Auckland Writers Festival Artistic Director Lyndsey Fineran introduces the 2024 AWF Programme
Published: Tuesday 23 April 2024
Kia ora, haere mai. Hello and welcome to the 2024 Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki Programme.
I'm very proud to introduce you to the 220+ writers and some 200 events making up the six packed Festival days in May. The talented AWF team and I have worked hard to bring some of the biggest names from around the globe; to celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand's incredible authors and creatives; to tackle the big topics facing us and to create some delight and fun that may make you think differently about how literature festivals look, and who they're for.
My hope is that AWF '24 feels like the world's best bookshop brought to life, that all feel welcome in, and I hope you'll enjoy browsing it. And because we want everyone to be able to share in the joy, more than 25% of our activity is completely free and unticketed.
Below is a taster of what's in store for May, or you can explore the full programme here, or pick up a hard copy around the city. Whether you're a long-term attendee, or thinking of trying us for the first time - you're welcome here.
On behalf of myself, my co-leader Catriona Ferguson and the whole AWF whānau, we can't wait to see you in May.
Fiction Greats
From left to right: Ann Patchett, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Paul Lynch, Bonnie Garmus, Patricia Grace, Emily Perkins, Trent Dalton, Becky Manawatu, Catherine Chidgey, Leïla Slimani, Lauren Groff, Abraham Verghese, Celeste Ng, Richard Flanagan, Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Pip Adam.
A stellar line-up of fiction greats delve into their work in a mix of conversations, panels and discussions live on stage at the Aotea Centre. Explore a world of wonder hearing from Booker, Pulitzer and Ockham NZ Book Award winners and bestselling authors from close to home and around the globe.
Non-Fiction & Current Affairs
From left to right: Anne Salmond, Peter Frankopan, Anna Funder, Shashi Tharoor, Carmel Sepuloni, Katy Hessel, Shubigi Rao, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Emma Espiner, Jared Savage, Olivia ‘Liv’ Sisson, Leslie Jamison, Sean Mallon, Ceri Evans, Natalie Haynes, Kate Evans.
Global thinkers, experts and leading commentators tackle the big topics facing us in an unsettled world and introduce you to a fascinating range of non-fiction subjects.
Live Lit and Big Nights Out
From left to right: Sam Neill, STREETSIDE: BRITOMART, Tory Kingi, A Room of One's Own, He Māori, Joshua Ip, Natalie Haynes, Tusiata Avia, Dan Carter, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024, Dai Henwood, Badjelly the Witch, Rehekōrero.
Putting the festive into festival with spoken word and music, performance and poetry, intimate revelations and theatre, this is literature done differently. Something for every age and stage from the very young to the late-night revellers.
Debut Voices
Alongside established writers, discover a huge and diverse cohort of fresh new voices spanning literary fiction, crime, horror, sport, erotica, natural history, memoir and much more.
Masterclasses
From left to right: Emma Hislop, Arihia Latham, Emily Perkins, Lynn Davidson, Catherine Chidgey, Jerry Pinto, Lee Murray, Pip Adam, James Wenley, Anna Smaill, Leslie Jamison, Sinéad Gleeson, Shivram Gopinath, Gavin Strawhan.
Whether you’re looking for motivation, craft development or to connect with other writers, there are 14 amazing Masterclasses to choose from designed to enhance and broaden your writing skills. Book quickly – these go fast!
Family Fun
Children are invited to bring their adults and the secret ingredients of curiosity and play to transform - and be transformed - by a host of largely free and family friendly events in the Herald Theatre and on the fifth floor of the Aotea Centre.
Save the dates: the 2024 Auckland Writers Festival takes place 14 - 19 May. See you there!
