Storylines is delighted to announce a stellar list of Aotearoa New Zealand authors and illustrators for its 2026 Storylines National Hui.
The speakers are: Giselle Clarkson, Graci Kim, Elizabeth Knox, Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Pākehā), Juliette MacIver, Sacha Cotter, James Russell, Eileen Merriman, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngai Tahu), Gavin Bishop ((Tainui, Ngāti Awa), Maria Gill, Melinda Szymanik, Swapna Haddow, Li Chen, Claire Mabey, Gemma Finlay (Notable PR) and Zak Waipara (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungunu) and Roger Christensen (Little Unity). Our exciting key speakers, as advertised earlier, are Kate de Goldi and Donovan Bixley.
A two-day programme of workshops, panels, pitch slams, social networking and the celebrated Literary Banquet!
See our exciting programme below and read about the workshop descriptions and speaker bios.
When: 3-4 October 2026
Where: Dilworth Senior School Campus, 3 Erin Street, Epsom, Auckland.
Who: Open to all professional or aspiring authors and illustrators for children and young adults.
Cost: Early Bird for Storylines members: $395
Early Bird for non-Storylines members: $455 (join/renew Storylines membership)
Early Bird ends July 5, after that date full price for members: $455 and non-members: $505.
All tickets include 2 x lunches, 2 x morning teas, 1 x afternoon tea and the Saturday night Literary Banquet.
Registrations open Monday 2 March for Storylines members and Thursday 5 for the general public.
Workshops have capped numbers so mark your calendars and get in early. Check your membership is current.
Pitch slam: a list of publishers and agents for the pitch slam will be available soon.
Storylines would like to thank the sponsors who have helped to make this hui possible.
Download your copy of the programme
Feedback from previous attendee's
Toby Morris (illustrator/ author): “The previous Storylines Hui was my first one, and I loved it. The talks were interesting and helpful, and I met lots of lovely people who care about this same specific thing I do – it’s a very welcoming, encouraging community that I was very happy to find. If you haven’t been before I strongly recommend it!”
Emma Hinton (first timer at a Storylines’ hui in 2022): “I found gold when a friend told me about the Storylines hui. Several days of talking picture books with people creating them, a dream for a lifetime collector and aspiring writer. Even more so, the weeks and years spent writing with a hope to someday hold your story? It was a welcome relief to discover a tribe of fellow rainbow dreamers and creative doers.”