Thespinoff iconThespinoffSep 6, 2026 ~1 min source read

Diary of a writers’ festival: Word Christchurch 2026

A report on the crowds, chaos, bathroom selfies and conviviality of a busy and brilliant festival. Felt sick after landing but in the car to the hotel Mike Stevens told me and Gina, the festival's artist liaison, about the Shortland pounamu currently on display at Christchurch Art Gallery.

Diary of a writers’ festival: Word Christchurch 2026

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A report on the crowds, chaos, bathroom selfies and conviviality of a busy and brilliant festival.

Felt sick after landing but in the car to the hotel Mike Stevens told me and Gina, the festival's artist liaison, about the Shortland pounamu currently on display at Christchurch Art Gallery.

My first event was a workshop on tarot in a bar called The Last Word – cosy arrangements of tables and lush armchairs.

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The useful part

A report on the crowds, chaos, bathroom selfies and conviviality of a busy and brilliant festival. Felt sick after landing but in the car to the hotel Mike Stevens told me and Gina, the festival's artist liaison, about the Shortland pounamu currently on display at Christchurch Art Gallery. My first event was a workshop on tarot in a bar called The Last Word – cosy arrangements of tables and lush armchairs.

How it works

  • I babbled to them about how I use the tarot (for telling stories) and Janeane Garofalo as the witch in the 90s film Now and Then and then we spent two hours together chatting, reading the cards.
  • Lots of "this is so accurate!" Kiran Dass, Word's programme director, managed to stay for the whole time, too.

Details worth keeping

Day 1, Wednesday September 2 Flight was bumpy. He was so passionate and interesting I forgot my nausea. The tarot session sold out fast which both fascinated and worried me.

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