Going West Books and Writers' Festival
When? August & September each year
Where? Various venues in Waitakere City, NZ
What's it all about then? Going West is coordinated by the Arts Team within Waitakere City Council, with 
programme content designed by local resident and bookseller Murray Gray.
When Going West 1996, it was the Auckland region's first writers' festival. Its focus is on writers, thinkers and performers from New Zealand and the Pacific - past and present, established and emerging. Since its inception it has attracted over 350 writers and performers to take part.
Who appearing? 2010 TBA
How much are tickets? Some Free events. Others TBA
Festival Website: Going West
Previous Festivals:
Chris Price Nick Bollinger, Nikki Harr Michelle Leggott, Alison Wong, Helen Sword, Renee Lian, Laurence Fearnley, Mo Zhi Hong Geoff Walker, Gilbert Wong, Peter Hawes, David Larse, Pauline Burgwin
Simon Prast Stephen McCurdy, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
- Literary Weekend – up close and personal with New Zealand writers, this weekend celebrates the kiwi writing spirit and features established and emerging authors. Held each year in Titirangi it has become known for its intimate congenial atmosphere.
- Storyfest – a free event designed to provide a smorgasbord of word-based delights for toddlers to grandparents.
- Book Market – second-hand, rare and hand-made books.
- Poetry Slam – introduced into the festival for the first time in 2004 with great success. Poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts a dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what they’re saying and how they’re saying it.
- Related events - include: theatre by NZ Writers and performers, special word-based programmes for 13-18 year olds, text-based exhibitions at key local galleries.
- Steam Train Journey – The day-long adventure out West by steam train combined literature, location and locomotion. With great food and fine wine on tap, it is a chance to soak up the history of heritage stops along the Western Line that also become the settings for performances and reading from NZ writers and entertainers.