Simon Winchester: Pacific Future

Simon Winchester: Pacific Future

Writers Week 10 Mar

With 25 books to his name, British writer Simon Winchester is a maven of popular narrative history, renowned for titles such as The Map that Changed the World.
NZ
Stand Up and Be Counted

Stand Up and Be Counted

Writers Week 11 Mar

How visible are New Zealand's women playwrights? Writer Emily Perkins discusses with four of them.
NZ
The Theory of Anthony

The Theory of Anthony

Writers Week 12 Mar

From Ladies Night to The Theory of Everything, Wellington to Hollywood – hear Anthony McCarten discuss his career to date with actor Miranda Harcourt.
NZ
Who the Hell Are We?

Who the Hell Are We?

Writers Week 11 Mar

Are we representing New Zealand honestly on stage? Join some of our best playwrights as they discuss. 
NZ
Playreading: funnygirl by Anthony McCarten

Playreading: funnygirl by Anthony McCarten

Writers Week 12 Mar

Based on his novel of the same name, Anthony McCarten's funnygirl pleads for tolerance, the freedom of individuals and the freedom of art.
NZ
Jamie Curry & Mallory Ortberg: Life Online

Jamie Curry & Mallory Ortberg: Life Online

Writers Week 10 Mar

Internet sensations Jamie Curry and Mallory Ortberg discuss feminism and life online with Lizzie Marvelly. Prepare to be #schooled. 
NZ
Anna Mackenzie: WWI Voices

Anna Mackenzie: WWI Voices

Writers Week 10 Mar

YA writer Anna Mackenzie shares WWI letters between her grandfather and great uncle that led to her novel Evie's War. 
Anis Mojgani: Slam Poet

Anis Mojgani: Slam Poet

Writers Week 10 Mar

US slam poet Anis Mojgani delights audiences with his “fiercely hopeful word arias”. 
Christopher McDougall: Enduring Heroes

Christopher McDougall: Enduring Heroes

Writers Week 10 Mar

Alternative runner Christopher McDougall talks about extraordinary feats of endurance and 42-kilometre barefoot runs. 
Mallory Ortberg: Texts on Toast

Mallory Ortberg: Texts on Toast

Writers Week 11 Mar

Media game-changer and co-founder of website The Toast, Californian Mallory Ortberg brings her wit and wisdom to Writers Week. 
Patrick Gale: The Disappeared

Patrick Gale: The Disappeared

Writers Week 11 Mar

British writer Patrick Gale, author of 15 novels, talks about his work, including latest book A Place Called Winter.  
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It's Not About the Bike

It's Not About the Bike

Writers Week 11 Mar

Lloyd Geering and David Coventry talk about cultural memory as created through sport. 
Etgar Keret: This Israeli Life

Etgar Keret: This Israeli Life

Writers Week 11 Mar

Israeli writer Etgar Keret chats with Damien Wilkins about his book The Seven Good Years – and why it won’t be published in Israel. 
NZ
Romancing the Bestseller Charts

Romancing the Bestseller Charts

Writers Week 11 Mar

Is there such a thing as success in romance? These New Zealand authors prove there most definitely is. 
Robert Dessaix: What Days Are For

Robert Dessaix: What Days Are For

11 Mar

Beloved Australian writer Robert Dessaix discusses travel, religion and the benefits of a good gossip.
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Nnedi Okorafor: Magic Futurist

Nnedi Okorafor: Magic Futurist

Writers Week 11 Mar

American/Nigerian writer of magic futurism Nnedi Okorafor talks science fiction and folk tales. 
Andrew O'Hagan: Illuminations

Andrew O'Hagan: Illuminations

Writers Week 11 Mar

Hear one of the UK’s most talented and daring authors discuss his novel The Illuminations, a saga that casts “a shimmering light on love and memory, life and loss”. 
NZ
What's So Funny?

What's So Funny?

Writers Week 11 Mar

Four of our funniest prove that comedy is no laughing matter. 
Jasper Fforde: Lost in a Good Book

Jasper Fforde: Lost in a Good Book

Writers Week 11 Mar

Bestselling author Jasper Fforde takes us on a journey through his fantastical career to date. 
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Anis Mojgani: Slam Rhythms

Anis Mojgani: Slam Rhythms

Writers Week 11 Mar

US poetry slam champ Anis Mojgani joins Marty Smith for an exploration of rhythm and sound. 
Testing the Limits

Testing the Limits

Writers Week 12 Mar

What separates the ordinary from the extraordinary? Hear four endurance athletes and writers talk about the limits of human potential. 
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Three Soul Writers

Three Soul Writers

Writers Week 12 Mar

Magic? Realism? Or both? Three writers talk death, spirituality, and the impact of the past, the future and even the unseen on the present. 
Weathering Catastrophe

Weathering Catastrophe

Writers Week 12 Mar

Inspired by Simon Winchester’s novel Pacific: The Ocean of the Future, two experts talk to Simon about how Aotearoa responds to climate issues in the Pacific Rim. 
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Novel Ways of Thinking

Novel Ways of Thinking

Writers Week 12 Mar

Hear some of Writers Week’s finest novelists discuss the inspiration behind some of their writing – you may go home with some new tips to follow it through. 
NZ
Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader

Writers Week 12 Mar

What makes a good leader? Is there something different about leadership in NZ? Four diverse leaders discuss what works and what doesn’t in a lively debate.
Taking Form

Taking Form

Writers Week 12 Mar

Three of Aotearoa’s best multi-genre artists join Canadian guest Mariko Tamaki for a fun conversation on collaboration.
NZ
The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right

Writers Week 12 Mar

Do YA authors ‘get’ young adults? Sally Gardner, Cornelia Funke and Ted Dawe talk to Mandy Hager about some of the issues addressed in YA fiction. 
NZ
Better Together

Better Together

Writers Week 12 Mar

Technophobe? Maybe you’re misreading the potential of technology to inspire social change. Hear two IT geeks discuss technology and teamwork with poet Helen Heath. 
Adam Rutherford: Inside Science

Adam Rutherford: Inside Science

Writers Week 12 Mar

BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science broadcaster Adam Rutherford, whose career includes adviser to sci-fi films, presents science like you’ve never seen it before. 
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Five Poets and a Prize

Five Poets and a Prize

Writers Week 12 Mar

Join the Friends of the Lauris Edmond Memorial Award for readings by five New Zealand poets. Afterward, the biennial award will be presented by Fergus Barrowman of Victoria University Press. 
NZ
Ice Science

Ice Science

Writers Week 12 Mar

Rebecca Priestley, Tim Naish and Rhian Salmon from Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Science talk Antarctica, polar sunrises and sexually depraved penguins. 
NZ
Looking Back, Looking Forward

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Writers Week 12 Mar

Four of Aotearoa’s sharpest thinkers take to the stage for a celebration of one of the biggest and best publishing projects in recent years, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History.
The New Age of Genomics

The New Age of Genomics

Writers Week 13 Mar

What might advances in DNA sequencing mean for the future of sex, species and human survival? Adam Rutherford joins NZ experts Peter Dearden, Susan Morton and Colin Gavaghan for this engaging conversation. 
Family
Paul Beavis: Crunch! Munch! Chew!

Paul Beavis: Crunch! Munch! Chew!

Writers Week 13 Mar

For a super fun storytelling session, bring your little monsters to hear New Zealand children’s writer Paul Beavis. Dressing up is encouraged – and there are prizes! 
Family
Sally Gardner: Maggot Moon

Sally Gardner: Maggot Moon

Writers Week 13 Mar

Deemed unteachable at school, children’s author Sally Gardner, who is a proud dyslexic, chats to Anna Mackenzie about magic, time travel and other wonders. 
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Debating New Zealand

Debating New Zealand

Writers Week 13 Mar

Is our public discourse equipped to deal with the challenges and opportunities that New Zealanders face? A new generation of social commentators give their opinions.
Family
Mariko Tamaki: Drawing on Life

Mariko Tamaki: Drawing on Life

Writers Week 13 Mar

Co-writer of the first graphic novel to win the Caldecott Medal, This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki is cool, calm and collected about her success. She joins Kate De Goldi in conversation.
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Our Nation's Fiction: Read or Dead?

Our Nation's Fiction: Read or Dead?

Writers Week 13 Mar

What is New Zealand fiction and why are 97% of us rejecting it? Join Witi Ihimaera, Catherine Robertson, Paula Morris and Paul Cleave as they look for answers. 
Family
Cornelia Funke: Reckless, Fearless, Heartless

Cornelia Funke: Reckless, Fearless, Heartless

Writers Week 13 Mar

Magic and fantasy are topics German children’s writer Cornelia Funke is an expert on.  Cornelia is magical to listen to – hear her tell stories with Jo Randerson. 
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So French

So French

Writers Week 13 Mar

Love France? Two French writers and a Kiwi expat share their thoughts on philosophy, society and of course France. 
FamilyNZ
Weta Digital Presents Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Weta Digital Presents Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Writers Week 13 Mar

From zombie-like humans to terrifying Cranks, discover Weta Digital’s secrets behind the making of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, based on the popular YA novel by James Dashner. 
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Literary Idol

Literary Idol

Writers Week 13 Mar

Like Pop Idol, but better. Literary Idol gives you the chance to get the first page of your novel undressed and assessed by some of the world’s best novelists. Are you brave enough? 
NZ
Literature or Ephemera?

Literature or Ephemera?

Writers Week 11 Mar

Plays seldom get repeat showings. Some gather dust, few go on forever. Hear the experts discuss the life of a stage work. 
FamilyNZ
Joy Cowley: A Joyful Life

Joy Cowley: A Joyful Life

Writers Week 13 Mar

To celebrate her 80th year, Joy Cowley returns to Writers Week to delight adults and children alike.