WORD CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVAL 2026 DATES FOR THE DIARY: 1- 6 September
If you're getting your 2026 sorted, be sure to be in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the first week of Spring. Our annual festival will have the city buzzing.
#datesforthediary #wordchch #christchurchnz #nzlit #nzfestivals
Ōtautahi, autumn has arrived, alongside some truly superb authors. Come along to one or all of these conversations - they are bound to warm and inspire.
Save this post for later or buy your tickets today. Link in bio.
Are you an established creative writer dreaming of a desk with a view of the south of France?
The Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship applications are open now, closing on 12 June. We would love to see an Ōtautahi writer jet off to Europe in 2027!
Find information at thearts.co.nz/awards/katherine-mansfield-menton-fellowship.
WORD loves bringing the buzz to Ōtautahi tamariki. The 2025 Rangatahi Boogie brought the love of stories and words to young people through music, movement and fun! 💚
Our WORD Champions keep events like this free, uplifting the next generation of page turners, orators, and curious minds.
Go to our website to learn more about becoming a WORD Champion. Link in bio.
#youngreaders
Last night Karen Hao joined Victoria Meakin for a kōrero about her brilliant book, Empire of AI. We knew Karen would be an excellent speaker but we were wowed by her generosity, thoughtfulness and warmth. Please come again, Karen!
She now zooms up to Tāmaki Makaurau for @aklwritersfest and to meet with the Te Hiku Media team, who she writes about as a community-driven innovator in her hope-filled epilogue in the book.
Art, literature and crafts collide in Christchurch Art Gallery’s upcoming zine making workshop.
Join acclaimed essayist, @nadineannehura (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Pākehā) and make a zine with her over a leisurely few hours. Maybe you’ll want to respond to Ana Iti’s (Te Rarawa, Ngāi Tūpoto, Ngāti Here) Ngahere Behind a Pile of Metal installation? The exhibit explores the artist’s research into kauri logging, inspecting our relationships to the natural and built environments.
This intimate workshop is ticketed and bound to sell out. Head to @chchartgallery 's website to book.
Our pātaka pukapuka (little library) is chocka full of great reads. Bleu has nabbed Louise Erdrich’s newest short story collection, Python’s Kiss, but luckily you can hear from her in person on 26 May at WORD. Tickets on sale now through our website. Link in bio.
What are you doing on Monday night? Last call for tickets to see Karen Hao in conversation! Her incisive book, 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘐, reveals the truth behind ChatGPT. Karen illuminates a world shrouded by jargon and NDAs, and has been recognised for her contributions to journalism by the National Book Critics Circle, among others.
She speaks to Ōtautahi for one night only, next Monday 11 May. Tickets found at the link in the bio.
Louise Erdrich is coming to Ōtautahi in May, and for many, she is one of their favourite writers. She is a poet, memoirist and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and fiction writer, with books for tamariki and adults alike.
Louise is one of the most significant writers of the second wave of the Native American Resistance, and her stories have a powerful resonance here in Aotearoa. Kate De Goldi has written a glowing primer about Louise’s writing, here: https://readingambassador.nz/posts/holiday-reading-with-louise-erdrich
Louise joins Nic Low (Ngāi Tahu) in conversation on Tue 26 May. Tickets are still available at the link in bio.
Happy New Zealand Sign Language week! It’s a milestone year for Aotearoa’s third official language, marking 20 years since it has held that title and recognition.
This year, the theme is “An Aotearoa Where Anyone Can Sign, Anywhere”. Bleu has been learning NZSL and shares some common signs for our office essentials (especially the last sign!). Save this video for later as a reminder to practise your NZSL. There are heaps of great resources over at @deafaotearoa to brush up on your skills.
We’re keen to ensure there is some NZSL interpretation at WORD festival this year. What sort of event would you like to share with your D/deaf friends, colleagues and whānau members?
#nzslweek
Today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, so we’re raising a glass to our wine partner.
Main Divide @pegasusbaywine makes a gorgeous Sav that pairs beautifully with a good read on any day of the year.
Main Divide is found at all good supermarkets, and also at WORD events as one of our long term partners. Cheers!
From late night ‘reading raves’ to dedicated cafe reading hours, silent reading gatherings are taking the world by storm and now hit Ōtautahi Christchurch.
How does it work?
BYO book or peruse the shelves at Te Wā. Slip into companionable silence with other readers, and talk about your book in an optional kōrero afterwards. Bringing snacks and drinks is encouraged, as is koha to Te Wā. Everyone and any book genre is welcome.
Reading sessions run most Sundays, with the next this weekend: Sun 3 May.
For more info, get in touch with the team: [email protected]
