Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

Kia ora! This account is managed by Donna and Moata of the Christchurch City Libraries Web Team from our secret lair/open plan office. We’ll be sharing info about library events, services and collections.

28 October marks the national day of commemoration for the New Zealand Wars – Te Pūtake o te Riri, He Rā Maumahara. It provides an opportunity to learn more about this period in Aotearoa's history. BWB has published a range of books that tell the history of these painful conflicts and their times.

We've got the audiobook of A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas available now! libbyapp.com/library/awa/... Some ACOTAR fans were at Tūranga yesterday for release night, with Scorpio Books and Haven Tattoo on deck. ^DR

Looks like it might be pleasant weather this weekend in Ōtautahi Christchurch, just the ticket for a Mid City Meander on Sunday 1 November 10.30am to 11.30am. It's free, and starts & finishes at Tūranga. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a... ^DR

Happy 300th birthday to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, published on this day 1726! christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S3... ^MT

It's that time of year ... Best Books of the year as handpicked by @publisherswkly.bsky.social are starting to come out! best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-book... Here are their 10 Best of the year best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-book... ^DR

#Halloween watching tip: Salt along the tongue It's a female-focused Australian movie — an atmospheric combo of witches, hexes, body horror, family, delicious food, possession, & hair (in plugholes and in food). Check it out on @kanopy.com www.kanopy.com/en/christchu... ^DR

Wondering how to make a memorable & manageable festive food? Book tickets for a workshop with well-known chef Richard Till - this workshop is on Thursday 26 November 6pm to 7.30pm. events.humanitix.com/entertain-wi... ^DR

Aroha mai, Shirley Library will close early at 5.30pm today Tuesday 27 October. Keep up-to-date on changes in library hours or services: my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/news/library... ^MT

Want to listen to the latest ACOTAR title ASAP? Place a hold in Libby and when the eAudiobook goes live later today it'll be available with no wait. 🎧 libbyapp.com/search/awa/s... ^MT

Sister of Elizabeth McCombs, New Zealand's first woman MP. What a whānau! @katbhave.bsky.social wrote a post about this "radical" family a couple of years ago: my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/t... ^MT

Tūranga is open today (Labour Day - Monday 26 October) 10am to 5pm, plus you can vote there from 10am to 4pm! my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-... ^DR

Now this is some long weekend news you can use. pip adam's Ursula Le Guin Prize for Fiction winning book Audition is available now on Libby. libbyapp.com/search/awa/s... (thanks Mike - and @pipadam.bsky.social ) ^DR

Mālo ni. Te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau - Tokelau Language Week is on from 25 to 31 October. There is a special celebration at Upper Riccarton on Friday 30 October 5pm to 7pm. Explore events, books, crafts, and resources at my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/tokelau-lang... ^DR

Did you see Alice Oseman's #WORDChch talk last night? So awesome! Tonight there's a Heartstopper dance party for ages 12 to 18 5pm to 7pm at Tūranga! Converses and Vans welcome. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a... ^DR

This beautiful bilingual picture book is Coming soon to your library! christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S3... #Pukapuka Mauri by Merryn Jones, illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira ^DR

Currently on order if you're keen for this! christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S3... ^MT

Coming up next month at Tūranga is a free event about achieving financial independence. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a... ^MT

"The absolute Poet Laureate of Hornby" - now that's a nom de poet! Dynamite by Megan Clayton was launched on National Poetry Day, with speeches & poems by top local poets including @erikkennedy.com my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/t... #pukapuka ^DR

New books in da house! (or your house, if you borrow them) New fiction New non-fiction Just ordered my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-titles/#... ^MT

Stonkingly good book news to start your day. Kia ora and congrats to Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction winner pip adam @pipadam.bsky.social !!! ^DR

🎉 Poorhara is back! We know lots of readers have been waiting anxiously for this extraordinary novel to be back in stock. Here it is – in February 2027, Poorhara returns in a new b-format edition, with a fresh cover design by Todd Atticus.

Pop in to Tūranga today and join members of The Tapestry Trust of New Zealand in adding some stitches to an embroidered work commemorating women's suffrage in New Zealand. They're on Tuakiri, Level 2 until 2pm. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a... ^MT

Poetry fans! Coming up on 18 November, Ariana Tikao hosts a stellar lineup of poets: Isla Huia, Robert Sullivan, and Ōtautahi Youth Poetry Slam 2026 winners Ngā Kōhine o Te Kupu from Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha. Book your spot now! christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a...

Tami Neilson has a memoir coming out in April 2027, to be published by Penguin! "Brave, beautiful and entertaining as hell, Tami Neilson’s brilliant breakout memoir sparkles like a truckload of rhinestones but cuts like a diamond." ^DR www.penguin.co.nz/books/vocal-... #pukapuka (+ wow the cover!)

Our Heartstopping Dance Party is on this Friday at Turanga. Free but bookings required (so that we know how much pizza and soft drinks to get 🍕🥤) christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a... ^MT

Author Maria Gill is giving a talk tomorrow afternoon at Upper Riccarton Library about WWII spy, Nancy Wake, the subject of her new YA novel, A flame in the dark. Free but bookings required. christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a...

I had a talk with the makers of Patchwork Ōtautahi today. It’s cool! www.patchworkplay.com#about You can check it out at Tūranga on weekdays 12 to 5, & weekends 10 to 3.

Ageing Positively Expo on at Tūranga until 4pm. Music. Exhibitors. Good vibes. my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/ageing-posit...

What you waiting for? My November list of "Books I really want to read" includes a Barbara Cartland bio, things with wings, & a book about smells. Plus Chappell Roan, Kyle MacLachlan, & a new book by @ired0mi.bsky.social. Hoorah! christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp... ^DR #pukapuka #booksky

It's Play Week next week. We look at why play matters. my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/w... ^MT

Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) — Sound Artist for WHAIAO — talks about the taonga puoro featured in the exhibition soundtrack. my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/w... You can see (and hear) the taonga puoro and music at WHAIAO in Tūranga. ^DR

I've popped a few pics up for the Photo Hunt. my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/photo-hunt/ It's easy-peasy, have a go and add your Ōtautahi Christchurch photos into the mix! ^DR

Join Kim Te Pairi Garrett (Tuhoe) and Lizzie Tollemache (Scottish and Swiss heritage) the creators of ‘Folk Tales’ for an interactive 2-hour workshop on the art of storytelling. It's on Sunday 18 October 12noon to 2pm at Tūranga and it's free! Book now: christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a...

Find out what's new to our collection this week with: 🆕 Fiction 🆕 Non-fiction 🆕 Just ordered RSS lists of all the latest are on our website: my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-titles/#... ^MT

Christchurch Photo Hunt is well underway and you can see entries that have come in on the Discovery Wall website: discoverywall.nz/tags/406281/... You've got until 31 October to get your entries in! my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/photo-hunt/ ^MT