People · New Zealand

Sam Elworthy joins Auckland Writers Festival board as Nicola Legat steps down

The Auckland University Press director takes a trustee seat as Legat leaves after eighteen and a half years on the board.

By The Book Source28 August 20261 minute read

Auckland University Press director Sam Elworthy has been appointed to the board of trustees of Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki, the festival announced on 28 August. At the same time, Nicola Legat ONZM is leaving the board after eighteen and a half years as a trustee.

Elworthy is a former president of the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu. He said he hoped to put his experience to use and help guide the festival through its next stage.

Legat previously headed Massey University Press and Te Papa Press, and before that was publishing director at Random House New Zealand. She described her years on the board as an honour and a privilege.

"Nicola has been a guiding figure for the Festival over many years," said board chair Charlotte McLoughlin, who also welcomed Elworthy to the festival whānau.

The announcement did not give a start date for the change. The festival is a six-day event of books and ideas held each May at the Aotea Centre and other central Auckland venues, drawing about 90,000 attendances. Its 2027 edition runs from 11 to 16 May, with a pre-festival event, Streetside: Britomart, on Friday 7 May.

Original source: Coalition for Books ↗

More from The Book Source

People James Norcliffe named NZSA President of Honour for 2027 The New Zealand Society of Authors has given its 2027 President of Honour title to poet, novelist and short story writer James Norcliffe, who will give the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture. People Alice Miller appointed 2027 IIML Writer in Residence The poet and novelist will spend 2027 at the International Institute of Modern Letters in Wellington, starting in February. People Fremantle Press appoints audio production assistant for audiobook pilot Tim Scott joins Fremantle Press to work on an audiobook pilot and new podcasts, in a role funded by a Minderoo Foundation grant. More on the planned imprint is due in 2027.