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Past Events

Chris Knox: Not Given Lightly – Book Launch & Author Talk

Wednesday, 3 December 6:00 pm

Jenny Pattrick: Sea Change

Thursday, 23 October 6:00 pm

EVENT CANCELLED.
From historical novels to a climate story - the beloved Jenny Pattrick chats with Morrin Rout about her remarkable writing life.

An Evening with Callie Hart (UK/USA)

Wednesday, 15 October 7:00 pm

Callie Hart is coming to Aotearoa for this year’s spiciest Romantasy event!

David McWilliams On Money (IRE)

Tuesday, 14 October 7:30 pm

An evening with renowned global economist David McWilliams (Ireland) about the history of money while demystifying economics.

The Ngaio Marsh Awards and The Murderous Mystery

Thursday, 25 September 6:00 pm

Help the Court Theatre’s quick-witted Court Jesters solve a thrilling murder case, then we’ll solve the mystery of which writers win the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards for Aotearoa New Zealand crime, mystery, and thriller writing.

Norwegian Woods: An Evening with Lars Mytting (Norway)

Wednesday, 21 May 6:30 pm

One of Norway's biggest sellers joins us for a fireside chat.

What Lies Beneath: Dark Tales with Kirsty Gunn

Monday, 19 May 6:30 pm

Scotland-based New Zealand writer Kirsty Gunn is home to celebrate her latest book.

An Evening in Crime: Dervla McTiernan (Ireland) and Michael Bennett

Tuesday, 13 May 6:00 pm

What makes Kiwi and Irish crime writing so good? Dervla McTiernan and Michael Bennett discuss this and more.

In Search of Hoppiness: Greg Ryan in Conversation

Wednesday, 27 November 6:00 pm

Join us for a tasty six o’clock swill and some social history after work at our favourite local Three Boys Brewery.

US Election Lowdown: What Just Happened?

Monday, 18 November 6:30 pm

A special debrief on the US Election with commentators Peter Field and Maureen Montgomery

Trent Dalton: Lola in the Mirror

Tuesday, 21 May 6:00 pm

Trent Dalton joins The Spinoff’s Alex Casey to discuss his writing, life, and bighearted new novel Lola in the Mirror.

Sinéad Gleeson: Islands, Art & Identity

Monday, 13 May 6:00 pm

Irish writer, artist and editor Sinéad Gleeson talks islands, art and identity with WORD Programme Director Kiran Dass

RICHARD FORD GETS FRANK

Sunday, 25 February 3:00 pm

Pulitzer prizewinning writer Richard Ford (USA) in conversation with Liz Grant

NGAIO MARSH AWARDS AND CRIME QUIZ NIGHT

Friday, 24 November 6:00 pm

A Quiz, celebration and ceremony for the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Awards.

LOCAL HISTORIES, LOCAL STORIES

Wednesday, 22 November 6:00 pm

Stevan Eldred-Grigg, Peter Graham and Te Maire Tau on when local stories turn in to history

AN EVENING WITH PETER FITZSIMONS

Tuesday, 21 November 6:30 pm

How did a former Wallabies rugby player come to be a public historian, playing his part in writing the Australian narrative? 

GIRL IN A SAVAGE WORLD – Theia x TE KAAHU

Saturday, 11 November 8:00 pm

Celebrated artist and songwriter Theia masterfully straddles the worlds of alt-pop and her reo Māori project TE KAAHU. The two projects come together on stage for the first time, live.

RISK! THE WORD GALA [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

RISK! The WORD Gala with dazzling featured guests Gabriel Krauze (UK), Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad and Tobago), David Keenan (Scotland), Meg Mason (Australia/New Zealand) and DaisySpeaks (New Zealand/Samoa) sharing moments when they’ve taken a risk and lived to tell the tale.

RISKY WOMEN [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

The return of one of our most popular storytelling events.

CONFLUENCE 2023 [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Pasifika and Māori excellence, on stage in Ōtautahi and styling up for a celebration of island connections. Hosted and curated by Daisy Speaks.

CLIMATE FICTION AND CLIMATE FUTURES [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Climate change is here and it’s real. What are the challenges and responsibilities of writers to tell stories in a climate-changed world? MahMah Timoteo, Bronwyn Hayward and Erik Kennedy discussed the role of writers in the face of climate change with Melanie Dixon.

FICTION, THREE WAYS [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Emily Perkins, Carl Nixon and Fiona Farrell all have new novels. They join Morrin Rout in conversation.

TURNING POINTS: 150 YEARS OF UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY HISTORY [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

To mark 150 years of the University of Canterbury, a richly illustrated history of the institution is being published. A fascinating insight into the process of writing A New History: The University of Canterbury 1873–2023.

LIONESS: EMILY PERKINS [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Women's Prize for Fiction longlisted author Emily Perkins in conversation with Julie Hill about her life, work, and new novel Lioness.

MEG MASON: SORROW AND BLISS [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Australian-based New Zealand born writer Meg Mason’s smash hit, Sorrow and Bliss, was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction last year. In conversation with Noelle McCarthy.

KEVIN JARED HOSEIN: HUNGRY GHOSTS [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Set in the 1940s, Trinidad and Tobago writer Kevin Jared Hosein's Hungry Ghosts is an atmospheric gothic historical novel raved about by Hilary Mantel and Bernadine Evaristo.

CATHERINE CHIDGEY: PET [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Catherine Chidgey, two-time winner of New Zealand’s richest literary prize, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, in-conversation with Liz Grant.

50 YEARS OF WITI IHIMAERA [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

To celebrate 50 years in publishing, join Witi Ihimaera, rangatira of Aotearoa stories, for a Sunday kōrero with Arihia Latham.

NOT SET IN STONE: DAVID VASS [ON DEMAND]

25 Aug - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

David Vass was one of New Zealand's leading mountaineers, until an accident in Fiordland in 2015 ended his climbing life. His memoir, Not Set in Stone, charts how his world has changed.

POU KOHIKOHINGA MĀORI IN RESIDENCE

Wednesday, 23 August 10:00 am

Meet the Tūranga Pou Kohikohinga Māori – Māori Collection Specialists

Eleanor Catton in Conversation

Wednesday, 24 May 7:00 pm

International prize-winner and South Island storyteller Eleanor Catton makes her long awaited return to Ōtautahi Christchurch to celebrate her eco-thriller novel Birnam Wood. Expect a wide-ranging conversation as Catton chats with former WORD Programme Director Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu) for one special night at The Aurora Centre, 7pm Wednesday 24 May.

Spies & Espionage: Ben Macintyre live

Wednesday, 1 March 6:30 pm

An essential event for lovers of gripping tales of espionage, military history and breathtaking WWII nonfiction. WORD Christchurch is thrilled to present multimillion-copy bestselling author, journalist, and acclaimed historian Ben Macintyre live in conversation for one night only.

Chris Parker is Here for a Good Time

Wednesday, 16 November 8:00 pm

(and to launch his book with Jason Gunn)

Freedom, Only Freedom – The Prison Writings of Behrouz Boochani

Wednesday, 16 November 6:00 pm

A book launch and in conversation event with Behrouz Boochani and Tina Makereti

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