Festival Information
The Festival Hub – your home away from home
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
Nestled between the welcoming spaces of the Fullwood Room and the Conference Rooms, our Festival Hub offers genuine southern manaakitaka throughout the weekend. Whether you’re seeking a quick coffee between sessions or wanting to settle in for hours, this is your space.
Browse our mini-bookshop, catch authors at the signing tables, try your hand at zine-making and crafts, browse the mini Critic exhibition or discover gentle poetry from Pocket Poetry scattered throughout the space.
Find your rhythm among the puzzle tables, warm up with kai and hot drinks, or simply sink into one of our quiet corners for connection and kōrero.
With fully accessible spaces, low-sensory zones for when you need to retreat, and plenty of room to knit, read or just be, the Festival Hub is your restorative base during a (potentially chilly) Ōtepoti spring weekend.
Book signings:
Following each session the authors featured can be found outside their event venue for book sales and signings thanks to the University Book Shop.
Tickets:
Tickets are available online from www.dunedinwritersfestival.co.nz and door sales will be subject to availability.
Tickets are purchased through TicketMaster and are subject to their booking and service fees. GST is included.
Concession price is available to holders of Community Services Cards, Gold Cards, and students. ID required.
Satellite and partner events sell their tickets through their own platforms; these are noted throughout the programme.
Weekend Festival Pass*
Come for the whole weekend! Buy your Weekend Festival Pass for only $180 (+BF) and go to as many events as you can squeeze in. Simply show us your ticket and we’ll scan you in — this pass covers one event per time slot.
*excludes pōwhiri, masterclasses, satellite and partner events
Five Session Pass*
Buy four, get one free! A great option for groups or if you have several sessions you’d like to attend. You can mix and match these as you like.
5 Session Pass Instructions:
Purchase your 5 Session Pass
Ticketmaster will email you a unique passcode after purchase
Select any 5 events you'd like to attend and add them to your cart.
Use your passcode at the checkout.
*excludes pōwhiri, masterclasses, satellite and partner events
Free Events
Free events help to make the festival more accessible to all. Generally no tickets are required (except for the Kaituna Kids workshops). First come, first served — no seats will be reserved. Queues may form up to 20 minutes before a free event start time.
Tamariki
Children are welcome at all of our events. Parental guidance is recommended — some events may contain adult themes and language. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Under 18 entry to WOOF! is with an adult only; proof of age required.
Refunds and Cancellations
Tickets cannot be refunded but are transferrable; you can give your ticket to someone else if you are no longer able to attend. If an event is cancelled, full refunds will be issued.
Seating and Accessibility
Please arrive early if you have special seating requirements.
Our main venue contains elevators to each floor, as well as an Assisted Listening System (audio induction loop) in each room.
When purchasing tickets, you can also let us know if you require additional assistance. Email vanessa@dunedinwritersfestival.co.nz if you would like to discuss accessibility ideas with us.
Health and Safety
We have a zero tolerance policy towards any racism, hate speech, misogyny. Disruptive audience members will be removed. If you are unwell, please stay at home.
Programme Updates
Programme information was correct at the time of printing. Please see our website for the most recent updates.
Festival Venues
We are proud to host our festival in some of Dunedin’s best loved venues. Please check the links below to find out more about these spaces and specific accessibility based on each venue.
Opening Pōwhiri and Evening Event
Ōtākou Marae: 25 Tamatea Road, Portobello, Ōtakou
Programme Events
Fullwood Room, Conference Rooms & the Hub, Dunedin Centre: entry through the Glenroy Auditorium, 1 Harrop Street, The Octagon
Eden Hore Event
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum: 31 Queens Gardens, Central Dunedin
Kaituna Kids
Te Whata o Kaituna, South Dunedin Community Library: street address
Tuwhare Poetry Event
WOOF!: 368 Moray Place, Central Dunedin
Jane Austen Events
Tūhura Otago Museum, Beautiful Science Gallery: 419 Great King Street, Dunedin North
Turbulent Threads
Larnach Castle: 145 Camp Road, Dunedin
Joy Cowley Film
Metro Cinema, Dunedin Centre: Moray Place entrance