Storytellers will take over the Britomart precinct in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau for a riotous evening of words and creativity on Friday 9 May. STREETSIDE: BRITOMART is a one-night-only festival which is completely free and open to all.

The fun runs from 6 – 8pm with events across seven Britomart venues and provides a vibrant appetiser to the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi O Tāmaki wider programme, taking place at the Aotea Centre from Tuesday 13 May.

The night’s festivities are curated by STREETSIDE: BRITOMART Programmer Ruby Macomber, a newcomer to the Auckland Writers Festival team in 2025, who has delivered an evening jam-packed with dynamic, artist-led kaupapa.

“In my curation, I wanted to focus on creating opportunities for artists to let loose and take the unorthodox structure of STREETSIDE: Britomart in their stride. To think about their works in conversation and see what we can learn from each other’s seeds of inspiration,” says Ruby.

Attendees can sink their teeth into FRESH BITES at Daily Bread and hear from some of the city's newest voices, watch their favourite texts be put to the test in BOOK (FIGHT) CLUB before stretching their own creative muscles in the NAVIGATING WĀHINETANGA workshop or WHERE IS THE LOVE? zine-making space.

Elsewhere, popular local authors Rachel Paris (See How They Fall), Gavin Strawhan (The Call), Antonia Murphy (Madam) and Dominic Hoey (1985) share how the plot-twists in their own lives informed their new books in STORIES START HERE and Slam Champion Matariki Bennett transforms Rocketman into a dynamic beat poetry lounge for the evening.

Complimentary alcohol-free Seedlip cocktails will be available at Takutai Square, where a DJ will set the tone, and attendees can get a poem personally written for them. Books will be available for sale at Allbirds thanks to Lamplight Books who will be running a pop-up stall.

The events are all free and no tickets or registrations are required. Head to writersfestival.co.nz for the full STREETSIDE: BRITOMART programme.