Christchurch Writers' Festival 2006

Friday, 8 September 2006

Good Evening and welcome to the opening of The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival 2006.  This festival highlights the importance of the printed word in all its forms, narratives and poetry, biographies and travelogues. 

I see there is even a “must attend” for all politicians this year – “Political Truths and other Lies”. 

Christchurch people love reading.  That was well and truly brought home to Council after a proposal was made to close some of our smaller libraries.  Council listened and kept all the libraries open because we realised that they were such an important part of the small villages that make up Christchurch.

Writers can transport our lives back to the West Coast of the 1880s, they can take us to the ice and supreme beauty of Antarctica, they can enlighten and teach u, and they can just take us away from our every day lives with a good thriller or novel.

Good writers and good writing bring joy to people’s lives.  It is therefore a great pleasure to welcome everyone here this evening, especially those who have travelled a long way to be here, and to wish you all the best for this wonderful festival.