Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

Some well-known people who have died recently

Bill Birch, 1934-2026
Former New Zealand politician, Minister of Finance

WORD Christchurch Festival 2026 is on from 1 to 6 September. Ōtautahi Christchurch will be the place to be if you love writing, reading, or ideas!

WORD asked Festival writers and performers the question:

Which wave-making book should everyone in Aotearoa read? Why?

"Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. A book about a family deeply woven into their environment...

WORD Christchurch Festival 2026 is on from 1 to 6 September. Ōtautahi Christchurch will be the place to be if you love writing, reading, or ideas!

WORD asked Festival writers and performers the question:

Who or what has made waves in your life? Why?

"My time in the natural world shapes me every day. I see patterns and systems that are reflected in people and com...

Diggers scraping, nibbling, and pulling down heritage buildings used to be a common sight in Christchurch - less so in recent years.

But this week sees the final hurrah of the long vacant, earthquake-damaged Harley Chambers at the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Worcester Street. 

 

Harley's history

Purpose built in 1929 at the behest of dentist, Dr A. ...

The WORD is out! The programme for WORD Christchurch went live last week and it is bursting with literary goodness.

This year's theme is Making Waves. I'm diving in at the deep end and swamped with choices. My first pick will definitely be this one: