We regret to announce that due to the Covid-19 threat, this event has been postponed. We hope to welcome Liane Moriarty to Christchurch in the near future.
Lindy West has made the incredibly difficult decision to postpone her Australian and New Zealand tour due to personal reasons.
We regret to announce that Jung Chang has had to cancel her New Zealand tour and so her Christchurch event will not be going ahead. All ticket holders will be contacted for a refund.
Following Friday's sold-out event with Behrouz Boochani’s, join WORD Christchurch and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū on Saturday morning for a discussion with members of the Australian literary community who have supported the work of this extraordinary writer, and a screening of the acclaimed documentary about Manus Island, Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time.
WORD Christchurch is proud to present a live event of international significance. Behrouz Boochani, the Kurdish film-maker, writer and refugee who has documented life inside the Australian detention centre on Manus Island, has been given permission to leave Papua New Guinea for the first time and to enter New Zealand for a special WORD Christchurch event on 29 November.
WORD Christchurch is pleased to announce the return of three of the biggest hits of the 2018 festival. Poets Omar Musa (Australia), Michael Pedersen (Scotland) and Dominic Hoey (New Zealand) will once again come together from different parts of the globe to regale you with poetry.
WORD Christchurch, in association with Penguin Random House New Zealand, is proud to present an evening with Zadie Smith, one of the most critically acclaimed and important literary voices of a generation.
Come along to this free daytime event at the Arts Centre and hear readings and discussion from the finalists in the three categories for this year’s Ngaio Marsh Awards: Best Novel, Best First Novel, and Best Non-Fiction, featuring some of the best in the business.
Don’t miss this night of brain teasers and laughs as two teams of crime writers, with captains Vanda Symon and Paul Cleave, and special guest Val McDermid, compete for the title of Sharpest Knives, followed by the presentation of the Ngaio Marsh Awards.
To kick off a weekend celebrating the 2019 Ngaio Marsh Awards, we welcome the charismatic Val McDermid, formidable Scottish crime writer, appearing in conversation with crime fiction aficionado Ruth Todd.
From Billy T. James to Rose Matafeo, Fred Dagg to Flight of the Conchords, New Zealanders have made each other laugh in ways distinctive to these islands. Join comedy producer Paul Horan and writer Philip Matthews, along with key movers and shakers in the New Zealand comedy scene, Madeleine Sami and Justine Smith to hear the stories and share the laughs.
First of its kind, Samoan Queer Lives features a collection of autobiographical pieces by fa`afafine, transgender, and queer people of Samoa, presented by artist Yuki Kihara.
Join Joseph Hullen (NgāiTūāhuriri/Ngāti Hinematua) on a walk through Pegasus Town as he shares stories of the numerous and varied archaeological sites discovered and excavated during the creation of Pegasus Town.
How can we see where we’re going, if we don’t know where we’ve been? Join Vincent O’Malley, Simon Winchester and Jessica Maclean for a lively conversation about the importance of owning our history, the good and the bad, in order to look to the future. Chaired by Peter Field.
Marilyn Waring’s new book looks at her time during the turbulent years of Muldoon’s government but she has lots to say about today’s politics as well. She talks politics, women, and wellbeing economics with Bronwyn Hayward.
Historian Vincent O'Malley adresses the causes, events and consequences of the New Zealand Wars (Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa), which profoundly shaped the course and direction of our nation’s history.
Simon Winchester, bestselling author of Pacific, The Map That Changed the World and The Surgeon of Crowthorne, joins Kim Hill in conversation about his adventurous life and big ideas, including those in his latest book, Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World.
Returning to Christchurch after our last festival, Bad Diaries Salon features four writers reading from the good, the bad and the scandalous of their personal diaries and early writing. Candid, original and unedited.
Discover something strange with short and intimate lectures on curious subjects, delivered in Rutherford’s own lecture theatre. With Simon Winchester, Rachael King, Tracy Farr, Lana Coles and Simon Pollard.
Civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson is one of the leading voices in the Black Lives Matter movement. He discusses his memoir 'The Other Side of Freedom: Race and justice in a divided America' with Victor Rodger as part of the WORD Shifting Points of View season.
To celebrate the night before National Poetry Day, three of the South Island’s most exciting poets, Liz Breslin, Annabelle Wilson and Laura Williamson, present a unique, interactive evening of poetry.
Announcing the first event in our Shifting Points of View season, with the full programme announced on 1 August! The star of the BBC Radio 4 series Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics presents her unique combination of ancient history and stand-up comedy, coinciding with her new novel, A Thousand Ships.
Spring comes early when WORD Christchurch presents a spectacular line-up of speakers to warm you up and get you thinking, with fifteen events that just may change your mind.
Join Toby Faber, grandson of the founder of Faber & Faber, in conversation with Paul Millar. Hear stories about one of the most famous publishing houses in the world and its notorious authors, and about Toby's enthralling new thriller, Close to the Edge.
Gather around the metaphorical fireside as five speakers dig deep into the nature of honesty and deception. Featuring dancer Rodney Bell, writer Fiona Farrell, journalist Donna Miles-Mojab, playwright Victor Rodger and poet and youth advocate Daisy Speaks, this is a night for tall tales and home truths, presented in association with Christchurch Arts Festival.
As part of KidsFest, come along to an interactive book launch for Ringlet and the Day the Oceans Stopped presented by author Felicity Williams and her shoal of merkid helpers. All welcome.
In this free KidsFest event, come and meet author Joanna Grochowicz as she recounts the gripping tale of the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's courage, determination and ruthlessness in the race to the South Pole.
In this KidsFest workshop with author Joanna Grochowicz, you’ll come to grips with the elements necessary to create stories based on your favourite well-known moments in history.
Free event for KidsFest! Come and meet award-winning UK author Swapna Haddow and hear her talk about her brand new book Dave Pigeon (Royal Coo!).
Calling all budding young authors! Unleash your inner writer in this interactive workshop with award-winning author, Swapna Haddow.
In this interactive, hands-on workshop led by NZ Wikipedian at Large Dr Mike Dickison, you'll learn how Wikipedia works, and work on improving articles on New Zealand writers.
In Dead People I Have Known, the legendary New Zealand musician Shayne Carter tells the story of a life in music, taking us deep behind the scenes and songs of his riotous teenage bands Bored Games and the Doublehappys, his best-known bands Straitjacket Fits and Dimmer, and the Flying Nun Record label.
Graeme Simsion is back with the triumphant final instalment of the much-loved and internationally bestselling Rosie trilogy. With the usual brilliant cast of characters, The Rosie Result sees Don and Rosie back in Australia after a decade in New York, where they’re about to face their most important challenge.
THIS EVENT IS ALMOST SOLD OUT. A second show has been added at 8.30pm. Award-winning British podcaster Helen Zaltzman (aka The Allusionist) takes to the stage to rumble with language with infectious verve, and a generous helping of pop culture.
John Boyne, one of Ireland’s most respected contemporary writers and author of many acclaimed books, such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Heart’s Invisible Furies, returns with a “deliciously dark” new novel.
SOLD OUT Markus Zusak, author of the beloved and acclaimed The Book Thief, makes his long-awaited return with a profoundly heartfelt and inventive novel.
Award-winning hip-hop artist, social entrepreneur and writer Akala discusses his bestselling debut, Natives, a searing modern polemic on race and class in the British Empire.
Poet and performer Luke Wright has been lauded as “one of the funniest and most brilliant poets of his generation”.
BAFTA award-winning Hip-Hop artist Akala, co-founder of The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and contemporary Hip-Hop.
Fearless feminist Clementine Ford returns to Christchurch with Boys Will Be Boys, the follow-up to her incendiary debut Fight Like A Girl.
WORD Christchurch is excited to continue our Adventurous theme with a special presentation by Adrian Hayes, British climber, adventurer and sustainability campaigner, as he tells the story outlined in his book One Man's Climb, an intensely personal account of his attempts to climb K2.
WORD Christchurch, in association with Penguin Random House New Zealand, is excited to announce An Evening with Lee Child on Friday, 23 November.
WORD Christchurch, in association with LitCrawl Wellington, is proud to present Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar for an evening of poetry and conversation with Erik Kennedy.
Close the festival with the launch of flash fiction anthology Bonsai
Live recording of the Nerd Degree podcast
Discover something rich and strange with this series of short and intimate lectures.
Hera Lindsay Bird, Hollie McNish
AJ Finn in conversation with Michelle Langstone
Michelle Elvy, James Norcliffe, Frankie McMillan, Heather McQuillan
SOLD OUT Michelle Dickinson explains how to be a scientist in the kitchen
Lauded British contemporary poet Robin Robertson in readings and conversation with Fergus Barrowman
American Science Fiction Writer Ted Chiang in conversation with Karen Healey
Sam Scott in conversation and song with Gemma Gracewood
SOLD OUT Join Joseph Hullen for a 90-minute tour of the central city to discover how indigenous identity and historical narratives are being woven into the new Ōtautahi Christchurch streetscape.
Soraya Nicholas, Stacy Gregg, introduced by Kate De Goldi
Author, activist and performance poet Sonya Renee Taylor in conversation and readings with Tusiata Avia
Yaba Badoe, Lloyd Jones, Juno Dawson, discuss what freedom means to them with Edinburgh International Book Festival Director Nick Barley
SOLD OUT Karin Altenberg and Amy Head discuss the power of place in novels
Gavin Bishop, talks about defining moments of history in illustration
Take this opportunity to visit the fascinating heritage house and garden of Queen of Crime Dame Ngaio Marsh.
Miriama Kamo reads from her book
Young adult writers Juno Dawson, Whiti Hereaka, Yaba Badoe read from their work in this free event, introduced by Paula Morris.
Winner of the 2018 Ockham Book Award Diana Wichtel in conversation with Philip Matthews
Philip Hoare, Chris Tse, Pip Adam and Nic Low choose the soundtrack to their lives and work, hosted by Kiran Dass.
Hēmi Kelly, Miriama Kamo, Paulette Tamati-Elliffe
Tayi Tibble, Jennifer Katherine Shields, Brannavan Gnanalingam, Erin Harrington discuss favourite art with Lana Lopesi
Scottish crime writer Denise Mina in conversation with Charlotte Graham-McLay
Victor Rodger interrogates a selection of festival guests about taboo subjects.
A feast of verse, music and performance, with Michael Pedersen, Hollie McNish, Irvine Welsh, FAFSWAG, Hera Lindsay Bird, Dominic Hoey, Sam Scott, Omar Musa.
Hosted by Vanda Symon, with awards presented by A.J. Finn and Denise Mina.
With Annaleese Jochems, Tayi Tibble, Kirsten McDougall, Sonya Renee Taylor, Juno Dawson, Helen Heath, Daisy Speaks, Ray Shipley, and Charlotte Graham-McLay.
Writers Jarrod Gilbert, Irvine Welsh, Paula Morris, Steve Braunias and Megan Dunn share stories of public shame, hosted by Robin Robertson.
A selection of Nagio Marsh Crime Award finalists read from their work, hosted by Vanda Symon.
Join Hēmi Kelly, author of A Māori Word a Day, for this fun introductory te reo workshop for beginners.
Laurence Fearnley discusses mountain writing with Nic Low.
Brannavan Gnanalingam, Pip Adam, Rajorshi Chakraborti chaired by Julie Hill.
Irish physicist-turned-science-writer Laurie Winkless in conversation with Michelle Dickinson.
Plot and narrative workshop: simple tricks to make your reader stay awake for just one more chapter.
Few write with as much passion and fascination about the sea as British author Philip Hoare, in conversation with Kim Hill.
Graphic novelist Ant Sang talks collaboration, illustration and comics with Tracy Farr.
Ghanaian-British film-maker and writer Yaba Badoe in conversation with Sionainn Byrnes.
Romance writer Soraya M. Lane and Michele A'Court writer on real-life realationships talk to Catherine Robertson.
This workshop is for everyone, from beginners to advanced.
Ed Husain and Denise Mina discuss just what the hell is going on over in the UK with David Slack.
Chris Tse, Dominic Hoey, Omar Musa discuss masculinity with Jarrod Gilbert.
Members of the Tāngata Ngāi Tahu research team explore tribal history through the lens of biography.
SOLD OUT Emily Writes, Hollie McNish with Brannavan Gnanalingam, in conversation with Catherine Robertson.
Tom Scott talks about his life with Michele A'Court.
Ted Chiang, Whiti Hereaka, and Michael Bennett, talk time travel with Daniel Bedggood.
You’ll love this 90-minute reading workshop with whale enthusiast and Moby-Dick expert Philip Hoare.
SOLD OUT Join contributors to last year’s superb anthology of Oceanic writing, Black Marks on the White Page, for a roundtable discussion for Māori and Pasifika writers.
Barbara Else delivers this year's Margaret Mahy Memorial Lecture, introduced by Kate De Goldi.
Juno Dawson talks to Karen Healey about her activism and writing difficult subjects for a teenage audience.
Scottish bookseller Shaun Bythell in conversation with Brian Phillips.
SOLD OUT If you like your literary events candid, original and unedited, don’t miss this late-night reveal of writing not meant to be seen or heard.
Escape the cold in Lyttelton’s cosy Hell Fire Club for a flammable evening of words with Auckland’s Dominic ‘Tourettes’ Hoey and Scotland’s Michael Pedersen.
Victoria University Press warmly invites you to the launch of We Can Make a Life by Chessie Henry.
An extraordinary panel of local and international queer people of colour: Georgina Beyer, Manu Vaeatangitau and Pati Solomona Tyrell (FAFSWAG) and Sonya Renee Taylor, chaired by Victor Rodger.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Slam/Showcase performance, hosted by Carrie Rudzinski, featuring students from Oxford Area School, Rangiora New Life School, and Kaiapoi High School.
Chessie Henry and her father, Dr Chris Henry, reflect on a life shaped by the earthquakes.
Free readings from Chris Tse, Megan Dunn, Annaleese Jochems, Erik Kennedy, and Ray Shipley.
British expert Jonathan Drori explores our unique relationships with trees.
Novelist Charlotte Grimshaw in conversation with Kate De Goldi.
SOLD OUT Join Hera Lindsay Bird for a two-hour poetry workshop that will teach you to cheat, steal and lie your way to the top.
British journalist and former Islamic radical Ed Husain talks to Donna Miles-Mojab about Islam today.
Paula Morris and Tina Makereti in conversation with Nic Low.
The Witches of Gambaga is the extraordinary story of a community of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana.
Tusiata Avia talks to Selina Tusitala Marsh about her life, her poetry and how women, under pressure, may burn bright but not out.
Lloyd Jones in conversation with John Campbell about what pushes his storytelling buttons.
Acclaimed writer Philip Hoare confronts our fascination with one of the most mysterious animals in the ocean, the whale.
Historian Anne Salmond in conversation with Eruera Tarena.
King of crime, writer Paul Cleave, in conversation with Vanda Symon.
SOLD OUT A special workshop for book collectors with two experts in secondhand books, Shaun Bythell (Diary of a Bookseller), and Brian Phillips.
Award-winning novelist Catherine Chidgey in conversation with Morrin Rout.
Takerei Norton (Ngāi Tahu) and others from the Ngāi Tahu cultural mapping team talk about the Ngāi Tahu atlas.
John Campbell hosts the most electrifying, energising and eclectic evening of the festival, with seven local and international stars of the festival.
In a WORD Christchurch exclusive, Helen Clark, political leader for more than 40 years, appears in conversation with Lianne Dalziel about her new book 'Women, Equality, Power: selected speeches from a life of leadership'.
Join Hugo Grrrl as some of Christchurch's finest writers and creatives throw caution to the wind to read some fantastic (and not so fantastic) online amateur literary offerings.
SOLD OUT With Scotland as the featured country, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to drink a few drams of Scotland’s finest, with Robin Robertson, Michael Pedersen, Denise Mina, Shaun Bythell!
SOLD OUT Georgina Beyer, Lizzie Marvelly, Anne Salmond, Paula Penfold and Sacha McMeeking, chaired by Kim Hill, discuss how far we have come since women were granted the vote, and how far we still have to go.
SOLD OUT Extreme sports star Nathan Fa'avae and triathlete John Hellemans in conversation.
A fun-filled, fast-paced literary tour around the characterful spaces of New Regent Street and surrounds
Investigative journalist David Neiwert talks with Paul Thomas about the rise of the alt-right in Trump's America.
An evolving song cycle that celebrates the achievements of women in science and technology.
SOLD OUT Nicky Pellegrino and Catherine Robertson talk about their latest books over delicious food, hosted by Liz Grant.
Once again, we’re offering the most incredible speakers to Christchurch secondary schools, absolutely free of charge.
SOLD OUT Robyn Davidson tells the extraordinary story behind her memoir Tracks.
Who will win the title to represent Christchurch at the national finals?
Leonard Bell gives an illustrated talk on Emigres and the Arts, based on his recent book.
Victoria University Press warmly invites you to the launch of two new collections of poetry.
A once in a lifetime chance to encounter the leviathans of the deep with Philip Hoare and David Neiwert.
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