Writers + Kōrero

WRITING FUNNY STORIES: SCHOOLS' WORKSHOPS
Elma Turner Library
Wed 18 Oct | 1.30pm | 75 min
Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library
Thurs 19 Oct | 9.30am | 75 min
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.
PUKAPUKA TALKS
Various Locations
Thu 19 - Sat 28 Oct | Various times
We’re proud to feature a star-studded line up of 28 of Aotearoa’s most beloved authors and exciting new voices.

IN THE TEMPLE
The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
Thurs 19 Oct | 5.30pm | 20 min
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.
THE SAVAGE COLONISER SHOW
Theatre Royal
Thurs 19 + Fri 20 Oct | 8pm | 70 min
Schools Show: Fri 20 Oct 1pm
Fierce, furious, fabulously unforgiving: from its premiere at Auckland Arts Festival comes the celebrated stage adaptation of Tusiata Avia’s unapologetic poetry collection.
TOOLS FOR NAVIGATING OUR CRAZY WORLD
Suter Theatre
Fri 20 Oct | 12.30pm | 60 min
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.
WHEN THE PAST CATCHES UP
Suter Theatre
Fri 20 Oct | 3pm | 60 min
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.
PRIDE THROUGH POETRY WITH EMMA | WORKSHOP
Surprise Location
Fri 20 Oct | 4.30pm | 60 mins
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.
WINE O’CLOCK MYTH MEETS THE DRINKING GAME
Suter Theatre
Fri 20 Oct | 6pm | 60 min
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.
KĀWAI: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Suter Theatre
Sat 21 Oct | 11am | 60 min
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.
END TIMES: THE QUESTION OF HOPE
Suter Theatre
Sat 21 Oct | 1.30pm | 60 min
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.
DAZZLING NEW VOICES
Suter Theatre
Sat 21 Oct | 4pm | 60 min
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.
CELEBRATION OF HIWA
The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
Sat 21 Oct | 5pm | 60 min
RSVPs essential
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.
TACKLING HATE: FACING UP TO FEAR & LOATHING IN AOTEAROA
Theatre Royal
Sun 22 Oct | 11am | 60 min
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).
THERE’S A CURE FOR THIS
Theatre Royal
Sun 22 Oct | 1.30pm | 60 min
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.
LITERARY CITIZENSHIP: A WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS
Elma Turner Library
Sun 22 Oct | 3pm | 60 min
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.
WITI & FRIENDS GALA NIGHT
Theatre Royal
Sun 22 Oct | 7pm | 90 min
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.
VICTORY POETRY SLAM
Poetry Workshop: Victory Community Centre
Mon 23 Oct | 11.30am | 120 min
Performance: Victory Boxing
Mon 23 Oct | 4pm | 60 min
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.
FORAGING YOUR WAY TO WELLNESS
Moutere Hills Community Centre
Mon 23 Oct | 12pm | 60 min
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.
AFTER DARK II: DUSK CHORUS
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Mon 23 Oct | 7.30pm | 130 min
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.
COUNTER-CULTURE
Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library
Tues 24 Oct | 6pm | 60 min
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.
SENTIMENTAL TUNES WORKSHOP
Cultural Conversations
Tues 24 Oct | 7pm | 75 min
You are warmly invited for an evening where we will share stories of our sentimental tunes.
TENSE
Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library
Wed 25 Oct | 7.30pm | 60 min
Theatre Royal
Thurs 26 Oct | 8pm | 60 min
Schools Show: Fri 27 Oct | 1pm
Māori Theatre about the Nelson Tenths with pūrākau, taonga pūoro, waiata, and poetry, from the artists behind sell-out hit Parihaka.
COUCH STORIES
NCMA
Wed 25 Oct | 8pm | 90 min
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.
SPANISH LANGUAGE STORYTIME
Cultural Conversations
Thurs 26 Oct | 6.30pm | 60 min
Everyone loves a good bedtime story - here’s your chance to spend a Festival event in your PJs.
MOKORUA: NGĀ KŌRERO MŌ TŌKU MOKO KAUAE – MY STORY OF MOKO KAUAE
Suter Theatre
Sat 28 Oct | 2pm | 60 min
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.