Writers + Kōrero

Budding writers and comedians between the ages of 8 and 12 are invited to join Leela Chakraborti and her dad Rajorshi Chakraborti to learn how to craft funny stories.

We’re proud to feature a star-studded line up of 28 of Aotearoa’s most beloved authors and exciting new voices.

Hot on the heels of their acclaimed 2021 collaboration, artist Catherine Bagnall and poet Jane Sayle celebrate another collection of watercolours and poems inspired by nature.

Fierce, furious, fabulously unforgiving: from its premiere at Auckland Arts Festival comes the celebrated stage adaptation of Tusiata Avia’s unapologetic poetry collection.

Join psychologist Alia Bojilova and keen tramper and writer Victoria Bruce as they explore resilience and their respective understanding of the mind-body connection. Chaired by Liz Price.

Caroline Barron's Golden Days and Anne Tiernan's The Last Days of Joy are both gripping novels that explore how the past can haunt us in the present. Chaired by Paula Morris.

Join author, poet and Slam Poetry performer Emma Ling Sidnam in a safe and inclusive space to explore new ways of expressing yourself through poetry, which can be a beautiful vehicle for your feelings.

Buckle up for a sobering look into how the way you drink is shaped not only by your individual choice, but also by government, media and big business. Chaired by Matty Anderson.

Monty Soutar ONZM shares the story behind his bestselling and critically acclaimed debut novel, Kāwai: For Such a Time as This. Chaired by Airana Ngarewa.

Rebecca Priestley discusses her new book, End Times, which is part memoir/part road trip exploring climate science, climate denial and belief systems. Chaired by Jude Watson.

Emma Ling Sidnam, Airana Ngarewa and Colleen Maria Lenihan discuss their stunning debut books and reveal what gave them the courage to write. Chaired by Paula Morris.

Join author and editor Paula Morris and some of her fellow contributors as we celebrate the Whakatū Nelson launch of this essential new anthology of our best Māori short fiction.

Join poet Tusiata Avia, activist Jennifer Shields and disinformation researcher Byron C Clark as they discuss both their experience of hatred and what we can do to protect ourselves and others. Chaired by Madeleine Chapman (Editor, The Spinoff).

Award-winning doctor and writer, Dr Emma Espiner, discusses her stunning debut memoir, There's a cure for this, with Arihia Latham. Together they kōrero about hurt and healing, love and loss, life and death, motherhood and medicine.

In this workshop, bestselling author Caroline Barron will offer an entertaining and informative talk about making your way in the world as an author, with plenty of time to ask questions about the best way to get your own writing project into the hands of readers. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Witi Ihimaera’s Tangi, the first novel written by a Māori author to be published in New Zealand. Join Witi and six fellow Māori writers at this special gala event to celebrate Aotearoa storytelling: Emma Espiner (MC), Vaughan Rapatahana, Ruby Solly, Donna McLeod, Arihia Latham and Airana Ngarewa.

Join internationally acclaimed artists Sheldon Rua & Talia Stanley for a workshop and/or exclusive performance live from the Victory Boxing ring - bring a poem or just come to listen.

Explore the fascinating world of fungi with Liv Sisson (Fungi of Aotearoa) and Valetta Sówka (Family of Forest and Fungi - He Tukutuku Toiora). Chaired by fellow fungi fanatic Sylvan Thomson.

Join us in the Beech Glade outdoor classroom on dusk, where Arihia Latham will read from her debut poetry collection, Birdspeak, alongside her cousin Ruby Solly, who will perform verse from her second book, The Artist.

Commune: Chasing a Utopian Dream in Aotearoa captures the spirit of the counter-culture movement in the Motueka Valley from the perspective of Olive Jones, one of its founding members. Chaired by Kerry Sunderland.

You are warmly invited for an evening where we will share stories of our sentimental tunes.

Māori Theatre about the Nelson Tenths with pūrākau, taonga pūoro, waiata, and poetry, from the artists behind sell-out hit Parihaka.

True stories told live without pictures or notes, we welcome the return of a local favourite. Couch Stories is back with the much-loved couch and all new stories.

Everyone loves a good bedtime story - here’s your chance to spend a Festival event in your PJs.

Join singer, taonga pūoro musician and writer Ariana Tikao and photographer Matt Calman for a kōrero about the stunning illustrated nonfiction book, Mokorua: Ngā kōrero mō tōku moko kauae - My story of moko kauae, which is a revealing and emotional account of how Ariana received her moko kauae. Held in conjunction with Kanohi Kitea, an exhibition that presents tā moko amongst tangata whenua.