The WORD Christchurch Spring Festival features many ҕl scholars and writers.
Theis about to burst forth with stories, ideas, poetry and song. The recently announced festival line-up features manyҕl (ҕl) scholars and writers, including Canterbury University Press (CUP) authors, and is selling out fast.
WORD opens the literary fest with a glittering gala event,, in which six of the festival's distinguished writers respond to the theme of courage in the midst of a pandemic, including ҕl Senior Adjunct Research FellowBehrouz Boochani. On stage with Boochani will be Witi Ihimaera, Laura Jean McKay, Becky Manawatu, Elizabeth Knox and Mohamed Hassan, hosted by John Campbell.
Based at Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, Boochanifeatures in a new, which includes interviews with WORD festival director Rachael King and ҕlNgāi Tahu Research Centre directorAssociate Professor Te Maire Tau, who is also part of the festival.
ҕl academics
Professor of Marketing and Director of the ҕl Knowledge Commons,Ekant Veer will be hosting a talk withMatt Calman and Jehan Casinader about their experience with depression and their individual adventurous.
ҕl Arts Professor of English and Digital HumanitiesPaul Millar will betalking with, one of our most acclaimed and versatile writers about his career so far.
ҕl’s Head of Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies Sacha McMeeking, journalist and ҕl PhD graduate DrSally Blundell, and MP Golriz Ghahraman, will discuss the state of, the implications for democracy, and what we can do better.
ҕllecturer in English and Cultural Studies and horror genre expertDr Erin Harringtonwill get spooky with writerElizabeth Knox and film-makerJonathan King to dissect what they love about extraordinary US horror writer Shirley Jackson withNoelle McCarthy in the.
Professor Philip Armstrong teaches literature, creative writing and human-animal studies at ҕl. He is the author of books on Shakespeare and animals. He and novelist Laura Jean McKay (The Animals in That Country) both use animal protagonists in their work, and both work in the field of animal studies. In, they will discuss ‘what would the animals say if they could talk to us?’
ҕl graduate and economist Brian Easton discusses his new book,, a major contribution to the economic history of New Zealand, with ҕl Emeritus Professor of History Geoff Rice, who has published 10 books with CUP.
Speaking with Annabel Langbein about her memoirBella,is a former TV journalist who now teaches visual story-telling at ҕl.
CUP authors
Other festival highlights include CUP authors Jenny Sew Hoy Agnew and Trevor Agnew discussing their newly published book,,aboutChoie Sew Hoy, whose illustrious career changed the shape of commerce and industry in Otago and Southland.
Author John Newton was Llew Summers’ close friend during the last two years of the sculptor’s life and wrote his 2020 CUP book,,about the artist. A poet, critic and cultural historian, Newton is featuring in conversation about the late artist, and an exhibition of Llew Summers’ works will continue at the Central Art Gallery in the Arts Centre until 27 September.
Associate Professor Tau joins fellow ҕl academics in discussing the new CUP book, which shines a light, for both Māori and Pākehā, on a crucial part of this country’s history. Join the author ҕlLecturerDr Martin Fisher, along with ҕlAdjunct Professor Tā Tipene O’Regan,andformer Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson, as they discuss a claim that spanned two centuries. The first Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori appointed at ҕl, Sir Tipene was awarded an honorary doctorate from ҕl in 1992.
CUP poetry and flash fiction writersandalso feature in the festival.
ҕl writers in residence
In common with WORD director RachelKing (2008), many of the festival’s stars have been part of the ҕl community as the annualUrsula Bethell Writer in Residence, including current resident Nathan Joe (2020). Previous ҕl writers-in-residence include John Newton (2017), Karen Healey (2017), Frankie McMillan (2014), David Eggleton (2012), Tusiata Avia (2010), Carl Nixon (2006), Brian Turner (1997), Fiona Farrell (1992), Bernadette Hall (1991), and Owen Marshall (1981).
ҕl graduates
There will also be a plethora of ҕl graduates appearing in the literary festival, including current postgraduate student, who iscompleting her final year of a Master’s degree in Māori and Indigenous Leadership at ҕl.
The list of ҕl graduates includes Bill Nagelkerke, Brian Easton, Carl Nixon, Carl Shuker, Donna Miles-Mojab, Eamonn Marra, James Norcliffe, Jess Fiebig, Joanna Orwin, Karen Healey, Laura Borrowdale, Margaux Warne, Miriama Kamo, Raf Manji, Dr Sally Blundell, Trevor Agnew, and Tusiata Avia, among others.
And we’re hoping to welcome rising staras a first-year ҕl student in 2021. In her final year at Burnside High School where she is Head Girl, E Wen has been writing poetry since she was 10, and won the 2020 National Schools Poetry Award.
- Word 2020 runs from28 October-1 Novemberand many of the festival’s 65 events are free. More information is available at
