RAWA Festival

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making the 2026 RAWA Festival possible.

Your support helped us bring together an inspiring line-up of speakers, support our fellows and emerging writers, and provide meaningful prizes that celebrate outstanding writing. Because of you, the festival was able to nurture new voices, spark important conversations, and strengthen our literary community.

We are deeply grateful for your commitment to our festival and for helping create opportunities for readers and writers. Thank you for believing in the power of stories and the people who tell them.

02/03/2026

It’s almost here… 🎉 The countdown is on for RAWA this week in Akaroa!

The buzz is building, the plans are coming together, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all.

Want to be part of the action? There’s still time to jump in! If you’re available this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and would love to volunteer, we’d be thrilled to have you on the team.

Comment below or send us a message to get involved — let’s make this year’s festival the best one yet!

01/03/2026

📚✨ 5 DAYS TO GO! ✨📚

We’re only 5 days away from the RAWA 2026 Festival — happening 6-8 March in beautiful Akaroa!

This year’s event brings together an incredible line-up of Aotearoa’s favourite authors, storytellers and creative minds for inspiring talks, workshops and conversations you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or just love great stories, there’s something for everyone — from limited-entry craft workshops included in your festival pass, to sessions on fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more.

Last-minute tickets are still available! Grab a full weekend pass or a one-day ticket and join us for a weekend of literary magic. Tickets on sale at www.rawafestival.com

Don’t miss out — see you in Akaroa!

25/02/2026

🎤✨ Akaroa Open Mic Night is Back! ✨🎤

RAWA Festival 2026 will kick off this year with an evening of creativity, connection and seriously good vibes at the Akaroa Open Mic Night!

🗓 Friday 6th March
🚪 Doors open 7.00pm | Open Mic starts 8.00pm
📍 Madeira Hotel, 48 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa
🎟 FREE event (koha encouraged)

🌟 Featuring live poetry and spoken word
🌟 Special guests: Ray Shipley & Joanna Preston
🌟 Plus plenty of open mic magic from our amazing community

Got something to share? A poem, a song, a story? We’d love to hear it!
To book an open mic slot, contact Brigid Rennell at [email protected]

Bring your friends, grab a drink, and settle in for a night of powerful words and local talent. Let’s make it a good one, Akaroa!

Akaroa Open Mic

21/02/2026

Big news from RAWA 2026! 📚✨

We’re thrilled to welcome Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida and Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, to this year’s festival.

Now Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury, Shehan will be in conversation with Jane Stafford at the festival on the 8th March at 8.30am, discussing his brilliant book, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.

Join us at RAWA 2026 — you won’t want to miss this one!

Tickets available on the RAWA website- www.rawafestival.com

13/02/2026

🎬 LEVEL UP your storytelling at RAWA Festival! ✍️

We’re thrilled to invite writers, filmmakers, creators and story-lovers to “A Bootcamp with Michael Bennett – Unlock Your Storytelling Power: Storytelling for Film” happening in beautiful Akaroa on Friday 6 March 2026!

This special full-day workshop is part of the incredible RAWA Festival — a boutique Readers and Writers Akaroa celebration filled with inspiring sessions, world-class speakers, intimate workshops, and a creative community that champions the power of stories.

📍 Where: Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
📅 When: Friday 6 March 2026 (workshop) + full festival weekend 6–8 March
🎟️ Tickets: Available now at rawafestival.com — including one-day, two-day passes, and Michael’s dedicated workshop⁠

Whether you’re crafting your next screenplay, novel, or visual narrative — this is your chance to learn from one of Aotearoa’s best. 🛠️

👉 Head to www.rawafestival.com
to book your festival tickets and workshop spot and start planning a creative escape to Akaroa! (You must have a festival ticket to sign up for the workshop)

06/02/2026

We’re thrilled to share that Marie Connolly, Chair of the RAWA Festival and one of our amazing speakers, was recently interviewed on Bookenz, the beloved radio show hosted by Morrin Rout and Mary-Anne Stone on Plains FM / Plains Media! 📚✨

Marie joined hosts to chat alongside Kate Coughlan and John Prins — sharing insights, stories and perspectives that give wonderful context to some of the ideas and voices at the heart of RAWA.

👉 Missed the live broadcast? Head over to the Bookenz episode page to listen back to the full chat — it’s a great way to connect more deeply with literary conversations and the festival! 🎧

We’re so proud to see RAWA voices out in the world amplifying ideas and sparking conversation!

www.plains.org.nz/programme/bookenz

nz

21/01/2026

Calling all writers!
Have you heard about the RAWA Flash Fiction Prize 2026? Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or a new voice in storytelling, this is your chance to shine!

Write an original flash fiction story (no more than 250 words) on the theme “Journey” and enter the competition for a chance to win great prizes — including $700 and $300 in the Open category, plus prizes for Young Writers under 18! 🏆📚 Successful entries may also be considered for publication in Quick Brown Dog journal, the highly regarded journal of the Hagley Writers' Institute.

📅 Deadline: 5pm, Sunday 8 February 2026
📍 Open to: all fully paid RAWA 2026 registrants, workshop or schools programme attendees.

🔗 Visit our website to find out more and get all the details/ T&Cs ➡️ rawafestival.com

Get writing — we can’t wait to read your story!

14/01/2026

🎬 Festival Tickets are now available! Including our writing workshops!

Join us for an exclusive festival workshop: Storytelling for Film – A Bootcamp, run by Michael Bennett.
This immersive session is designed for filmmakers and storytellers ready to sharpen their craft and build powerful cinematic narratives.

🎟️ Limited spots available — secure yours now:
👉 https://www.rawafestival.com/workshops/storytelling-for-film-a-bootcamp

04/01/2026

Happy New Year from the RAWA family! 🎉

We can’t wait to celebrate RAWA Festival 2026 with you. Tickets are still available, so don’t miss out. Book now to secure your spot in the exclusive workshops!

🎟️ Visit www.rawafestival.com

18/12/2025

Don't miss out on what is sure to be another amazing evening presented by Akaroa Open Mic!

Get into the Christmas spirit and join us The Common - Cafe & Garden Bar - Akaroa for an evening of singing, festive fun and special guests!

This is a free event for all ages!