In this Pukapuka Talks, Samantha Gee from Radio New Zealand quizzes Naomi Arnold about her 2026 Ockham NZ Book Award longlisted book, Northbound, and Rebecca Hayter about High Heels & Gumboots, her hilarious and heartwarming memoir set in Golden Bay,.

When award-winning journalist and author Naomi Arnold set off to walk from Bluff to Cape Reinga she soon discovered that heading north meant she would spend long periods completely on her own.  

Yachting enthusiast Rebecca Hayter – also an award-winning journalist – initially planned a seachange with her partner but found herself the ‘accidental’ sole owner of a 10-acre beachfront ‘lifestyle’ property in Golden Bay.

While these two award-winning journalists and authors embarked on two very different journeys, they were both yearning to reconnect with the landscape of Aotearoa and themselves.

Ali Mau (author of No Words for This) and Sonia Orchard (author of Groomed) examine what happens when the people you trust most betray you and shine the light on what needs to change for justice to prevail. This kōrero was facilitated by Dr Nikki Evans, who is manager of Hikitia! RISE’s Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention mahi (work)

Discover how a restless working-class girl from the pā became a founding member of Ngā Tamatoa, the Women’s and Gay Liberation movements, and an essential voice in protests across Aotearoa. The kōrero with Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku is facilitated by Donna McLeod.

What is it really like to work in the news media? Join Ali Mau and Michelle Duff, two of Aotearoa’s most highly regarded journalists, as they speak candidly about the shifting landscape of journalism in an age of misinformation, outrage, and fragile business models.

Led by fellow journalist Naomi Arnold, this timely conversation considers the inherent structural challenges in the media, the role of advocacy in journalism, and how we can establish which media to trust.

Dr Hinemoa Elder’s new book, Ara: A Māori Guidebook of the Mind, is a quest through the caves of Hinengaro (mental health) and a resource for anyone seeking comfort and ease amid the chaos of life. This kōrero is facilitated by Annie Fay.

Set in a sinisterly skewed version of England, Catherine Chidgey’s astonishing new novel, The Book of Guilt, is a story told through the eyes of Vincent (one of three identical triplets) and the lonely but observant single child, Nancy. Claire Mabey leads the kōrero.

Possibly the first book to emerge from ‘live, disrupted TED-style talks’, Jo Randerson’s Secret Art Powers is a guide to using creative thinking to achieve radical change. In this kōrero with World of WearableArt CEO and creativity advocate Meg Williams, the multifaceted writer, director and performer explores six creative mindsets that they believe can help us navigate through complex, changing times.

In her very first festival appearance following the publication of Kataraina, Becky Manawatu discusses the highly anticipated sequel to her bestselling debut novel, Auē, alongside friend and fellow kaituhi Māori Talia Marshall, whose essay collection, Whaea Blue, is one of this year’s most anticipated non-fiction pukapuka. Chaired by Nuki Tākao.  

In this Pukapuka Talks session, we celebrate Patricia Grace’s eighth short story collection, the astonishing Bird Child and Other Stories, as well as her remarkable writing life over almost 50 years. Patricia will discuss her latest book, her approach to writing and how she has collaborated with her talented whānau, in conversation with Donna McLeod.

This podcast was produced with the support of Copyright Licensing New Zealand's 2024 Contestable Fund Grant.

Lauren Keenan and Cristina Sanders are two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s preeminent historical fiction writers. Journey back in time with them to hear about their new books, The Space Between and Ōkiwi Brown - an opportunity to experience life through the eyes of those who history books have, to date, largely neglected. Chaired by Sylvan Thomson.

This podcast was produced with the support of Copyright Licensing New Zealand's 2024 Contestable Fund Grant.