HUI KAITUHI – October 13-19
These events are open to all writers.
The programme is a collaboration between the Tairāwhiti Writers’ Hub, Tairāwhiti Technology Trust, Nga Kaituhi Māori, and other local arts organisations.
REGISTRATION LINK HERE
Day 4 Mon 13 Oct
9 – 11 am Morning: Guided Heritage Walk of Turanganui-a-Kiwa. Heritage walk of important historic and cultural sites of Gisborne City
10 –11 am Mo ngā tāngata he kōrero Māori
HB Williams Memorial Library, Mahutonga Meeting Room | Entry: Free
He kōrero no Te Runanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa e pā ana ki te hekenga mai o te māori mai i Hawaiki ki Tūranganui a Kiwa. He kōrero anō hoki mo te kumara me te waka Horouta.
Nau mai, haere mai, rarau mai.
1 pm – 2.30 pm Literary Taxidermy (write a short story) with Taranga Kent
H.B. Williams Library, 34 Bright St, Gisborne (Mahutonga Meeting Room)
Explore new avenues for creativity with our Literary Taxidermy session. This is a fun writing exercise to ‘stitch together’ a flash fiction piece with a sentence starter and final sentence provided. You create the ‘stuffing’ that comes in between. Koha.
Taranga Kent is a teacher, author of Not Just a Teacher, poet, proofreader and photographer. She writes poetry, short stories, children’s picture books, songs and educational resources. Taranga has facilitated creative writing workshops at writers’ retreats and schools, and judged poetry and speech competitions.
4 pm Editing with Shelley Burne-Field – Crafting, editing, laying out & polishing
At Taiki e!
Join award winning and published author Shelley Burne-Field for tips and practical advice on how to craft your submissions for publishing and competitions.
Entry Koha
6.00 pm Fish n chips dinner and writing at Midway Beach Picnic Tables book on huikaituhi@gmail.com if you want to order fish n chips or just byo
Optional drinks at Tahu Restaurant afterwards
Day 5 Tues 14 Oct
10:30 am – 1:30 pm DROP-IN WRITING CAFÉ — Free
For a few hours, Gizzy Local is transforming into a cozy Writer’s Café. Drop in, no need to register, and get stuck in to whatever writing you want to get done. If you’re inspired by being in a new setting or by being around other writers drawing from their creative well, swing by Gizzy Local’s Writing Café with your preferred writing tools. We’ll put the jug on and there might be a friendly writer for you to chat with. Otherwise, it’s just time for you to put the metaphorical or literal pen to paper and get some words down. Venue: Gizzy Local, 64 Lowe Street.
11 am – 12 pm Laughter – the Best Medicine
Witi Ihimaera, Haare Williams, Taranga Kent, R. de Wolf and friends are entertaining our Kaumatua in conjunction with sponsor Turanga Health at the Cossie Club. Performance 11 – 11.30 am and Group Kōrero 11.30 am to 12 pm
2.30 pm – 4 pm Writing Community Anthologies, your Marae or family, with Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu, Gillian Moon & Guests Taiki e!
Explore the possibilities of stitching knowledge, history, creativity and diversity together. Harnessing the power of words, builds communities. Walk away with some practical tools to create your project. Q&A. Koha
5.30-8pm Creative Character Development using Dungeons & Dragons Workshop with Kelly Blackwell
HB Williams Memorial Library, Matariki Meeting Room | Entry: Free | Registrations Essential: Email kelly.blackwell@gdc.govt.nz
Storyteller Kelly Blackwell will take your character design concept on an epic writing quest inspired by the popular roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons!
This guided journey strengthens your connection to your character as you explore motivation, deeper desires and physical attributes.
Then play it all out using writing prompts and the luck of the dice.
No previous experience required – Bring along your own character concept.
8-10 pm Research at the HB Williams Memorial Library
Step into a night of inspiration, creativity, and focused writing at our exclusive Researching for Writers Lock-In, hosted in collaboration with Ngā Kaituhi Māori. This after-hours event is designed to give writers—emerging and experienced alike—a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in their craft, surrounded by the rich resources of the library and the support of expert reference librarians.
🔍 What to Expect:
- A guided session on using the library catalogue
- An inspirational short film screening via Beamafilm
- Quiet, dedicated writing spaces to help you focus
- Access to library staff for research support
- Light refreshments and a welcoming, creative atmosphere
Whether you’re working on a novel, memoir, article, or poetry, this event offers the space, time, and tools to help you dive deep into your writing. Come connect with fellow writers, explore new ideas, and make the most of the library after dark.
Day 6 Wed 15 Oct
9.30 – 10.30 am Flash Fiction Frenzy with Karen Morris Denby at Waikanae Beach
Words In a flash – 100 words – beginning a middle and a twisty end
Waikanae Beach – (Koha – Tai Tech) 8 places available
Join Kazz for a one-hour flash fiction workshop—no writing experience needed! Learn to craft powerful stories in 100 words. Unleash your creativity, find your voice, and leave with your own flash fiction piece. Perfect for beginners and curious minds alike. Let’s write unforgettable stories together and consider pieces to submit for the Writers Festival Ebook.
10 –11.00 am A Story from Tairāwhiti
HB Williams Memorial Library, Mahutonga Meeting Room | Entry: Free
Join Te Runanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa for a story from Tairāwhiti.
You’ll hear about the origins of local Māori from Hawaiki to Turanganui a Kiwa and the discovery of kumara and how it was brought to the Tairāwhiti region on the waka Horouta.
Nau mai, haere mai, rarau mai.
11 am Chopper Taiapa, Writer, on his Research and Inspiration for his Graphic Novel Maui-Tikitiki-a-Taranga at Waikanae beach
1 -2.30 pm Poetry film (A visual presentation of your poetry) workshop with Taranga Kent
Location: H.B. Williams Library, 34 Bright St, Gisborne (Mahutonga Meeting Room)
Add a visual dimension to your words – explore the option of recording your poetry as a presentation of images (think short film/video). Great for sharing your work on social media, websites or Youtube channels, using for marketing your book, or simply as a legacy for your tamariki and mokopuna to cherish.
Entry: Koha
4 pm Introduction to Self-Publishing & Publishing tools with Draft2Digital, Amazon & IngramSpark, Vellum – Local writers Dorothy Fletcher/Christopher McMaster/R. de Wolf
Have you written your book but can’t find a Publisher? Want to self-publish but don’t know where to start? Look at options with three authors who use self-publishing platforms.
Taiki e! Koha book @ huikaituhi@gmail.com or just come along
6.30 pm Drinks at Siduri Wine Bar & Deli – Tairāwhiti Writers Host
Want to talk shop about being a writer with like-minded souls? Casual coming together to chat and relax.
7:30 – 9pm SONGWRITER’S CATCH-UP — Free
Facilitated by local songwriters, this is an informal chat about what works for you, what’s your process, resources you love, creative tricks that help you short-cut to the good writing and more. This is a free event but request that you rsvp to community@gizzylocal.com to help us anticipate numbers. Venue: Gizzy Local, 64 Lowe Street. This event is for any accomplished or aspiring songwriters keen to get down in the weeds with other songwriters about the craft of songwriting.
Day 7 Thurs 16 October
2 –3.30 pm
The Story of HB Williams Memorial Library Tours
HB Williams Memorial Library, Bright Street Entrance |Tours Depart at 2.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.00pm | Entry: Free
A unique opportunity to learn the stories behind our landmark community space.
Renowned for its distinctive architecture and provenance HB Williams Memorial Library holds an exclusive status among public libraries.
Join one of three 30 minutes tours lead by our knowledgeable library guides, as they step you through the story of HB Williams Memorial Library.
4 – 5.30 pm Ekphrastic Art Exchange – R. de Wolf, Merle Walker, Taranga Kent & friends Taiki e!
(ekphrasis Greek – description or poem of visual art)
An invitation to poets,writers, artists, photographers. Treat your pen to a visual feast. Dip your quill into the creative pool of an artist’s imagination and let your words flow. In the spirit of exchange, writer’s will be inspiring the artists with their spoken words as the artists inspire the pen – paint to ink and ink to paint. Come and have some fun. Max 16 places please register huikaituhi@gmail.com or pm Reg
6.30 pm Fishing Club casual networking dinner – free ticket buy-your-own dinner and drinks rsvp huikaituhi@gmail.com for a relaxed evening with other writers
Day 8 Friday 17 October
10 am Bookshop/Library/Editor/Publisher – what we want in a book Taiki e!
11 am Introduction to Journalling & Memoir Gillian Moon Taiki e! tbc
2 pm – 3 pm AI Pros & Cons for creatives – Simeon Alford TaiTech Hub Kaiti
In our ever-changing world of technology and court cases, explore how you can make AI work for you productively, maintain your creative integrity and understand the digital world writers operate in. If you are writing on a computer or self-publishing this session is a must.
Koha entry
Reserve your place at huikaituhi@gmail.com – numbers are limited.
3.30 – 5 pm Found Poetry with Aaron Compton & Rangatahi HB Williams Memorial Library
Local poet, Aaron Compton, will be hosting a one off Found Poetry session for teens.
Found Poetry involves harvesting words from existing texts to create something new.
A fun opportunity for Rangatahi to learn how to find the poetry hiding in books, newspapers, and screens – all they need to do is get rid of the extra words!
Aaron Compton is a writer and prize-winning fiction editor. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Kaituhi Rāwhiti: a celebration of East Coast writing, and Mayhem Journal.
5.30-7 pm Ginspiration (Doors open at 5 pm) – Charlie Holland
Ginspiration: Distilling the senses through poetry and prose.
Join us for an engaging writing workshop where you create tasting notes as poetry and prose, capturing our sensory imaginings and using gin as our muse.
Number of participants: 12 adults (must be over 18 years old). Gin tastings provided.
Location: Taiki e! 7 Peel Street, Shop 1, Treble Court, Gisborne.
Entry: A plate/bowl of snacks to share.
Day 9 Saturday 18 October
9-12 pm
HB Williams Memorial Library is delighted to present a
Self-Publishing Workshop with USA Today Bestselling Author Leeanna Morgan.
Based on the Kapiti Coast Leeanna published her first book in 2014. Since then all of her books have been self- published and in the past decade Leeanna has been able to generate a six figure annual income from her writing exclusively. Including a dynamic Q&A session make sure to be there if you are interested in following suit!
12.30 – 1.30 pm Art + Poetry = Fantastic ekphrastic
Maia Gallery Toihoukura 290 Palmerston Road
Presented by Mikaela Nyman & R. de Wolf
Mikaela Nyman hails from the autonomous, demilitarised Åland Islands and lives in Taranaki. She writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction in Swedish and English. Printmaking is one of her passions. Collaboration across art-disciplines and languages brings her joy. The Anatomy of Sand (THWUP, 2025) is her third poetry collection, and her first in English. In 2024 she was the Robert Burns Fellow. Well known for Sista, Stanap Strong! A Vanuatu Women’s Anthology (anthology) Published by Te Herenga Waka, we are delighted to have Mikaela in Tairāwhiti.
Treat yourself to some visual inspiration at a local art gallery. Look, and look again, then pen your impressions of the art with the help of some practical prompts and guidance. Maybe you’ll discover an unexpected story behind the artwork? This is a fun poetry writing workshop, you don’t need to be an artist or have any formal knowledge of art to participate.
The visual stimulation will take place at Maia Gallery, a centre of artistic creative excellence at Toihoukura. The merging of art and words will be epic!
Number of participants: 15
2 pm – 3 pm Who dunnit? Murder Mystery play Workshop – Dorothy Fletcher
Beetham Lodge, at Beetham Village
The runaway success of Murder Mystery plays screams ‘popular genre’. Local acting troupe, The Usual Suspects, performs on the Steam train and in local theatres. The audience members question the suspects and try to work out who-done-it. Author and scriptwriter Dorothy Fletcher discusses how the plays are written and put on stage, (or train). If you are into interactive theatre, or aspire to craft plays or skits, this could be for you.
Free entry: Koha
DEADLINE: Due 5 pm – Final submissions for Ebook to Regina de Wolf-Ngarimu, Shelley Burne-Field, & Taranga Kent @ ebooksubmissiontai1@gmail.com (opens 9 October 2025)
3 .30 – 4.30 pm Author Development
New Zealand Society of Authors Central District Branch – Tairāwhiti
Venue Taiki e!
Mikaela Nyman (Board Rep) and local komiti members:
What do you get from an NZSA membership? Members and non-members are welcome.
What is the New Zealand Society of Authors and how can it help you as a writer? Open your world to a wealth of learning, tools, residencies, grant information and competitions. Did you know you receive a professional profile with your membership? Not sure where to find an editor, proofreader or how to get your book ready to print? Come along and talk about books, the industry and professional development.
7 pm Dinner venue tbc (dependent on numbers) – ticketed event with readings from eBook, visitors, guests, public, reserve a ticket at huikaituhi@gmail.com tickets on sale October
Table kōrero, a look at the ebook and just relax with a beverage and a nice meal.
Day 10 Sunday 19 October
Gather your writing, thoughts, reflections, plans & contacts and travel home
REGISTRATION LINK HERE
To register interest in attending or for more information please contact: tekaituhi@nzauthors.org.nz
