Winter Warmers – WORD-y events in Ōtautahi this June

Green background, bold blue text highlighted white says: June in Ōtautahi: books, friends, kōrero, ideas, poems

June 9, 2026

It’s the first week of winter – the perfect time to recalibrate your To Be Read list by donning your coat and heading out to the plethora of author talks, book launches and poetry events in our cool little city. WORD’s Autumn series is complete, but there are so many great ways to engage with local authors and texts. With thanks to WORD friend Claudia Hertz-Jardine, we’ve compiled a list of events you won’t want to miss this June. Make sure you’re signed up for July’s edition of the Lit Scene Zine, here.

Text post with dark blue background and bold white lettering reads: Wed 3 Catalyst Fri 5 Late Night Poetry Hour Sat 6 Face/Off : Comedy vs. Poetry Fri 12 Artemis Rising Open Mic A photo of Ray Shipley (masc presenting, short hair, wearing jeans and a short sleeve shirt) shows them reading from a small piece of paper. They are outdoors, and people in a small audience are watching.

Check out these poetry events this month!

Poetry Events

Find out about Catalyst on their website here.

Get tickets to Late Night Poetry Hour here.

Get tickets to the Face/Off live show here.

Learn more about Artemis Rising, the women and non-binary open mic night here. All genders are welcome to attend as audience members.

Book and Author Events

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Author Talk: Rachael King and Rachael Craw Thu 4 June Kaiapoi Library Portrait photo of Rachael King (Pākehā woman, dark red hair, blue eyes), and a graphic of the cover of her recently released book: Song of the Saltings.

Click the image to register.

Rachael King Author Kōrero

WORD friend and maybe Traitor, Rachael King will be chatting about her newest YA novel Song of the Saltings with another WORD friend Rachael Craw.

Here’s the link to register for this free event.

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Book Launch: Wed 3 June Christchurch Art Gallery Portrait photo of Jason Tiatia (Sāmoan man, short greying hair, smiling), and a graphic of the cover of his book: Sāmoan Made Simple.

Click the image for event information.

Jason Tiatia Book Launch: Sāmoan Made Simple

Former New Zealand Rugby Sevens player, Jason Tiatia is now the lead advisor for Pacific Engagement at the Ministry of Education. He’s written an engaging pukapuka guiding anyone on their Sāmoan language journey.

Click here for all the event info.

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Book Launch: Tue 9 June Scorpio Books Portrait photo of Marie Connolly (Pākehā woman, short grey pixie cut, rectangle glasses, and a graphic of the cover of her book: Icefall.

Click the image for the event information.

Marie Connolly Book Launch: Icefall

Marie Connolly’s new book, Icefall, is being launched at Scorpio books this month. It’s an Aotearoa crime novel set in and around Aoraki – a sequel to Dark Sky, published in 2024.

Head over to the event page, here.

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Author kōrero: Bernadette Hall Portrait photo of Bernadette Hall (Pākehā woman, short grey pixie cut) and a graphic with grey textured background that reads: The Girl Who Was Swallowed by Ice and Snow Rangiora Library 19 June 5.30pm

Click the image for event information.

Bernadette Hall Author Kōrero: The Girl Who Was Swallowed by Ice and Snow

Beloved writer, Bernadette Hall, in collaboration with artist Kathryn Madill, present a book 20 years in the making: The Girl Who Was Swallowed by Ice and Snow. Inspired by a shared 2004 residency in Antarctica, this event will be extra warming this winter.

Find the event details here.

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Book Launch and Author talk: Wed 24 June Tūranga Portrait photo of Sarah A Parker (young Pākehā woman, very long auburn hair) and a graphic of the cover of her book: The Ballad of Falling Dragons.

Click the image for event details.

Sarah A Parker Book Launch and Author Kōrero: The Ballad of Falling Dragons

Share this event with the Romantasy lovers! Sarah A Parker’s fourth book, The Ballad of Falling Dragons, is part of her New York Times bestselling series, To Bleed a Crystal Bloom. This event is a launch and an author talk in one – find the details here.

Text post with green background and bold black lettering reads: Book Launch: Thu 25 June Scorpio Books Portrait photo of Lawrence Patchett (Pākehā man, bald with a short brown and grey beard) and a graphic of the cover of his book: Have this Heart.

Click on the image for more information.

Lawrence Patchett Book Launch: Have This Heart

Finally, to close out the month, Lawrence Patchett is launching his new book, Have This Heart. It’s a compassionate and funny short story collection wrestling with the question: what does it mean to be a good man? Head along to the event, details here.

Got to the end? Congratulations, you are equipped to have an excellent and brain-warming start to winter. Don’t tell anyone, but some of these authors may be joining us at WORD Festival 2026. Shh!