WORD Christchurch
WORD Christchurch's mission is to bring the community together through its love of words in all their forms. WORD Christchurch presents a variety of literary events, from a festival – the largest literary event in the South Island – to one-off events with visiting and local authors.
2024
US Election Lowdown: What Just Happened?
WORD Christchurch Festival 2024
Trent Dalton: Lola in the Mirror
A Night with Trent Dalton: WORD Christchurch
Australian writer Trent Dalton’s dazzling coming-of-age debut Boy Swallows Universe captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide ... He joins The Spinoff’s Alex Casey to discuss his writing, life, and bighearted new novel Lola in the Mirror.
WORD Christchurch event in partnership with Christchurch Art Gallery – Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Auckland Writers Festival and HarperCollins New Zealand.
Sinéad Gleeson: Islands, Art & Identity
Featured
Sinéad Gleeson: Islands, Art & Identity: WORD Christchurch
Monday 13 May 6pm to 7pm
Tautoru TSB Space, Tūranga
Bestselling Irish author Sinéad Gleeson’s new novel Hagstone is a beautifully written and hauntingly atmospheric look at human nature, the mysteries of faith and the magic of the natural world. On a wild and remote island, artist Nell takes her inspiration from the rugged landscape and folklore. The mysterious Inions are a commune of women who have established themselves on the island for a sense of safety and solace in nature. The sea is steady for now. The land readies itself. What can be done with the women on the cliff?
Gleeson is also the author of the stunning essay collection Constellations: Reflections of Life, the editor of The Art of the Glimpse: 100 Irish Short Stories, and co-edited This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music with Kim Gordon. She joins WORD Christchurch’s Programme Director Kiran Dass in conversation.
In partnership with Auckland Writers Festival, Verb Wellington, and HarperCollins New Zealand.
Featured
What We Talk About When We Talk About Irish Literature
Richard Ford gets Frank - WORD Christchurch
2023
Ngaio Marsh Awards and Crime Quiz Night
Kiwi Quiz Night and the Ngaio Marsh Awards 2023: Yeah Noir
Local Histories, Local Stories
Wednesday 22 November 6pm to 7pm, Tautoru / TSB Space, Tūranga
Stevan Eldred-Grigg and Peter Graham are key storytellers who are preserving vital Canterbury historical narratives. Both have a fascination for when local Canterbury stories become histories, some more fictional than others. Join us for what will be a compelling conversation exploring some beguiling historical narratives, including the infamous Parker/Hulme case and the Timaru Poisonings. In discussion with Te Maire Tau (Ngāi Tahu).
Find books by authors
WORD Christchurch 2023
Eleanor Catton
Birnam Wood: Eleanor Catton comes to Burnside
Ben Macintyre
Colditz and More: Spies & Espionage: Ben Macintyre Live
WORD Christchurch information
- Visit the WORD Christchurch website
- Follow @WORDChCh on Twitter
- Follow WORDchch on Instagram
- Like WORD Christchurch on Facebook
- Listen to WORD Christchurch podcasts
WORD Christchurch photos
Images from the WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival, and events.
2022 events
WORD Christchurch Festival 2022
Photos of WORD Christchurch Festival 2022
Freedom, Only Freedom - Behrouz Boochani returns to WORD
Vinyl, Art & Community: Needles and Plastic - WORD Chch
Chris Parker at The Piano: A good time for everyone
Freedom, Only Freedom: Behrouz Boochani: WORD Christchurch
Needles & Plastic : Flying Nun Records, 1981-1988: WORD Chch
Chris Parker is here for a good time - WORD Chch Weds 16 Nov
Flying Nun, Behrouz Boochani, & Chris Parker: WORD Chch
WORD Christchurch Festival coverage
WORD Christchurch Festival 2022
WORD Christchurch Festival 2021
WORD Christchurch Spring Festival 2020
2019 Events
WORD Christchurch 2019
Behrouz Boochani: Writing from Manus Island
Michael Pedersen, Omar Musa, and Dominic Hoey return to WORD
WORD Christchurch: An evening with Zadie Smith
Toby Faber - WORD Christchurch
- Behrouz Boochani Friday 29 November
- Omar Musa, Michael Pedersen, Dominic Hoey Friday 15 November
- Zadie Smith Wednesday 13 November
- Toby Faber Sunday 11 August
- What a fool honesty is Wednesday 31 July
- Adrian Hayes: One Man's Climb Thursday 4 April
Shifting points of view - 18 August to 14 September 2019
Visit our page on Shifting points of view.
WORD Christchurch Autumn Season 2019
Read our posts on the WORD Christchurch Autumn Season. Wednesday 8 May to Saturday 25 May 2019.
Photos
WORD Christchurch Festival 2018
Posts and reports on festival events for 2018
2018 Events
Lee Child Friday 23 November 7pm
Photos
Kaveh Akbar Tuesday 6 November 6.30pm
Photos
- Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton Marshallows, Money, and Madness Sunday 22 July 2pm
Photos of the Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton Treehouse Tour - Robert Webb - How not to be a boy Tuesday 15 May 7.30pm
- The Amazing Jeff Kinney Wednesday 2 May 6pm
Photos - A feast of Francis - An hour with Francis Spufford Wednesday 7 March 7pm
Photos - Dip your pen in your own psyche: An interview with Francis Spufford Wednesday 7 March 7pm
- Mutton chops, and door knockers, face fungus and designer stubble - Lucinda Hawksley at the Christchurch Art Gallery Sunday 11 February
- 10 reasons to love Nigella Lawson Thursday 8 February
2017
- Shifting points of View — Christchurch Arts Festival 1 to 16 September
Photos - WORD Christchurch Autumn Season 14 to 17 May
Photos - Fiona Farrell: Decline and Fall on Savage Street launch 1 August
- Hera Lindsay Bird and Ashleigh Young 22 March
Photos - All about (Nasty) women 5 March
- All about women
- My library - Rachael King
- Hear Orphan X author Gregg Hurwitz in Christchurch 1 March
- Reading poetry around the world 26 January
WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival 2016
Jane Smiley - May 2016
Anis Mojgani - March 2016
- Fiercely hopeful and in love
- A new chapter: An interview with Anis Mojgani
- Things we LOVE about poet Anis Mojgani
- Geraldine Brooks and the Pulitzer Surprise 18 November 2015
Shifting points of view – 30 August and 7 September 2015
Shifting points of view was a bumper crop of sessions from top writers and commentators. It was WORD Christchurch's part of the Christchurch Arts Festival and warmed the cockles of enquiring minds. Read our coverage:
- Patricia Grace and Paula Morris: On Belonging
- Imaginary Cities: Fiona Farrell, Anna Smaill, Hamish Clayton, Hugh Nicholson, chaired by Lara Strongman
- Quick questions with Anna Smaill
- Margaret Wilson: The Struggle for sovereignty
- Quick questions with Margaret Wilson
- Quick questions with Suki Kim
- A half circle journey: Suki Kim and North Korea
- Jesse Bering: On Perversion
- Pride and Perversion
- On effective altruism – Peter Singer
- Sarah Waters at Shifting Points of View
- WORD Christchurch photos
- WORD Christchurch Autumn Season 12 to 17 May 2015
- Feminism is a feminist issue 8 March 2015
2014
Earlier festivals and events
- Michael Palin gets a Brazilian … 2 November 2012
- The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2012
- Our coverage of The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2010 links to interviews we conducted before the Festival was cancelled.
- The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2008
- The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2006
Our page on literary festivals and events.
