From the Floor
Four writers present visionary maiden speeches drawn from new books, followed by a conversation and book signings.
Step into the chamber and imagine the future we could build. Drawing on their recent books, four formidable writers deliver their own maiden speeches, sharing hopeful visions of possibility, followed by a conversation with Toby Manhire.
Kaeden Watts (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhoe) contributes to Kiwis in Climate with perspectives on climate solutions; Lucy O’Hagan’s Everything But the Medicine reveals the realities of healthcare; co-editor of 50 Years of The Waitangi Tribunal – Whakamana i Te Tiriti, Carwyn Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa), brings deep insight into Māori rights and politics; and Trish Harris celebrates the lives of Deaf and disabled people in Out of the Box, showcasing stories that defy society’s barriers.
Verb's official Festival Bookseller, Unity Books, will be on-site selling books and the featured writers will be signing after the event.
This event will be NZSL interpreted.
This event is part of the 2026 Verb Readers & Writers Festival. Festival Passes are available (example price mentioned: $80 for a 4-event pass until midday Thursday 24 September). For more information see verbwellington.nz.
Verb Showcase: If This Finds You
Fever! A Poetry Gala
The Long Game of Reclamation
Carrying the Past Forward
Dame Silvia Cartwright: That Woman
Seasoned Self, Disclosing Self: On Memoir
Brannavan Gnanalingam: U.X.O.
What the Walls Remember
Jon Toogood: Home Again
Don’t Worry, Tech will Save Us – A Verb Debate
Michelle de Kretser: Theory & Practice
