Booktown festival

The Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival returns for its ninth year of diverse literary events over the weekend of May 10-12.

The programme features more than 77 presenters over 39 events, with eight events devoted to the craft of the book and four free events for tamariki.

Last year’s festival brought 9000 visitors into Wairarapa and was set to do the same again in 2024.

Featherston Booktown Trust chair Peter Biggs said they were thrilled to welcome booklovers from around the country back to Featherston Pae Tū Mōkai – Aotearoa New Zealand’s Booktown.

“A place where stories challenge, inspire and comfort us and where we celebrate books and ideas.”

The centrepiece events of this year’s festival include the famous Fish ’n’ Chip Supper featuring Dame Susan Devoy, pictured, who will share stories from her life as race relations commissioner, TV personality and squash world champion.

Some of the other events include the Saturday Night Gala, which features an evening celebrating the Pasifika poetry of Moana Nui A Kiwa and the life of musician, journalist and activist Moana Maniapoto.

Featherston Booktown patron Joy Cowley will return for two events: The Wisdom Years Workshop and a Writing For Children Workshop.

Storytellers Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders use music as their medium and Mrs. Blackwell’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea is always popular.

John Campbell heads a panel of speakers to find out where the Left is headed.

– The Featherston Booktown Karukatea 2024 Festival runs from May 10-12. Tickets: Eventfinda. Visit booktown.org.nz for more info.