Schools

TUESDAY 13 – THURSDAY 15 MAY 2025, AOTEA CENTRE

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME HŌTAKA KURA BOOKINGS OPEN

**Please book early to avoid disappointment**

Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki is delighted to deliver the 2025 Schools Programme with the generous support of the Freemasons Foundation. Bookings now open and tickets are on sale. Through this programme we hope to inspire young writers and readers and celebrate the love of story.

THIS YEAR’S FEATURED WRITERS:

Anton Clifford-Motopi (Australia) - Author, educator and researcher in Indigenous health

Scotty Cotter (Aotearoa NZ)- Acclaimed playwright, actor and director

Antony Elworthy (Aotearoa NZ) - Author, illustrator and animator for film and

television

Saraid de Silva (Aotearoa NZ) - Author, podcast co-host and theatre maker

Stacy Gregg (Aotearoa NZ) - Winner of the 2024 Margaret Mahy Book of the

Year Award

Per Gustavsson (Sweden) - Award-winning illustrator and author

Ruby Macomber (Aotearoa NZ) - Poet and co-manager of Te Kāhui

Steph Matuku (Aotearoa NZ) - Author for children and young adults

Michel Mulipola (Sāmoa/Aotearoa NZ) - Comic book artist and story artist for Disney

Animation

Lee Murray (Aotearoa NZ) - Multiple award-winning speculative fiction writer

Airana Ngarewa (Aotearoa NZ) - Bestselling novelist and educator

James Russell (Aotearoa NZ) - Bestselling children’s author

Neal Shusterman (US) - Acclaimed author of young adult fiction

Lemn Sissay (UK) - BAFTA-nominated, international prize-winning poet and author

Anders Sparring (Sweden) - Author, comedian and screenwriter

Jessica Townsend (Australia) - New York Times bestselling author

Harriet Walter (UK) - Esteemed actress of the screen and stage

SCHOOLS BOOKINGS FORM

Upper Primary Years 5-6: Tuesday 13 or Wednesday 14 or Thursday 15 May

Intermediate Years 7-8: Tuesday 13 May

Secondary Years 9-13: Wednesday 14 or Thursday 15 May

All booking forms are to be emailed to groups@ticketmaster.co.nz Upon receipt of your booking Ticketmaster will issue an invoice for immediate payment.

SCHOOLS TRANSPORT FUND APPLICATION

If you wish to apply to the Schools Transport Fund for help towards the cost of transport for your school, please complete the online form by 5pm on Friday 7 March 2025. Notification of outcome will be confirmed via email on 19 March 2025.

Applications are assessed on a needs basis. Successful applicants will be required to submit an invoice by 13 June to receive their funds.

If you encounter any issues with this form or have general questions about the fund please email:schools@writersfestival.co.nz