City gears up for bibliographic festival – and beyond

This year’s Auckland Writers Festival is anything but by the book, with free innovative and interactive events to capture the hearts of literary lovers.

Auckland Writers Festival director, Anne O’Brien, said punters can make the most of the festival experience by checking out free activities around the CBD in between main events.

She said one feature to take note of was the live love-letter themed poetry projected on screen in Aotea Square, by ‘secret’ authors to fit this year’s theme ‘Love Story’.

Bystanders will witness one hour of pre-programmed text and two hours of live poetry by three writers hidden from view in a hut.

“[The poetry] will float in and out quite slowly, so you can just catch it as you go past, or you can stand and watch so you’ll get the meaning as well as the visual impact,” Ms O’Brien said.

She said at the end of each writer’s half-hour time slot, authors will reveal their identity by signing their name.

Auckland Council head of creative strategy for arts and culture, Tracey Williams, said in a statement: “We want people to be inspired and surprised by Pop Poetry, to experience the city in a new way because of it.”

Pop Poetry shows between 6pm and 9pm daily for the duration of the festival.

Another free event Ms O’Brien rates is Walk On High, an intimate showcase of literary talent in four different venues on High St.

From 6.30pm to 8pm on Friday May 19, festivalgoers can expect games, spoken word, street art, and a live choir, proving the festival is just as much about the atmosphere as it is about the authors.

Ms O’Brien said the energy of the thousands who flock to the festival is her favourite part of the week.

Unity Books sells books at pop-up stalls during the festival together with the Women’s Bookshop and Unity Books manager Carolyn Alexander said it’s the writers who motivate them to return and sell their “wonderful” books.

Ms O’Brien said there are many writers she is excited about, but “one of New Zealand’s national treasures”, 99-year-old theologian Lloyd Geering is her number one pick.

Portholes to the Past: Lloyd Geering runs Friday May 19 from 10am to 11am.

She said some of the “smaller, bespoke” sessions were sold out, but there were still many tickets available in the 180-event programme.

“The festival has something for everyone,” Ms O’Brien said.

The Auckland Writers Festival is on from May 16 to May 21.