Tamariki Book Festival

08/09/2026

Just two more days to get your entries in for our writing and illustration competitions! Link to competition details in comments.

02/09/2026

Come to the Tamariki Book Festival as your favourite book character and win spot prizes! Don't miss it: 26 September from 11 am to 4 pm at the Arts Centre Great Hall in Christchurch! See you there!

01/09/2026

Just a few more weeks to register for Tamariki Book Festival writing and illustrating workshops! There are events for ages 5 to adult! Get in now while there's still space! Link in comments.

31/08/2026

Wow! Our authors are a talented lot! Congratulations to Melissa Gunn - author who won the Sir Julius Vogel award for Best Novella or Novelette over the weekend!

I'm so thrilled to be the recipient of the SJV award for best novella or novelette with Grimoires and Green Tea!

https://books2read.com/GrimoiresAndGreenTea

30/08/2026

Just 12 days left to get your entry in to the 2026 writing and illustration competition! For ages 5-17! See link in comments for details!

29/08/2026

Great article about one of our favourite bookstores. The owner used to be a committee member of the Tamariki book festival and love to support local authors. https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-press/20260829/281887305165637?fbclid=IwVERDUAT_gtNwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNaV4UkY0uDwb_IRZR14ia5AQbiCdGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHrs5JmKi7KiAE8z8sCN0cTJ0YlPF2f15NM8ydV-fspca4H1muupw1KKYFqr2_aem_8uGgsQ6UaW1URCmPOCo5UQ

Heath Ling had kindly agreed to pop round to my place on a Sat­urday even­ing. I’d arrived the night before on the late flight from Sydney, and this was to be my fifth inter­view of the day. Being the per­fect host, I offer him a cof­fee, which he...

28/08/2026

Wow! Tamariki Book Festival author Heather McQuillan - Writer and Teacher is on fire! Congratulations Heather! And you can meet this multi-award-winning author at the festival next month!

Congratulations to Heather McQuillan whose poem 'The Sky's Hug' is the Winner of the Around the World poetry competition!

Heather says, "I write books and stories and poems and I teach writing. Words are a big part of my world. Children are a big part of my world. Helping children write poems means I get to write some alongside them, for them. It all goes round and round."

Congratulations Heather!

25/08/2026

A Poem Is Like a Toothbrush
Workshop presented by Robinne Weiss
Ages 16+
25 September, 7.00 - 8.30 pm
The Arts Centre, Maker Workshop

A poem is like a toothbrush.
It leaves a minty taste,
Cleanses the palate,
Scrapes you clean,
And should not be used in haste.
A poem is like a toothbrush.
Sometimes it makes you bleed,
Opens a wound,
Scrapes you raw,
But still, it’s what you need.

Is your love really like a red, red rose? Or are they more like the old tattered couch at the bach—warm, comfortable, and full of memories? Are you really brave as a lion? Or are you brave as the clock on the wall, boldly telling the time to everyone?

Take your poetic creativity to another level in this quirky workshop. We’ll use creativity techniques to push beyond tropes and cliches. We’ll dive into the essence of things to fashion fresh and unusual verse. Come prepared to crack open your brain and let the weird and wonderful spill out!

Every participant receives a $10 voucher to be spent at the Tamariki Book Festival on 26 September!

Book now! Link in comments.