What a year it’s been for Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki. In 2025, we welcomed more than 85,000 attendances across 170 events - from intimate conversations and lively debates to joyous free gatherings in the heart of the city. Together with 240 writers from Aotearoa and around the world, we celebrated stories that connect, challenge, and inspire.
This Festival thrives because of a shared belief in the power of ideas and the generosity of our community. Whether through patronage, sponsorship, donations, volunteering, or simply showing up with curiosity, your contribution helps us make this celebration possible. And thanks to the generosity of our supporters, at least 25% of our programme is offered free of charge.
As we look to 2026 and beyond, we’re excited to build on this energy - expanding our reach across the city, deepening our schools’ engagement, and continuing to make space for world-leading, bold, diverse voices.
Catriona Ferguson (Managing Director)
Lyndsey Fineran (Artistic Director)
AWF25 at a glance
attendances across 170 events school attendances from 171 schools of writers affiliate as Māori books sold 85,000+ 23,000 26% c. 12,000 of attendees loved their experience 97% continents Writers from 6 out of 7
Our Impact
In 2025, Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki reaffirmed its place as Aotearoa’s premier celebration of books and ideas and a globally renowned writers Festival. There were more than 85,000 attendances from people who came together to hear from 240 writers from six continents - a testament to the Festival’s reach and spirit of curiosity. Through our Schools Programme Hōtaka Kura and Pukapuka Adventures we inspired thousands of young readers, while free and low-cost events opened doors for audiences across the city. The Festival continues to spark conversation, connection, and pride in the power of stories to bring us together.
Hōtaka Kura & Pukapuka Adventures
Our refreshed and dynamic Schools Programme Hōtaka Kura and our free family and whānau programme Pukapuka Adventures offer a unique opportunity for young people to meet and connect with their literary heroes.
A rock concert for reading. AWF25 Schools Programme attendee
A Festival for Everyone
• STREETSIDE: BRITOMART, a free literary crawl through the laneways of Britomart, brimming with lively, unexpected events.
• A family-friendly weekend full of writers, illustrators, music, and dance — free and full of fun.
• Late-night salons for those seeking a more intimate, offbeat experience.
• Song, poetry, theatre, and dance — the Festival truly has it all.
• >25% of our events are free and unticketed allowing access to the arts for all.
Who We Reach
attended 5+ events belong to a book club
Media Coverage
social media views increase in coverage from 2024 Featured on RNZ, Seven Sharp, NZ Herald ad impressions media items subscribe to our newsletter 55% 40% 3.7m 33% 2.8m 170+ 91%
Pinchers:
Lemn Sissay
Granny
Champion Knitter
Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham
Looking Ahead
With your support, in 2026 the Festival will:
• Continue to celebrate great writing - attracting world-class writers, thinkers and commentators from around the world and across NZ.
• Reach more young people – develop Hōtaka Kura’s connections with schools and communities in Tāmaki Makaurau and across Aotearoa.
• Bring stories to more corners of the city – presenting events in a wider range of venues and neighbourhoods.
• Welcome writers year-round –creating opportunities for audiences to engage with authors outside the main Festival season.
• Support our book ecosystem –champion publishers and booksellers.
• Bring our city to life – enriching its cultural and economic heart.
• Deepen our community partnerships – ensuring our stages reflect the richness and diversity of Auckland.
• Celebrate together in Aotea Square – with more free events and lively spaces for readers, families, and book lovers of all ages.
Our Partners
Our Partners and Supporters
The Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki is enormously grateful to our dedicated partners and sponsors
We are grateful for the support of our patrons, sponsors, funders, donors and stakeholders. Click here for
Partner
Partner
Partners
It takes $2.5M per year to deliver
Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki. Our funding model combines investment, sponsorship, philanthropy and ticket sales ensuring the Festival remains accessible to everyone while maintaining artistic excellence.
We are grateful for the support we receive from all of our partners.
Lunch with Ben Macintyre
Lemn Sissay
Gala Night
2025 Honoured Writer: Gavin Bishop
Catherine Chidgey
Someone Saved My Life Tonight: Matariki Bennett
The 2024 Booker Prize Winner: Samantha Harvey
Colm Tóibín
Audience and writer feedback
It’s a feast for the brain!!
It made me feel positive about our city / country / hope for the arts.
Another fantastic weekend. Well done to all the organisers and volunteers. It really changes the nature of Auckland. FABULOUS!
Gosh we are lucky to have this - the calibre of writers is INCREDIBLE!
An absolute buzz.
I’ve never experienced a festival quite like it – so committed, so vibrant, so varied, and such sincere honouring of the work of Pākehā and Māori writers. I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.
Excellent line up, excellent promotion. It’s a wonderfully organised celebration for book lovers.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of a festival of this size and quality that also managed to have such a friendly, intimate and joyous vibe.
Our kaupapa
A thriving international festival of ideas, the biggest platform for writing from Aotearoa New Zealand in the world and a Festival that creates pathways to books and writers for everyone.
Support us to grow our celebration of stories.
We are a small organisation with a big task. The generous support we receive each year from people like you is vital to deliver this world-class, much-loved festival.
Click on the QR code below to donate, become a patron, partner or a Festival friend.
