In other words, Ōtaki
Kia rerekē te hua, Ōtaki

Applications for the 2026 Kia rerekē te hua, Ōtaki / In other words, Ōtaki (IOWŌ) 10-day storyteller residency programme open soon!

This residency programme is for Aotearoa storytellers who work with words that reflect positive and/or progressive ways of thinking about people, community or the environment. 

Last year's storytellers included a food resilience activist, children's writers, illustrators, and theatre-makers, a medical practitioner, and a zine creator with a focus on environmental degradation, Te Tiriti, and indigenous reclamation.

Find out more about last year's residents. 

The In other words, Ōtaki (IOWŌ) / Kia rerekē te hua, Ōtaki storyteller residency will run from 4 – 13 September 2026.

An array of events for Ōtaki locals will be run during the residency period, organised through local community groups for their members. 

Keep an eye on our events page as planning advances and if you would like to apply, see our APPLY page.