ā mātou hinoka | Our Projects
Young poets shine at the 2026 Ōtepoti Youth Poetry Competition
Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature was delighted to support the 2026 Ōtepoti Youth Poetry Competiti...
Posted: Thursday Aug 27, 2026
Writing for Wellness returns for a second season
For participants in this year’s Writing for Wellness workshop series, four weeks of creativity, connection, laughter and...
Posted: Thursday Aug 27, 2026
'A Terrible Trio' and a morning of bookish fun
To celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Book Week, Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature was delighted to connect tamar...
Posted: Friday Aug 21, 2026
Celebrating Literature within the Once Upon a TIME Art+Science Exhibition
The idea that ‘time waits for no one’—whether it feels fleeting, slow or accumulative—was at the heart of the 2026 Once ...
Posted: Tuesday Aug 18, 2026
Finding the Words
Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature is proud to have supported the publication of Finding the Words,...
Posted: Tuesday Aug 18, 2026
A New Way of Seeing: Jenny Powell Launches 'Biology Field Trip'
The Ōtepoti City of Literature team was proud to collaborate recently with Cold Hub Press and our colleagues at Dunedin ...
Posted: Monday Aug 10, 2026
Offering a different view on nature
We’re thrilled to announce that our City of Literature South D Poet, Jenny Powell, has a new poetry collection launching...
Posted: Friday Jun 12, 2026
Heart-warming celebration launches 'Layers of Identity'
The Ōtepoti City of Literature team was proud to collaborate recently with Otago Access Radio (OAR FM) and our colleague...
Posted: Friday Jun 12, 2026
New book highlights youth perspectives
Layers of Identity is a collection of writings by rangatahi aged 8 to 24 on the theme of whakapapa, genealogy, lineage a...
Posted: Thursday May 21, 2026
Inspiring others - one story, one step, one name at a time
Ōtepoti City of Literature celebrates accessibility advocate, adviser, and champion Julie Woods, as communities around t...
Posted: Thursday May 21, 2026
Today on Write Spot - Layers of Identity
OAR FM Community Connector and Youth Coordinator Arina Aizal previews the upcoming launch of the Layers of Identity book...
Posted: Thursday May 07, 2026
A letter from a visiting International Literary Programmer!
Read this letter from Holly Fletcher, a poet based in Ōtepoti and Head Librarian at the Athenaeum & Mechanics Institute,...
Posted: Friday May 01, 2026
2026 Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Resident: Siobhan Harvey
The Caselberg Trust is pleased to announce this year’s winner of the six week residency is Siobhan Harvey from Tāmaki Ma...
Posted: Friday May 01, 2026
City of Literature inspires poetry at Port Chalmers School
The Dunedin City of Literature team had a lively September. As part of Book Week celebrations 2025, a group of enthusias...
Posted: Wednesday Apr 08, 2026
Creative Journey Across the Pacific: Seattle Visits Ōtepoti
A recent visit to Te Whata o Kaituna – the South Dunedin Community Library– offered a meaningful opportunity to celebrat...
Posted: Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
A Lasting Tribute to Sir Vincent O’Sullivan in the Dunedin Writers’ Walk
The City of Literature team was proud to work with writer Tony Eyre and Swan’s to honour the late Sir Vincent O’Sullivan...
Posted: Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Melbourne City of Literature Virtual Writer in Residence with Geelong Regional Libraries
1st of November. I was sitting at my desk, early morning sunshine filtering in through my windows. My laptop and noteboo...
Posted: Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
#17Booksfor17SDGs 2025 Campaign
Shining a light on SDGs and our Ōtepoti authors
Posted: Thursday Dec 18, 2025
A Conversation with Nicole Flattery - CISS Irish Writing Fellow 2025
Earlier this year, Dunedin Public Libraries and Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature had the joy of hosting young Irish aut...
Posted: Friday Dec 12, 2025
Sending aroha from Dunedin to Halyna Bolkun at Mystetska Biblioteka and Lviv City of Literature
These incredible art books, donated by our friends at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery are poised and ready for the shelve...
Posted: Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Poet Sihle Ntuli Concludes Dunedin Residency with Octagon Poetry Collective Reading
Posted: Monday Nov 17, 2025
Connecting Creative Cities: Whanganui and Vilnius and Ōtepoti
Scott Flutey’s internship at Vilnius City of Literature, Lithuania reinforces the special connection between three UNESC...
Posted: Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
UNESCO Cities of Literature are proud to welcome ten new cities to the network!
We are delighted to share some insights about the cities:
Posted: Monday Nov 03, 2025
Oshadha Perera selected as a 2025 Melbourne City of Literature Virtual Writer in Resident!
Congratulations Oshadha and thank you Melbourne City of Literature!
Posted: Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
In Conversation
Grace Yee & Solli Raphael on Emma Neale’s Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit (Otago University Press)
Posted: Monday Oct 06, 2025
Even the rain couldn’t stop the fun!
Families braved the weather to join author Swapna Haddow for an afternoon of stories, laughter, and capes as she introdu...
Posted: Monday Oct 06, 2025
“Bodies built for strength, for power, for glory.”
Watch our very own Isla Thomas reading out her powerful poem ‘Harbour Girls’ with thanks to Exeter UNESCO City of Litera...
Posted: Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
A display rich in stories of connection and collaboration
When you visit the Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature display area on the ground floor of Dunedin City Library you’ll see...
Posted: Monday Sep 15, 2025
Art Books for Lviv: A Gift from Cities of Literature
Ōtepoti City of Literature is thrilled that Dunedin Public Art Gallery has generously gifted three remarkable books for ...
Posted: Monday Sep 15, 2025
Connecting the World with Dots: Julie Woods’ Braille Project Reaches UNESCO Cities of Literature
Posted: Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Poetry Scrum
To celebrate Exeter’s involvement in hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in the UK, Exeter City of Literature are h...
Posted: Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Waiariki Parata-Taiapa representing Ōtepoti in exciting Melbourne City of Literature project
Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025
Can you spot our very own Isla Thomas in this trailer?
Posted: Friday Aug 15, 2025
*WATCH* Happy International Youth Day!
Today we’re shining a spotlight on young voices making a big impact with technology. Check out this fantastic video writ...
Posted: Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Writing for Wellness workshop series
A workshop offering a gentle space to explore and process challenging emotions through writing.
Posted: Sunday July 13, 2025
Call for Young Creative Writers!
OAR FM is looking for MORE young people aged 12–24 to join Phase 2 of their whakapapa creative writing & podcast project...
Posted: Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
SuperGrans celebrate their poems at the launch of Wish
Posted: Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Celebrates 10 Years with a feast of legacy books
2024 marked a remarkable milestone for Ōtepoti—ten years as a UNESCO City of Literature. To celebrate a decade of champi...
Posted: Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Liam McIlvanney Kicking Off World Tour for Latest Thriller The Good Father
Posted: Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Dunedin set to welcome Durban poet for the 2025 Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Residency
Warmest congratulations to Sihle Ntuli, poet, editor and classicist from Durban UNESCO City of Literature!
Posted: Friday May 16, 2025
Biodiversity and the Webs of Life
A City of Literature and Enviroschools Celebration of The Great Southern Bioblitz
Posted: Monday Apr 28, 2025
Poetry Pen Pals: Poems Connect Dunedin and Québec City
Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature is excited to announce a creative collaboration with Québec City UNESCO City of Litera...
Posted: Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Celebrating World Poetry Day 2025
Posted: Friday Mar 21, 2025
Marisel and Panna Kota: The Museum Cats of Odesa
On 24 February 2022, life changed forever for the people and animals of Ukraine.
Posted: Monday Feb 24, 2025
Dunedin in ‘Uttate’ – Okayama’s Beautiful Celebration of Stories
Posted: Friday Feb 21, 2025
The Heat is On: Young Writers on the Climate Crisis in print
To celebrate International Mother Language Day (21 February), we are thrilled to announce the print publication of The H...
Posted: Friday Feb 21, 2025
This is the place where souls come to be mended
These are the words of poet Annie Villiers, who recently represented Ōtepoti City of Literature in Heidelberg’s “Poetry ...
Posted: Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Julie Woods: Connecting the world by dots
Julie Woods is "connecting the world with dots" by aiming to write one million names in Braille
Posted: Wednesday Jan 08, 2025
#17Booksfor17SDGs 2024 Campaign
Shining a light on SDGs and our Ōtepoti authors
Posted: Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Poetry on the Move
Our very own Annie Villiers has represented Ōtepoti in Heildelberg City of Literature’s Poetry on the Move initiative to...
Posted: Monday Dec 02, 2024
'Teddy’s Life Journey' delights and inspires young poets at Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
In May this year, City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet, Jenny Powell, visited Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School’s Class ...
Posted: Thursday Nov 14, 2024
First Kiwi writer to win coveted residency
Award-winning New Zealand poet Alison Glenny has been selected for a writers’ residency in Dunedin.
Posted: Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
Anthology unveiled on poetry day
Dunedin’s National Poetry Day celebrations marked a very special milestone, as about 40 creatives — poets, authors, musi...
Posted: Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Celebrating Art and Science: flows like water Book Launch
Weaver, sculptor, photographer and curator Pam McKinlay recently celebrated the launch of her latest book, flows like wa...
Posted: Friday Aug 23, 2024
David Elliot artwork displayed in exhibition in Newstead Abbey
Check out this cool Spotlight featuring our very own David Elliot. We just love this artwork.
Posted: Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Stunning artwork by David Elliot commemorates Lord Byron
Posted: Friday May 24, 2024
City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet visits Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
The City of Literature South D Poet Lorikeet, Jenny Powell, recently visited Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School’s Class Kerer...
Posted: Thursday May 23, 2024
Liz Breslin attends NeMLA 55th Annual Convention in Boston
"It’s alllllll about community"
Posted: Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
‘My salamander’ by Emma Neale translated for new anthology
Posted: Thursday Feb 15, 2024