That was the message from speakers addressing about 60 people at Tuesday night’s launch of the festival programme at the Gallaway Cook Allan Winter Garden.
Curated by festival director Hannah Molloy, the Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival will offer a four-day programme of New Zealand writing talent, from May 6 to 9.
Launch MC and festival trustee Alexandra Bligh paid tribute to the remarkable achievement of Molloy and the team in bringing together a jam-packed and varied programme.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins highlighted how fortunate Dunedin people were to have access to several major festivals in the first few months of 2021, including the Dunedin Fringe Festival, Arts Festival Dunedin, Wild Dunedin, and Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival.
‘‘It has never been more important for us to be able to gather and share ideas, and talk about books,’’ Mr Hawkins said.
Festival board chairwoman Bridget Schaumann revealed some of the programme’s many highlights — the festival was packed with ‘‘gems galore’’ and offered something for everyone, she said.
Among the authors whose work will be featured are poet laureate David Eggleton, essayist Jillian Sullivan, novelist and journalist Becky Manawatu, genre-crossing author Nalini Singh, outdoors men Derek Morrison and Doug Rillstone, living taonga Witi Ihimaera, poet Vincent O’Sullivan, acclaimed author Elizabeth Knox, poets Victor Billot, Diane Brown and Michelle Elvy, crime writers Jared Savage and Steve Braunias, and many more.
Workshop sessions will cover a broad array of topics, including the work of Maori academics, theatre, crime, poetry, fantasy and romance writing, and decolonisation.
Printed Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival programmes are being distributed around the city, and the full programme is available online at www.dunedinwritersfestival.co.nz.
