New day for young readers at Auckland writers festival

A new arm of the Auckland Writers Festival this year is designed to draw more young Kiwis into the world of books.

Festival organisers say Plot Twist will see the Q Theatre taken over for "a programme that will bend genres, break rules, and rewrite the festival script", says publicist Gemma Finlay.

A recent reader survey showed young New Zealanders have declining reading habits.

The Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki was founded by writers Stephanie Johnson and Peter Wells in 1999, and is considered the largest literary showcase in Aotearoa.

It typically features around 200 events, with many selling out at the 2200-seat Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, according to Auckland Writers Festival.

Attendance consistently has been between 60,000 and 85,000 people in recent years.

So far this year, ticket sales have surged across the wider festival, with more than 60 per cent already sold.

Managing director Catriona Ferguson said the festival was responding to what audiences were actively seeking in uncertain times.

“In an uncertain world, New Zealanders are coming together to explore big ideas, dive into story and adventure, spend time with favourite authors and the characters they’ve created.

“We’re heartened to see that this year’s programme is delivering exactly what our audiences are looking for,” she said.

Organisers say the aim is to lower barriers for first-time festival-goers, with tickets starting from $10 and a focus on accessibility and engagement.

More than 25 per cent of the festival remains free, including public events such as Streetside: Britomart.

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