• Have you been described as cerebral, esoteric or conceptual?
• Do your favourite local fashion brands include Roisin Dubh, Virus, Marilyn Sainty, Lela Jacobs and/or Jason Lingard?
• Do you frequently find yourself at The White Lady, Mezze Bar, Kava lounge, Mo’s, Northern Line or Charlie’s (RIP)?
• Have you ever sported a bixie or a curly lob?

If you’ve answered yes to two or more of the questions, we recommend:

TĀMAKI NOIR
6.00 - 8.00pm | Loading Dock, 59 Tyler St
Your chance to delve into the underbelly of Auckland, a city of glamorous facades, derelict buildings and unforgettable characters. Curated and hosted by Emma Gleason, this conceptual event sees writers Laura Vincent (Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāpuhi), Samuel Te Kani (Ngāpuhi), Henry Oliver, Six and Geneva Alexander Masters (Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa) invited to play with the idea of Tāmaki Noir across an evening of live
readings in Britomart’s best loading dock.

• Have you recently considered moving to Japan, London or Sydney?
• Have you written at least one letter to a friend overseas in the last two months?
• Are you currently considering a dramatic hair change?
• Have you ever lived in Pōneke?
• Do you frequently host or attend house parties?

If you’ve answered yes to two or more of the questions, we recommend:

AUCKLAND, IT’S NOT ME, IT’S YOU
6.00 - 7.45pm | Daily Bread
Tāmaki Makaurau is a city in flux, its people and places in a constant state
of change. Damien Levi (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa,
Ngāpuhi), curator of Tāmaki Makaurau 2025: Essays on Life in Auckland, hosts
four mini-interviews with contributors, exploring their connections to the city
and what it means to call it home.

NIGHT MAYORS PRESENT: SEALED SECTION
8.00 - 9.00pm | Daily Bread
The Night Mayors put Auckland icons in the hot seat to talk about why they’re
still here. In this edition, behind-the-scenes dreamers Rosabel Tan, Damien
Levi (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi) and Kaan Hiini
(Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) tear open the sealed section, dish the dirt on
what they find hot and not in local writing, and share secrets to spice up your
Tāmaki life.

• Do you proudly claim the title of cool aunty/uncle/thuncle/thunty?
• Are you an indigenous baddie on your own Te reo Māori journey?
• Are you committed to passing down indigenous knowledge from the letter ‘a’?
• Do you love the fashion icon and industry leader, Kiri Nathan?

If you’ve answered yes to two or more of the questions, we recommend:

W IS FOR WAHINE TOA
6.30 - 7.30pm | Kiri Nathan
Forget everything you know about alphabet books! Join Qiane Matata-Sipu
(Te Waiohua; Waikato; Ngāpuhi; Ngāti Pikiao; Cook Islands) for an empowering
journey through identity, strength and storytelling as she reads her bilingual
book for all ages, W is for Wahine Toa, then shares the lived experiences and
kaupapa that inspired its creation. Get ready to reconnect with your power!

• Are you interested in Afrofuturism, astrology and experimental forms of writing?
• Are you a Pisces, Scorpio or Virgo?
• Would we find you at the Basement Theatre bar?
• Have you been to a BCA event in the last year?

If you’ve answered yes to two or more of the questions, we recommend:

BLACK INK: STAR MAPS & STORYLINES
6.00 - 7.15pm | Valet Parking
Beneath the lights of Britomart, Black Creatives Aotearoa presents an evening
of astro-informed work, where Afrofuturism and astrology comes together in a
bold new form of speculative writing. Hosted by MC Bareeka Vrede.

• Lastly, do you vote with your wallet (when you have the funds)?

If the answer is yes, we recommend rounding the night up at:

LAMPLIGHT BOOKSTORE POP-UP
6.00 - 9.00pm | Daily Bread
Loved one of tonight’s performances or panels? Support the artists by buying
books at the Lamplight Books pop-up at Daily Bread.