The festival is in its seventh year. The programme for 2025 was launched at Te Atamira, the resort’s arts and cultural hub, yesterday afternoon, following a discussion between acclaimed New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell and Central Otago painter Sir Grahame Sydney.
Festival chairwoman Tanya Surrey said the festival, being held from October 30 to November 1, had now cemented its position on the New Zealand literary circuit, while the Wakatipu had cemented itself as a hub for arts and culture — it had been named New Zealand’s second-most creative city, behind Wellington, three years in a row.
"Events like ours are growing and enhancing the local arts scene," Ms Surrey said.
"Our team is immensely proud of this programme that has been put together over the last six months.
"It is always so difficult to choose our programme when the quality of writing across the motu is so good."
One of the biggest coups this year was securing the 2025 winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction — New Zealand’s top literary prize — Damien Wilkins, who wrote Delirious, an acclaimed story of families and ageing.
Other top-notch talent included Owen Marshall, who would talk about his writing career, Dr Monty Soutar on his Kawai trilogy, Duncan Sarkies on his novel on democracy and alpacas, Star Gazer, Josie Shapiro with her new novel, following up on the success of Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts, and Steve Braunias with his book Polkinghorne.
The programme also featured interviews with memoir writers including former deputy prime minister Grant Robertson, former Listener TV reviewer Diana Wichtel, TV journalist Mike McRoberts and media personality Brodie Kane.
A special panel of some of the late Central Otago poet Brian Turner’s closest friends and family, such as Sir Grahame, Marshall, Glenn Turner and Jillian Sullivan, would present "The Life of Brian", celebrating the life and works of one of the most beloved poets and environmentalists. Other panels included a peek at the relentless rise of the "romantasy" genre, a deep dive into the joys and pitfalls of the role of the reviewer, and discussion of the role the natural world has in fiction.
Neurodiversity champion Chanelle Moriah, with their new book I Am Dyslexic, and Sony Wilson with young adult thriller The Secret Green were included in the family programme, while Wilson would join illustrator Toby Morris in a special "Live Action Storytelling" session, at which children could bring an adult for free.
Southern writing talent would also be celebrated, with new books by Peta Carey, of Queenstown, and Kim Rangiaonui Logan, of Central Otago, along with a special sampler session of "Songs from Tahuna", featuring local musicians Sofia Macray, Violet Hurst and Tom Maxwell at Sherwood.
Dunedin writer Maxine Alterio would chair an event with Lauren Roche and Sophie Rogers to discuss their novels, Julia Eichardt and Nightshades and Paperwhites, while crime writers included Liam McIlvanney and novelists Rachel Paris and Jennifer Trevelyan, who have hit the best-seller lists on debut.
Ms Surrey said there would also be a host of workshops, including writing, scriptwriting and illustrating, while the Anna-Marie Chin Architects-sponsored short story competitions for children would also be returning, along with a schools programme.
To see the full programme, or buy tickets, visit qtwritersfestival.nz.
