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Non-fiction Events at WORD Christchurch Festival

CREATE A ZINE

23 Aug - 25 Aug 2023 9:00 am

Come to the Youth Space at Tūranga to make your own zine! 

LOST THE PLOT! THE WORD QUIZ NIGHT

Wednesday, 23 August 6:30 pm

Who doesn't love a quiz? Roll up for this quiz night with your host Ray Shipley.

DIRTY PASSPORTS

Thursday, 24 August 8:00 pm

Bringing this sell-out show to his hometown, Chinese-Kiwi playwright Nathan Joe has curated a celebration of the finest BIPOC storytellers and spoken word artists.

MASTERCLASS: BYRON C CLARK: INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH

Friday, 25 August 10:30 am

MASTERCLASS: MELODY THOMAS: PODCASTING

Friday, 25 August 1:30 pm

SUMMONING WHAKAPAPA

Friday, 25 August 5:00 pm

Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) and Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) discuss writing family histories and the protection of whakapapa with Helen Brown (Ngāi Tahu).

WEAR YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK

Friday, 25 August 5:30 pm

Learn the basics of graphic design to create an artwork inspired by your favourite book using Tūranga's vinyl printing gear.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Friday, 25 August 7:00 pm

Our ever-popular tiny lecture series returns as Emily Perkins, Gabriel Krauze, Andrew Paul Wood, Melody Thomas and Juanita Hepi share their weird and wonderful deep obsessions.

NOT SET IN STONE: DAVID VASS [ON DEMAND]

25 Aug - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

David Vass was one of New Zealand's leading mountaineers, until an accident in Fiordland in 2015 ended his climbing life. His memoir, Not Set in Stone, charts how his world has changed.

DR HINEMOA ELDER AND DR EMMA ESPINER: MAKING IT BETTER

Saturday, 26 August 10:30 am

Dr Hinemoa Elder (Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi) and Dr Emma Espiner’s (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Porou) share a kōrero about their mahi in healthcare and their beautiful books.

FUNGI: A CURIOUS HIKOI WITH LIV SISSON

26 Aug - 27 Aug 2023 10:30 am

Join Fungi of Aotearoa: A Curious Forager’s Field Guide author Liv Sisson for a stroll and a forage in our own urban garden. Walk along the Avon River/Ōtākaro to discover what delights can be found along the banks.

MASTERCLASS: ANNA ROGERS: BEHIND THE RED PEN – HOW EDITING WORKS

Saturday, 26 August 10:30 am

POLLY BARTON: ORAL HISTORIES

Saturday, 26 August 12:30 pm

British writer and translator Polly Barton in conversation with Melody Thomas about her books Porn: An Oral History and memoir Fifty Sounds.

SHANEEL LAL: ONE OF THEM

Saturday, 26 August 2:30 pm

2023 Young New Zealander of the Year Shaneel Lal in conversation with Mahdis Azarmandi about their stunning and powerful memoir One of Them.

COOKING THE BOOKS: FINANCE WITH FRANCES COOK

Saturday, 26 August 3:00 pm

Business journalist Frances Cook, in conversation with Guyon Espiner about practical and achievable financial advice.

ŌTAUTAHI ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR

Saturday, 26 August 3:00 pm

Explore Ōtautahi's CBD through fresh eyes with this guided walking tour by John Walsh and Patrick Reynolds.

COERCION, CULTS AND CONTROL

Saturday, 26 August 5:30 pm

Anke Richter, Byron C Clark and Lilia Tarawa join Guyon Espiner to discuss how people can fall into the disinformation trap.

SHIFTING FOUNDATIONS

Saturday, 26 August 6:00 pm

Taking the book Shifting Foundations: Postquake Architecture of Ōtautahi Christchurch as a starting point, five speakers talk about one of their favourite post-quake buildings and imagine another in a quick-fire celebration of words and the city.

HIGH TEA WITH SAM MANNERING

Sunday, 27 August 10:30 am

Sam Mannering hosts this special morning tea featuring several of his own baked treats along with The George’s house specialties.

THE QUIET HERO: ANDREW BAGSHAW

Sunday, 27 August 10:30 am

In The Quiet Hero, Philip Matthews tells the extraordinary story of Andrew Bagshaw. Join Philip and Dame Sue and Phil Bagshaw, speaking with Kamala Hayman, to launch this special biography.

GONE BY LUNCHTIME: LIVE!

Sunday, 27 August 12:30 pm

A special live edition of The Spinoff's politics podcast Gone by Lunchtime.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING QUEER JOY

Sunday, 27 August 12:30 pm

Shaneel Lal, A. J. Fitzwater and Karen Healey join Jennifer Katherine Shields in a conversation about the importance of writing queer characters and personal narratives.

THE MUSIC BOOK CLUB

Sunday, 27 August 1:00 pm

Bring your favourite music book to discuss at this book club.

WORKSHOP: POLLY BARTON: TRANSLATION SURGERY

Sunday, 27 August 2:00 pm

CRITICISM IN THE SMALL POND

Sunday, 27 August 3:00 pm

Why do we need critics? What makes a good one? What are the challenges (and benefits) of being a critic in a country as small as Aotearoa New Zealand?  Join us for a panel discussion about criticism in Aotearoa today.

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

Sunday, 27 August 5:00 pm

What do Josie Shapiro, Jessica Howland Kany and Guyon Espiner have in common? Their new books all feature running! In conversation with Alex Casey, who is not a runner.

WHAIA TE ARA O TE KAREAO: FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE KAREAO

Sunday, 27 August 6:30 pm

We close the festival with this very special event. Members of the Ngāi Tahu Archive team and Te Pae Kōrako (Ngāi Tahu Archive Advisory Committee) speak about their favourite taonga from the Ngāi Tahu Archive.

RISK! THE WORD GALA [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

RISK! The WORD Gala with dazzling featured guests Gabriel Krauze (UK), Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad and Tobago), David Keenan (Scotland), Meg Mason (Australia/New Zealand) and DaisySpeaks (New Zealand/Samoa) sharing moments when they’ve taken a risk and lived to tell the tale.

RISKY WOMEN [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

The return of one of our most popular storytelling events.

CLIMATE FICTION AND CLIMATE FUTURES [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Climate change is here and it’s real. What are the challenges and responsibilities of writers to tell stories in a climate-changed world? MahMah Timoteo, Bronwyn Hayward and Erik Kennedy discussed the role of writers in the face of climate change with Melanie Dixon.

TURNING POINTS: 150 YEARS OF UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY HISTORY [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

To mark 150 years of the University of Canterbury, a richly illustrated history of the institution is being published. A fascinating insight into the process of writing A New History: The University of Canterbury 1873–2023.

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