WORD Christchurch Festival Opens Tomorrow!

Not long now until more than 100 writers, thinkers and performers from New Zealand and around the world take to the spaces and places of Ōtautahi Christchurch offering a feast of fresh ideas, music, powerful stories and creative escapes at WORD Christchurch Festival which opens this Wednesday 27 August and runs until Sunday 31 August.

The festival, which offers a thrilling mix of more than 50 free and ticketed events, is thoughtfully curated to appeal to all ages, for all readers, performance and music lovers, and for anyone with a curious mind and a sense of fun.

WORD programme director Kiran Dass says tickets are flying out the door.

“Some sessions have already sold out so book your tickets now! We’ve got something for everyone, whether it’s a quiz night, an open-air boogie, insightful panel discussions, getting up close to your best-loved authors, and discovering new ones. I can’t wait to welcome you all.”

WORD Festival executive director Steph Walker says she is proud to present a world-class festival right here in Ōtautahi Christchurch that people are really getting behind.

“WORD is a gem in the city’s arts and festivals scene, with a festival full of books, stories, performance and community-minded events. More than 22 percent of the programme is free, with select sessions’ tickets at a pay-what-you-can-afford price thanks to the support of our partners.”

Beloved comedian Tom Sainsbury will have us giggling as he lures out literary dirt from three game writers. Hear acclaimed Australian writer Charlotte Wood talk about her Booker Prize shortlisted novel Stone Yard Devotional. Be transported by the power of Australian Indigenous poet and artist Dominic Guerrera (Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna).

Catherine Chidgey joins WORD fresh from a UK tour with her bestselling The Book of Guilt. While her in conversation session has sold out, you can still catch her in the Queens of Atmosphere panel with Charlotte Wood and Michelle Duff. The Ockhams 2025 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction winner Damien Wilkins will discuss his poignant novel Delirious. We’ll see another side of globally acclaimed Aotearoa author Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu) as she performs poetry in the ever-popular Confluence – a celebration of cultural, musical and ancestral connections.

We are thrilled to showcase the extraordinary story of farmer and fashionista Eden Hore, who amassed the largest collection of 1970s and 80s New Zealand high fashion garments in Australasia and showed them off in a converted tractor shed until his death in 1997. Now the subject of a stunning book – Central Otago Couture, enjoy listening to this remarkable story at a special event which includes a rare look at pieces from the collection.

WORD celebrates treasured Ōtautahi Christchurch author and illustrator Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa); and Jessica Hutchings(Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarati) joins us for sessions about food sovereignty and talks about her Dream Dinner Party, hot on the heels after being nominated for two awards at the prestigious international Gourmand Food Awards, known as the Oscars of Gastronomy.

Two inspiring voices Petra Bagust and Niki Bezzant are on hand to help us navigate mid-life; and three powerful women Ali Mau, Diana Wichtel and Susie Ferguson feature with their revealing and entertaining memoirs.

If true crime fascinates you, we have Steve Braunias in discussion about the infamous Polkinghorne case.

If you’re interested in the seismic media and political shifts of late, there’s much to delve into. The Spinoff’s Toby Manhire, Radio New Zealand's Chief Executive Paul Thompson, The Press Editor Kamala Hayman and former Head of Premium for New Zealand HeraldMiriyana Alexander discuss the state of our media; The Spinoff’s political podcast Gone By Lunchtime joins us for a live episode; and there’s some sharp satire about Wellington’s political power brokers with Brannavan Gnanalingam.

Join WORD for an exploration of our history with Michael Belgrave, author of the landmark title Becoming Aotearoa; and distinguished archaeologist Atholl Anderson (Ngāi Tahu) shares the dynamics of an evolving southern world in his groundbreaking book The Welcome of Strangers: A History of Southern Māori.

Join the All Blacks’ psychology coach Gilbert Enoka as he shares secrets to success, defines resilience and talks about how to foster a winning team culture. Have a Beer with writer and raconteur Duncan Sarkies in a night of comic storytelling

Take a leap of poetic faith and head along to Chris Tse’s Love at First Line: A Poetry Dating Show. We promise you will not regret it.Three mystery poets will be concealed behind a screen from a special guest contestant (another hot WORD guest) who will ask the poets questions before choosing who has most wooed them with just the power of words. All this while the audience watches it unfold.

There’s plenty of fun for tamariki and rangatahi, too, including a free Storywalk through the Margaret Mahy Family Playground. And don’t miss Word – the Front Line where Ōtautahi’s finest high school voices battle it out for the slam poetry champion crown. Head to the Edmonds Band Rotunda by the Ōtākaro Avon River on Saturday afternoon for Rangatahi Boogie featuring award-winning singing storytellers Loopy Tunes.

WORD Christchurch Festival warmly thanks major funders Christchurch City Council, Creative New Zealand and the Rātā Foundation; principal funders the University of Canterbury, a myriad of partners, and all festival patrons and supporters and supporting publishers.

For the full WORD programme go to: www.wordchristchurch.co.nz

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