Back by very popular demand – and better and smuttier than before – The Spice Salon returns to quench Tāmaki’s thirst.

Four stellar Festival authors join host Samuel Te Kani (Ngāpuhi) for late-night readings and discussions of the steamiest bits of their work – of the high-brow, literary variety, of course ...

For your listening pleasure are: Tony Tulathimutte (Rejection), Maria Reva (Endling), Laura Borrowdale (Dead Ends) and Joseph Trinidad (Lucky Creatures).

This was a sell-out event in 2025 and a Festival highlight – so book early.

It’ll banish all memory of English class being (ahem) dry.