About

WORD Christchurch presents a huge variety of literary events, from our biennial Writers & Readers Festival – the largest literary event in the South Island – to one-off events with visiting and local authors. In May each year we partner with the Auckland Writers Festival for an Autumn Season, and in August and September on the festival off-year we partner with Christchurch Arts Festival for a series of ideas-based events. Past guests include such luminaries as Eleanor Catton, Anna Smaill, Margaret Atwood, Ivan Coyote, Chris Cleave, Meg Wolitzer, David Mitchell, NoViolet Bulawayo, Tim Flannery, Caitlin Doughty, Alexander McCall Smith, Helen Macdonald, Michael Palin, Julia Gillard, Jung Chang, Geraldine Brooks, Jane Smiley, Ruth Reichl and children’s sensations David Walliams and Andy Griffiths. Our events bring writers, thinkers and performers together to celebrate the written word and provide a window for readers to respond to ideas. We have relationships with other organisations in Christchurch with the aim of including as many people from the community as possible to be part of our events.

Next WORD Christchurch Festival 29 August – 2 September 2018