The beloved, free month-long festival Ka Pānui Tātou i Tāmaki Makaurau We Read Auckland returns this August with an exciting new programme of author talks and writing workshops, a popular writing competition for teenagers and fresh new reads featuring local voices and stories.
We Read Auckland was launched in 2021 by Auckland Council Libraries to foster a shared love of reading and writing across Auckland’s diverse communities. It is one of many initiatives delivered with thanks to Auckland ratepayers and Auckland Council. Today, it continues to champion regional talent, help readers discover their next favourite book, and create opportunities for people to explore new hobbies and learn new skills.
This year, the We Read Auckland Bestie Collection features 24 recently published titles by Auckland authors spanning fiction, non-fiction and poetry, including two exciting festival firsts: a cookbook and a romantasy novel.
Aucklanders will also get a chance to hear from and meet the writers themselves thanks to the ten dedicated author talk events on offer. Journalist Barbara Dreaver shares stories of reporting from across the Pacific at Māngere Arts Centre, award-winning authors Charlotte Grimshaw and Paula Morris discuss Grimshaw’s intriguing novel The Black Monk at Grey Lynn Library Hall, and acclaimed Māori authors and storytellers, Witi Ihimaera- Smiler and Eugene Bingham, interview each other on their books, Te Kaikaukau: The Swimmer and The Chief and the Empire at Ta Paataka Koorero o Takaanini.
Community Committee Chair, Councillor Julie Fairey, says We Read Auckland continues to showcase the creativity and diversity of Tāmaki Makaurau’s literature.
“We Read Auckland celebrates the stories connecting our communities and sharing the many local voices that make our region unique. It is a wonderful opportunity for Aucklanders to read our local authors and discover the vast range of topics on offer which range from poetry, prison reform to the best potato salad recipes. Whether you’re keen to pick up a book for the first time in years or you're an avid reader, the Bestie Collection offers something for everyone.
Non-fiction enthusiasts can dive into comedian Pax Assadi’s hilarious and heartfelt debut Mortified: Things I have to laugh about, explore the remarkable story of Māori trailblazer Te Pahi in Eugene Bingham’s The Chief and Empire, follow Barbara Dreaver’s fascinating journey as a Pacific correspondent with her tell-all Be Brave: The life of a Pacific correspondent, or discover how Greg Newbold went from prisoner to becoming New Zealand’s leading criminologist in Dream Dealer: From prisoner to professor.
Fiction readers can travel across time and place in their imagination with K.J. Holdom’s The End and the Beginning, a moving story of a teenager fleeing a Nazi youth camp or get swept up in Josie Shapiro’s thought-provoking novel Good Things Come and Go about life’s risks and redemptions, and Nalini Singh’s gripping new thriller Such a Perfect Family.
For those looking to expand their culinary horizons, there’s More Than Toast: How to cook and have fun doing it, by professional cook and food stylist Rhiannon Baldock, while fantasy fans can lose themselves in the festival’s first-ever romantasy selection, The Shadow Weaver by North Shore author Ivy Cliffwater, the opening novel in her Broken Sword duology.
All titles will be available to borrow from 1 August at all 57 Auckland Council Library branches. But there’s plenty more to enjoy with events and activities that celebrate reading, storytelling, and community connection.
Aucklanders are encouraged to make the most of the upcoming author talks and writing workshops, which are available for both rangatahi and adults. These events provide a unique opportunity to hear directly from local writers to uncover the stories behind the books and develop one’s own creative skills with the help of a workshop or two. Ever wondered how a novel begins? Curious about crime writing or character development? Got a story of your own waiting to be told?
For teenagers, the Taiohi Writing Competition returns from 1 August 2026 to 1 February 2027 following its successful inaugural launch last year. The competition invites young Aucklanders aged 13-18 to share stories that speak directly to their peers in Tāmaki Makaurau. Additionally, last year’s winning submissions will be published on 21 August 2026 in the anthology Surface: Emerging Voices of Tāmaki Makaurau. This initiative is proudly supported by Auckland Council Libraries' publishing programme which champions emerging writers and local stories to ensure library collections truly reflect their local community.
Catherine Leonard, Auckland Council’s Head of Library and Learning Services, says the festival creates meaningful opportunities for readers and writers alike.
“Whether you’re discovering your next favourite book, meeting an author whose work you admire, encouraging your teenager to become a published author or taking part in a writing workshop yourself, We Read Auckland offers something for everyone. Across Tāmaki Makaurau, our library network continues to champion local writers, connect communities through stories, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning.
All events are free to attend, but bookings are recommended. Books from the Bestie Collection are available on loan for two weeks at a time without the wait, from 1 August.
For the full programme and to book free tickets, visit We Read Auckland.
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