Featherston Booktown Karuatea Festival

Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival enters its second decade with big names, big ideas and big conversations.  

Globally renowned Australian author Hannah Kent, Aotearoa superstar Catherine Chidgey, activist Tāme Iti, former Olympian and popular reading influencer Gemma Flynn and former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka are among the lineup of writers, raconteurs, and thinkers at Featherston Booktown’s 11th Karukatea Festival which runs from 8-10 May.  

Key highlights of this year's Festival include:  

• The Fish’n’Chip Supper - All Blacks coaching legend Gilbert Enoka kicks off the festival with stories from his groundbreaking career, alongside kapa haka from Featherston Tamariki and, of course, fish’n’chips!  
• Cross Party Lines: Live! - Former MPs Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, joined by host Sam Collins, record a live episode of their hit political podcast, dissecting the big issues shaping Aotearoa New Zealand.  
• The State of the Fourth Estate: Surveying Aotearoa's Media Landscape -  Journalists Te Aniwa Hurihanganui, Duncan Greive, Mike McRoberts, and Michelle Duff engage in a sharp, election-year conversation on the future of New Zealand media.  
• Tusiata Avia Live - Award-winning poet Tusiata Avia sheds light on her fearless career and her powerful new collection Giving Birth to My Father.  
• On the Couch: Hannah Kent – Award-winning Australian author and screenwriter Hannah Kent talks to Noelle McCarthy about her memoir Always Home, Always Homesick and her internationally acclaimed writing career.  
• Mana: In Conversation with Tāme Iti - Activist Tame Iti reflects on a lifetime of standing for mana motuhake in conversation with his son Toi Iti.  
• Mike McRoberts: Speaking My Language - Broadcaster Mike McRoberts chats with Airana Ngarewa about reclaiming te reo Māori and reconnecting with te ao Māori.  
• Mrs Blackwell’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea: Between the Covers - Literary influencer and Olympian Gemma Flynn joins novelist Josie Shapiro to share book recommendations and discuss balancing reading with a busy life.  
• The introduction of writing and performance workshops for the first time with visiting writers Catherine Chidgey, Dominic Hoey, Michael Bennett, and more.  

The Emerging Reader’s stream sees our rangatahi well catered for with a trio of lively, imagination-sparking events. Rock On with Sacha & Josh! brings Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan together for a playful, performative reading of A Guide to Rocks, followed by a hands-on creative session. Rangatahi Nature Walks and Talks sees Claire Mabey leading an inspiring wander through Featherston Paetūmokai, blending nature and writing. And in Book-Book-Book!, Giselle Clarkson, Juliette MacIver and Ruth Paul deliver a joyful, interactive story time packed with feathered friends and fun.  

Ticketing
Tickets are on sale now - The full programme and tickets can be found at www.booktown.org.nz