NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL APPOINTS NEW WRITERS WEEK MANAGER

The New Zealand Festival has appointed Mark Cubey as the New Zealand Festival Writers Week Manager.  Supported by Lion Foundation and Victoria University of Wellington, the event is currently held biennially within the New Zealand Festival.

Artistic Director of the New Zealand Festival, Shelagh Magadza, said: “As the producers of Aotearoa’s very first Writers Week in 1986, we had a vision to share the world’s best writers with New Zealand audiences and 30 years on, the literary landscape has evolved significantly. The time is right to refresh our approach and look ahead to the next 30 years. Mark will play a key role in this development, so it’s hugely exciting to bring him on board.”

An experienced producer, Mark has an extensive background in the creative industries. He comes to the role after 10 years producing RNZ’s top-rating show Saturday Morning with Kim Hill, and has previously been the editor of Salient and LOOP magazines, Radio Active’s station manager, and a columnist for the NZ Listener.

“I’m looking forward to working with Festival director Shelagh Magadza and the rest of the team to determine the direction in which we take the Writers Week concept, inside and outside of the Festival,” Mark said. “There’s a lot of potential for building on what’s been achieved over the past thirty years, and developing some new angles.”

“I love the live show, the audience, the magic of the unique occasion. This is a city that expects and deserves great events. I’ll be doing everything I can to make the New Zealand Festival Writers Week a vital part of the calendar.”     

 
Mark will begin the role on 31 October 2016. The next New Zealand Festival takes place 23 February – 18 March 2018