More than 170 New Zealand writers have just confirmed one of their biggest appointments of the year - with the Auckland Writers Festival unleashing its 2025 programme.

While the 50+ international writers making the trip to Tāmaki Makaurau during 13-18 May will garner many headlines - rightfully so, given their wide appeal - there is no doubting this is an integral event for those plying their trade in the Aotearoa literary community.

AWF Artistic Director Lyndsey Fineran told The Lowdown "As the biggest Festival of our kind in Aotearoa, celebrating NZ writing is central to our kaupapa. We’re proud to host a strong international line-up, and know there’s huge audience appetite for those names. But it’s important to us to celebrate our local greats just as meaningfully, and to have a range of intentional pathways for new voices and perspectives from all over the motu.

"There are over 50 first-timer New Zealanders confirmed to date; with some more to follow in the STREETSIDE: BRITOMART programme (launching in April). In total we're looking at around 180 local writers in the programme." 

Among those making their AWF debut is Hana Tapiata (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou, Waikato, Pākehā), dropping some wisdom from her book Atua Wāhine: The Ancient Wisdom of Māori Goddesses.

"I’m really excited to be part of the festival this year, to add to the works amplifying tupuna mātauranga, and story sovereignty. 

"I’m looking forward to hearing from other authors about their process and learning more about how they articulate their ideas into the impactful pieces of literature we get to enjoy."

First time participants Deidre Brown and Ngarino Ellis are set for a special week, not only as part of AWF but finalists in the Ockham NZ Book Awards which are presented at the festival.

"It is an honour to be shortlisted and to have the mana of Māori art scholarship recognised in this way. We hope the many artists, community members, museum and gallery staff and scholars who contributed information and provided access to taonga for our book, Toi Te Mana, also feel justifiably proud of this recognition, and Māori on a wider level as this is all our history. Ka mau te wehi." 

More than 170 events have been listed so far for the annual event that's been running for 26 years. There are big benchmarks for Fineran and AWF co-leader Catriona Ferguson to chase, after breaking all prior audience records in 2024 and seeing book sales increase by 50% on the previous year.

Among the marquee New Zealand names involved this year - AWF favourites Catherine Chidgey, Tina Makereti, Becky Manawatu, Monty Soutar and Carl Shuker  as well as art icon Dick Frizzell and Tiger Woods’ long-term caddie Steve Williams.

Right HER, right now

While cornerstone events are crucial, it's always fulfilling to see creative festivals return after falling off the calendar.

Fitting that bill is the HER Festival, revealing its line up for next month after a hiatus last year.

Touted as New Zealand's only multi-genre festival for all who identify as women, Festival Director Ella Mizrahi - whose passion for this kaupapa is fuelled by her volunteer role with domestic violence charity Shine - told The Lowdown “After the success of 2023 we had to take a break - like many festivals - to try and find enough funding to be able to make the tickets accessible and to be able to provide free events for all women. 

"During this time, there has been huge discussions around womens bodies and our rights on the world stage - as well as unfathomable stats in Aotearoa around domestic violence and sexual assault on the rise due to the financial crisis.

"Rebuilding women takes time. It needs to be loud and public. There’s no better thing to do in the face of angry men in the world than all get together and dance in a park.”

The programme fittingly launched on International Women’s Day (8 March), with the festival taking place in the Myers Park precinct and Basement Theatre spaces.

Wallis prize to Loose  

The New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards celebrated 25 years of recognising artistic talent by crowning Rebecca Wallis as this year's main prize winner.

Her work, A Loosening of Order commanded the $12,000 Main Paint prize - and Wallis notes it's a timely boost.

 "The prize will support my practice to get a solo exhibition in Edinburgh later this year.

"I’ve been working with ideas around the intimacy of disrupted spaces of identity and order through my artwork for over 30 years.

"To gain recognition for A Loosening of Order is a confirmation that we have similar experiences in life, and we can connect with the deepest of these experiences through art.

"I’m hugely grateful to the judges for the recognition and the big prize. Possibilities have expanded for me personally and professionally."

Judge Matthew Browne spoke highly of the Wallis' piece, praising it for the immediate emotional impact that it evokes and noting it is "charged with human fragility, presence and absence, a vacant silence meditating on the wonders of existence."

Ben Reid is also $12,000 better off after his work Sing Together claimed the Main Printmaking Award (shown at the top of the page), while Merit Award winners Cara Fotofili for Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-bop (Paint) and Sybille Schlumbom for Paper Princess I+II (Printmaking) each receive $2000.

The exhibition - with 65 artworks selected from 345 entries - is also a golden opportunity for those selected to sell their mahi. So far, 13 pieces have sold, with hope more are to follow before it closes on 22 March.

Rydal Prize's new home

Another of the country's arts gongs is on the move.

The Rydal Art Prize has been confirmed for a shift from Bay of Plenty to Auckland, taking up residence at West Auckland's Te Uru Contemporary Gallery.

The $25,000 biennial non-acquisitional award has been based at the Tauranga Art Gallery for its first three iterations, but with the gallery currently undergoing major redevelopment, the prize needed a new home.

Enter Te Uru.

Te Uru Director AD Schierning states, “The Rydal Art Prize makes a significant impact on an artist’s ability to develop new work and invest in their practice. Te Uru is thrilled to have been chosen as the new home for The Rydal Art Prize and to be a part of this continued support of artistic development in Aotearoa.”

The Fourth Rydal Art Prize winner will be selected this year by a panel of nationally recognised art professionals. The winner will remain anonymous until announced at an event later this year at Te Uru and will exhibit at Te Uru later in 2026.

But there's no sour grapes from Tauranga Art Gallery - Director Sonya Korohina adding, “Following the successful cycle of awards, we are thrilled that the
Prize is able to continue in Tāmaki. I’d like to thank all those that have been involved in this prize, and wish Te Uru and Seeds Trust every success.”

The last winner of the Rydal Art Prize - Owen Conners (2023) will present his exhibition when the Tauranga Art Gallery eventually re-opens. 

New appointments

The Waikato creative community's most anticipated projects is starting to take shape.

With the long-awaited, 1300-capacity Waikato Regional Theatre set to open in late 2025, two new appointments have been made to it management team.

Michael Gilling has been named as Venue Manager, bringing over 30 years of experience in the performing arts, live events, and venue management. He has a strong grounding in the region, having overseen theatre production, live concerts, music festivals, international sporting events, and large-scale event operations, with tenures at Founders Theatre, FMG Stadium Waikato, Seddon Park, and Claudelands Event Centre.

He's joined by new Booking Manager Sarah Graham - touted as a seasoned performing arts programmer with extensive experience in leadership and collaborative strategy development.

Currently the Place & Partners Specialist – Arts at Auckland Council, Graham has previously been Deputy Chief Executive & Programme Director at Q Theatre.

The countdown is on - with the new theatre primed to open up new opportunity to stage both local and international talent in the region and expected to be a big boost to cultural tourism.

Backing local talent

A special opportunity in the Hawke's Bay as well, with a new pilot initiative is set to provide a boost to the region's emerging musicians.

Called UPSTAGE, the collaborative project is attempting to break down barriers by offering local artists high-quality video and audio recordings of their work.

Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts and Event Centre Producer Sarah Terry explains “The goal is to build capacity, celebrate local stories, and foster pride in our region’s creative talent on a global scale.

“Access to high-quality recording facilities can be a major hurdle for many emerging artists in our region. There are only a few studios available, and the high costs -especially factoring in travel outside Hawke’s Bay - make it a significant expense.  UPSTAGE is about supporting artists—helping them grow their careers without having to leave home. We’re thrilled to partner with local industry practitioners to bring this project to life.”

Nick Herbison is the first to benefit from the UPSTAGE experience.

"These two songs are shared on social media which has been engaged with by my followers but also non-followers. The video gives a great overview of how I sound when playing live. This is great for engaging listeners that want to know my live sound and help them decide whether to see me live. 

"The videos are also great for pitching venues and events that I would like to play. The audio is also mixed and recorded well which gives me the opportunity to upload it as a ‘live version’ to streaming platforms.”

It's not just the mucicians getting the rub - with local creative connections being built as EIT students and staff work alongside industry professionals to film, record and produce the content.

Backline Charitable Trust's Kevin Murphy states “For us, investing in the next generation of musicians is vital. Hawke’s Bay has incredible talent, and projects like UPSTAGE give our artists the skills, resources, and confidence to take their music further. When we invest in them, we invest in the future of our creative community.”

Te Rā prepares to set sail

One of the crown jewels of Auckland Museum is going under the spotlight this weekend - as its time in Aotearoa is coming to a close.

On Saturday, a Te Rā Symposium is being held under the Museum's dome, to shine some light on the recent research being done on this special cultural piece.

Te Rā is the only known customary Māori sail in existence, and has been on loan from the British Museum for the last three years - a homecoming that's set to end soon.

Auckland Museum's Curator Taonga Māori - Arts Laureate Nigel Borell – told The Lowdown "Te Rā is a significant taonga, and with its return home has ignited even more interest and wonder in its unique weaving and making knowledge. This symposium offers an important opportunity to hear from experts who have engaged with Te Rā, sharing insights that connect the past with the present. 

"As the exhibition at Auckland Museum nears its end, it’s a time to reflect and share some of the knowledge this 200-year-old sail has given us."