Events

WATCH THIS SPACE!

IOWŌ facilitates a series of small, largely free or koha events so the community can interact with resident storytellers. 

Come back later this year for more information on what events will be held in 2026, once our residents are confirmed.

The 2025 events included:

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 joined Nadine to take part in a zine-making workshop around the whakapapa of climate change.

Storyteller: Helen Lehndorf

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

Storyteller: Lucy O’Hagan

Oranga Ōtaki hosted a work-in-progress performance devised by Lucy for their staff, the staff of Ōtaki Medical and other local social service providers, as Lucy prepared to launch her first book in September 2025.

Storyteller: Ralph McCubbin Howell

Books & Co. hosted 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. hosted Ruth Paul reading 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 hosted a drama workshop for up to six of their students delivered by Ruth, Peter and Fifi around a new children’s theatre work. Now programmed at Circa Theatre in April 2026.

• Ōtaki Primary hosted 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 joined our resident storytellers and five local storytellers for a koha hāngi lunch and storytelling, hosted by comedian and writer, Michèle A’Court.

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

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

• 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.