Pukapuka Talks: Nelson Arts Festival

From intimate poetry performances in temples/sanctuaries to the splendour of the Witi & Friends Gala Night, we celebrate storytelling in all its forms, traversing subjects that matter: from addiction to wellness, fragility to resilience, ignorance to culture, mycorrhizal networks of fungi to human interconnectedness, and groupthink to critical analysis.

We glimpse the world through others’ eyes across space and time, from the pre-European period to the present day, dropping in on the counterculture of the 70s and Auckland’s 90s clubbing scene along the way, before examining the potential and pitfalls of technology and looking forward to reimagine, and re-wild, our future.

Witness what happens when these writers and editors, thinkers and commentators come together to inspire us and expand our sense of what is possible.

All books will be on sale through our festival bookstore PaperPlus Nelson, both through their shop and at their stall at our Pukapuka Talks events. Most authors will be available for book signings after their sessions.

You can also buy the pukapuka online – please select the Nelson store to collect in person.

Here are all our 2023 Pukapuka Talks, organised by date:

WEDNESDAY 18 OCT

1.30pm – Writing Funny Stories: Schools’ Workshop for 8-12 year olds with Rajorshi & Leela Chakraborti

THURSDAY 19 OCT

9.30am – Writing Funny Stories: Schools’ Workshop for 8-12 year olds with Rajorshi & Leela Chakraborti

6pm – In the Temple with Jane Sayle and Catherine Bagnall

FRIDAY 20 OCT

12.30pm – Tools for Navigating our Crazy World with Alia Bojilova and Victoria Bruce (chaired by Liz Price)

3pm – When the Past Catches Up with Anne Tiernan and Caroline Barron (chaired by Paula Morris)

4.30pm – Pride through Poetry Workshop with Emma Ling Sidnam

6pm – Wine O’Clock Myth Meets The Drinking Game with Guyon Espiner and Lotta Dann (chaired by Matty Anderson)

SATURDAY 21 OCT

11am – Kāwai: For Such a Time as This with Monty Soutar (chaired by Airana Ngarewa)

1.30pm – End Times: The Question of Hope with Rebecca Priestley (chaired by Jude Watson)

4pm – Dazzling New Voices with Emma Ling Sidnam, Colleen Maria Lenihan and Airana Ngarewa (chaired by Paula Morris)

5pm – Celebration of Hiwa with Paula Morris and contributors

SUNDAY 22 OCT

11am – Tackling Hate: Facing Up to Fear & Loathing in Aotearoa with Tusiata Avia, Byron C Clark and Jennifer Shields (chaired by Madeleine Chapman)

1.30pm – There’s a Cure for This with Dr Emma Espiner (chaired by Arihia Latham)

3pm – Literary Citizenship: A Workshop for Writers with Caroline Barron

7pm – Witi & Friends Gala Event with Witi Ihiimaera, Vaughan Rapatahana, Ruby Solly, Donna McLeod, Arihia Latham and Airana Ngarewa (MCed by Emma Espiner)

MONDAY 23 OCT

12pm – Foraging Your Way to Wellness with Liv Sisson and Valetta Sówka (chaired by Sylvan Thomson)

7.30pm – After Dark II – Dusk Chorus with Arihia Latham and Ruby Solly

TUESDAY 24 OCT

6pm – Counter-culture with Olive Jones (chaired by Kerry Sunderland)

SATURDAY 28 OCT

2pm – Mokorua with Ariana Tikao and Matt Calman