Events

IOWŌ is facilitating a series of small, largely free or koha events in 2025, to enable the community to interact with resident storytellers. 

PLEASE NOTE: As this is a pilot residency programme in 2025, these events are delivered through local Ōtaki community groups, who will invite participants directly.

The 2025 events include:

Storyteller: Nadine Hura (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi)

Students from Te Kura-a-iwi O Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, Te Kira Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito and Te Wānanga o Raukawa join Nadine to take part in a zine-making workshop around the whakapapa of climate change.

Storyteller: Helen Lehndorf

Participants from local eco-community groups join a foraging workshop, supplemented with poetry, called Eat the Weeds! at Haruatai Park.

Storyteller: Lucy O’Hagan

Oranga Ōtaki hosts a work-in-progress performance devised by Lucy for their staff, the staff of Ōtaki Medical and other local social service providers, as Lucy prepares to launch her first book in September.

Storyteller: Ralph McCubbin Howell

Books & Co. host two performances of The Bookbinder, a dark fairytale, for a small audience of 20 per show, with audiences sourced through Books & Co. and local primary schools.

Storytellers: Ruth Paul, Fifi Colston and Peter Hambleton

• Books & Co. host Ruth Paul reads from her books in their children’s section for a small audience of 25 children sourced through Books & Co and local primary schools.

• Ōtaki College host a drama workshop for up to six of their students delivered by Ruth, Peter and Fifi around a new children’s theatre work the trio are creating.

• Ōtaki Primary host a small showing of Ruth, Peter and Fifi's theatre work-in-progress for the school's new entrants and year one and two students.

The Storytellers' Feast: Hāngi & Kōrero 

Up to 250 Ōtaki residents join our resident storytellers and five local storytellers for a koha hāngi lunch and storytelling, hosted by comedian and writer, Michèle A’Court.

Audience members are invited through participating community groups and IOWŌ supporters. 

Held at the Ōtaki Memorial Hall, the five local storytellers include:

• Tihema Baker (Raukawa te Au ki te Tonga, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) - fiction writer and Tiriti o Waitangi-based policy advisor.

• Glenn Colquhoun – poet and medical GP.

• Eirlys Hunter – fiction writer and creative writing teacher.

• Mike Joy - freshwater ecologist and science communicator.

•  Robin Peace – social scientist.