhituhi (writing) session.

On Friday, Ray Shipley’s Late Night Poetry Hour will be at the earlier time of 6pm. If you’ve been meaning to go but don't fancy burning the midnight oil, head to @chchpride's website and register.

#poetry #christchurch

We already knew our community was awesome, but isn

We already knew our community was awesome, but isn’t it nice when someone else knows it too? Three of our WORD friends can be found on The Press' 2026 Power List:

💚 @@ladyhorrors, a WORD board member, University of Canterbury lecturer and Editor of the trusted @flatcityfieldnotes website.

💚 @nathaniel4heathcote , recently published author and city councilor. His wife, poet @uriel.septim.piercing, gets a notable mention.

💚 Michael Bell, owner of @littleandromedachch , Christchurch’s sweetest indie theatre, host to many a WORD event.

Our friends at the National Library of New Zealand

Our friends at the National Library of New Zealand have curated a bright and thoughtful lineup of librarians and archivists to shed light on the global impacts of current trends and disruptors. Harking from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA, this free livestream will be a scintillating watch.

Tune in on Wednesday 25 March at 5.30pm wherever you are around the motu! Find out all the details on the National Library of New Zealand's website: www.natlib.govt.nz

#nzbooks #supportlocal

The Christchurch City Libraries big book sale is o

The Christchurch City Libraries big book sale is on until 4pm at Pioneer stadium. Don’t forget your bag, by what we’ve seen you’ll need it!

Happy Pride, Ōtautahi! How are you celebrating?

Happy Pride, Ōtautahi! How are you celebrating?

We can't compete with the @christchurchlib reading guides, but we'll add our two cents. Here are the WORD team's top books by queer writers from our past year of reading.

ps - the Christchurch City Libraries reading guides and Pride events are very good. Check them out on their website. www.my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/reading-guide-lgbtqia/

Happy St Patrick's Day to all who celebrate! We're

Happy St Patrick's Day to all who celebrate! We're feeling the luck of the Irish, with Niall Williams here in just over a month. Find out more about him and book your tickets to his 21 April event on our website today.

Niall will be in conversation with the wonderful Kate De Goldi.
With thanks to Niall's publisher @bloomsburypublishing.
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#irishwriters #irishinNZ #irishlit #christchurchnz #wordchch

Two Big #1 Bestsellers for @kuangrf, one big event

Two Big #1 Bestsellers for @kuangrf, one big event in Ōtautahi Christchurch!

RF Kuang takes us from a biting view of the publishing industry, to the darkest sides of academia... and we're so excited to have her with us on 21 May in conversation with @rachfking. Tickets available now, check the link in our bio.

With thanks to our pals at @harpercollinsnz and @aklwritersfest 💚

#nzbookstagram #christchurchnz #wordchch #darkacademia #nzfantasy #kiwireaders

Niall Williams (Ireland), Karen Hao (USA), Lousie

Niall Williams (Ireland), Karen Hao (USA), Lousie Erdrich (USA) and RF Kuang (USA) - join us in Ōtautahi Christchurch in the ultimate warm up before our Spring festival.

Who are you excited to see?
Book you tickets now at www.wordchch.co.nz - the link is in our bio.
With thanks to our partners for helping bring these amazing people to our neighbourhood.

#christchurchnz #nzbookstagram #chchreads #wordchch #nzbooks #amreading

As a poet who has been in over a dozen WORD festiv

As a poet who has been in over a dozen WORD festivals, it's safe to say James Norcliffe is a living legend. Come celebrate his latest book at @scorpiobooks this Wednesday. From 5.30pm and free to attend - RSVP via the bookshop's website.

See you there!

#nzlit #localpoets #wordchch #nzpoetry

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! 🎂🌞💐

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Events
About WORD Christchurch
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