INGRID BETANCOURT CANCELS NEW ZEALAND VISIT

The Auckland Writers & Readers Festival and Hachette Publishers New Zealand Ltd are sad to announce that Ingrid Betancourt has cancelled her visit to New Zealand due to unforeseen family commitments.

The Festival sincerely apologises to those who have already purchased tickets for “An Hour with Ingrid Betancourt” on Saturday 14 May at 4pm, and advises them to call THE EDGE Ticketing Service on 0800 BUY TICKETS or (09) 357 3355 for a full refund of the ticket price or to exchange tickets for another event of the same value. Take 5 or Take 10 Pass ticket-holders should select one of the other 31 events eligible for the Pass in place of this event.

The panel event “Peace Please” on Sunday 15 May will go ahead as planned with Dr Izzeldin Aubelaish and Goodbye Sarajevo authors Hana Schofield and Atka Reid.

Thirty events are scheduled for Saturday 14 May – the other events still on at the time of the cancelled event are: “Antarctica” with Jane Ussher and Steve Braunias; “High Tea” at the Langham Hotel (3.30-5.00pm), featuring A.A. Gill, Al Brown, Annabel Langbein and Sarah-Kate Lynch; and “Script to Screen”, a free event with film-makers Fiona Samuel, Paula Boock and Leanne Pooley.

SOLD OUT AND SELLING FAST

“The Lunch with Fatima Bhutto” at Soul Bar on Thursday 12 May has sold out, but tickets are available for “An Hour with Fatima Bhutto” on Saturday 14 May. Other catered events still available are the “High Tea” and “Lunch with Madhur Jaffrey” on Sunday 15 May at The Langham Hotel.

Claire Keegan’s “Workshop” has sold out, but she appears in two other events, “Short and Sweet” with Tina Makereti and Sue Orr on Friday 13 May, and “An Hour with Claire Keegan” on Saturday 14 May.

Tickets for “An Evening with A.A. Gill” (left) on Friday 13 May are selling fast, as are tickets for the “New Zealand Listener Gala Night” on Thursday 12 May featuring Gill, Fatima Bhutto, Fiona Farrell, Meg Rosoff, Victor Rodger, Rives, James Fergusson and Karen Healey.