Resources

Here you will find a list of venues, helpful resources for writers, and a list of writing groups

Venues for Book Launches, Huis and Workshops

(Listed July 2026)

At times our committee is asked to suggest suitable venues for book events, so we decided to compile a list. Once we got started, we were amazed by the number of possibilities. Please note that these are suggestions, not recommendations. To date we have only listed Whangārei venues. We are seeking suggestions from areas throughout the north. If you’d like to have a conversation with a committee member about venue hire, or to make a suggestion please contact: northlandauthors [at] gmail [dot] com

Whangārei:

  • The Judge in Walton Street – free and helpful
  • Dickens Inn, Cameron Street – upstairs room, charges for hiring. No toilets upstairs
  • Kiwi North/Whangarei Museum – range of venues https://www.kiwinorth.co.nz/venue-hire/venuehire
  • Barge Park: Small and large rooms, Kitchen facilities. https://bargeshowgrounds.co.nz/meeting-room-hire/
  • McKay stadium – two large lounges, one small meeting room – reasonable rates – not after 5pm. https://www.sportnorthland.co.nz/wahi-hauora-l-facilities/mckay-stadiumlounges-1
  • May Bain Room, Whangarei library – free to library groups, small charge for others. Need to book well in advance. No Sunday events because the library is no longer open on Sundays. email: whglibrary@wdc.govt.nz
  • The Roost (formerly The Killer Prawn) Upstairs room but open to downstairs and tends to be noisy.
  • 116 Bank St – versatile, community-operated spaces. https://oneonesix.nz/venue/
  • NorthTec:
    • Conference centre (two rooms, one a lecture theatre, one a very large space with chairs; plus tiny kitchenette, toilets, and open lobby area for doing food. Good for disabled access.
    • Apprentice Restaurant – great kitchen facilities; smaller space but nicer and can accommodate 60-80; toilets. Good for disabled access.
  • The Orchard Business and Event Hub https://www.theorchard.co.nz/bookings/search?portal=
  • Pohe Island Rugby Club rooms
  • RSA –conference room with large table
  • Semenoff Stadium https://www.northlandeventscentre.co.nz/venue-hire
  • Tikipunga Football Club is available for bookings during Monday-Friday 8-5.
  • Riverbank Theatre – https://www.whangareitheatrecompany.org.nz/hiring
  • The Octagon Theatre, Aubrey Street. https://octagontheatre.nz/contact-us
  • Quarry Arts Centre
  • Railway station (too small for meetings or very big launches) Community hub managed by Creative Northland
  • The Kamo Club https://kamoclub.co.nz/functions/
  • Forum North https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Events/Forum-North/Hire-Forum-North
  • For children’s books, children’s section of the library
  • Craniums Bookshop
  • The Piggery Bookshop
  • Kamo bookshop, BookInn, now also known as Books, Bikes and Beyond
  • The little room off Milk and Honey Café, Te Kamo
  • Local schools are a possibility, especially if you have a contact. Comment: We’ve had regular meetings at one school when a committee member was on the school board, and we also ran a NorthWrite event at another school, with no charge because of personal contacts with the principal. That event used several parts of the school for breakout workshops.
  • School libraries
  • Daycare centres/kindergartens

A List of Helpful Resources for a Northland Writer

Writing Groups

Whangarei Writers’ Workshop: A friendly group of writers who meet every second Friday at the Kamo Club 10.00am-12.30pm to critique work and support other writers.
Check out their Facebook page or contact Heather Whelan.

The Whangārei Library 3.30 Flash Writers’ Group: first Tuesday of every month, 11:00-12:30pm. For newcomers to flash fiction, a second group has started on the third Thursday of each month from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Contact: Whangarei District Library for more information.

Poets at ONEONESIX: 116 Bank St, Whangārei, usually the third Wednesday of the month from 5.30pm for poetry readings, comment, feedback and critique. Members of the group form the core of Fast Fibres Poetry, an annual publication of poetry, for any poet in Aotearoa or elsewhere who has a strong connection to Northland. All are welcome, for further information and to confirm the date of the next meeting contact pietn [at] outlook [dot] com

Writers and Poets Doubtless Bay and Kaitaia: Want to meet like-minded folks in the Far, Far North? Come and join us. We meet weekly at a cafe to chat and share news, and we organise readings and occasional workshops. We share and communicate via their Facebook page.

Writing Group – U3A Hatea: Meets 1st and 3rd Thursday behind the Baha’i Centre, 82 Mill Rd, Whangārei. Contact: marie.kaire [at] gmail [dot] com

Writers Up North – Facebook Page Writers Up North – Northland Writers Network