May 10, 2024
Fiery voices for writers’ festival
Auckland Writers’ Festival Māori co-curator Michael Bennett says this year’s programme marks a departure from the published word.
The theme, He Ahi Kei Taku Korokoro – My Throat Holds Fire, comes from his daughter and co-curator Matariki.
They’ve invited people who try to change the world through their words, including singer Troy Kingi, actor Rob Motaraka who has used his attempted suicide by cop to talk to young people about depression and despair, and Te Pati Maori MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clark.
“The reason she’s there is we’ve got a session on kohanga reo. She’s a kohanga reo generation. She’s the youngest person in 170 years to write legislation for New Zealand,” Mr Bennett says.
The Auckland Writers Festival is at multiple venues near and in the Aotea Center from May 14 to 19. https://www.writersfestival.co.nz