Poetry Shelf reckons this is a must-support series of events – what a terrific set of readings and talks for those of us who love books of all genres.

Writers on Monday is back! The event is run by the International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) in conjunction with Te Papa Tongarewa and Circa Theatre and is the perfect opportunity to warm up out of the winter weather by hearing some of our best and emerging writers.

Award-winning books and authors feature heavily in this year’s programme being held each Monday from 7 July to 29 September. Damien Wilkins, winner of the 2025 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, will be joined by last year’s winner Emily Perkins to chat about his bestselling novel Delirious, which Newsroom declared “the book of the year’” in 2024. Michelle Rahurahu, fresh from winning the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction at the Ockham Book Awards, will be joined by fellow debut author Gina Butson to take us on a whirlwind tour of their novels Poorhara and The Stars are a Million Glittering Worlds.

Many of the authors in the programme are traveling from across New Zealand and even further afield. With Verb Wellington taking a pause on their readers and writers festival for 2025, Writers on Mondays co-ordinator Chris Price says the Monday events offer Wellingtonians a unique opportunity this year to hear literary stars discuss their work. “High-flying Wellington writers are in the spotlight alongside writers from across the motu and beyond: Nina Mingya Powles on a flying visit from London; Mikaela Nyman, fresh from her standout Auckland Writers Festival appearance, making the journey from Taranaki; and poet Nafanua Purcell Kersel traveling from Hawkes Bay. Several Auckland writers will also be in town for especially for the series.”

Randell Cottage Writer in Residence Saraid de Silva and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Michelle Duff will be in conversation with Tina Makereti to explore their stories about multi-generational women and how we excavate the past to inform the present. de Silva’s Amma has had international success, longlisted for the Women’s Prize, while another featured writer, Jennifer Trevelyan, has had huge international success with her debut novel A Beautiful Family. She caught the attention of a renowned literary agent who secured her a worldwide publishing deal and Allen & Unwin has published her book in NZ. Duncan Sarkies and Brannavan Gnanalingam will be in discussion about their new novels, and why political satire is more important than ever in current times.

Poetry offerings include Nick Ascroft hosting poets from his edition of Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems in a reading, a conversation between Mikaela Nyman and Nafanua Purcell Kersel, and poet laureate Chris Tse talking to poets about how poetry might be reinvented. Anna Jackson, an Associate Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, will speak about her new collection of poetry which has been described as “extraordinary, in both concept and form”.

For a glimpse of the further talent soon to emerge from the IIML’s MA workshops, scriptwriting students will have their words brought to life in lunchtime performances at Circa Theatre, while the next wave of novelists, poets, and creative nonfiction writers will read in special evening events at Meow.

Writers on Mondays will run from 12.15—1.15 pm each Monday from 7 July to 29 September 2025 at Te Papa Tongarewa and Circa Theatre, with two special evening sessions at Meow. Admission is free and all are welcome. The series is supported by the Letteri family. The full programme can be viewed here. Come celebrate Aotearoa writers with us at Writers on Mondays – we look forward to seeing you there.

For further information, contact caoimhe.mckeogh@vuw.ac.nz.