The Workshop Meetings
The Workshop meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from February to November.
Our Workshops on the 1st Tuesday of the month from March to October are on Zoom. All other Workshops take place in the downstairs Lindisfarne Room at St Aidans Church, 97 Onewa Road, Northcote. The car park entrance is via Woodside Ave (opp. no. 3). Click here for map. Parking also on Onewa Road after 10am.
The doors open from 10 am for members to mix and mingle prior to the meeting and help set up the room. Tea and coffee should be ready by 10.15 am – you are welcome to bring biscuits or a gold coin would be appreciated. Come early and get to socialise with other writers.
The Workshop starts at 10.30 am sharp and continues through to 12.30 pm.
First up is the readings of the day's 100-word trigger. The 'trigger' word(s) will be supplied prior to the meeting. Your challenge is to use the word(s) in no more than 100 words total – or exactly 100 words for an even greater challenge.
Click here for the List of Triggers for 2026.
This is followed by a workshop with an IWW member or a guest tutor, or the results of an IWW competition followed by readings.
Prospective members may attend two Workshops before making the commitment to join. At Workshops with guest tutors a $10 fee for visitors applies (and will go towards membership fees if deciding to join at end of first or second meeting). Due to the popularity of some of our Workshops and space constraints at our venue, some meetings may be 'Members Only'. These will be advertised as such on the website.
Upcoming Workshops
- Tuesday 16 June 2026
Workshop Meeting
Venue: Lindisfarne Room, St Aidans.
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Trigger
... a gap ...
Workshop
Results of the Ekphrastic Writing competition judged by IWW Members with readings from the competition entrants who are present at the Workshop.
Competition Due by 30 June
Travel Story: Off the Beaten Track in New Zealand – up to 1000 words, to be judged by Yvonne van Dongen.
An email with submission instructions will be sent to all 2026 IWW members. Submissions will open on Wednesday 24 June and close at 5pm on Tuesday 30 June. The Monthly Competition Rules apply.
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- Tuesday 7 July 2026
IWW's 50th Anniversary Luncheon and Book Launch
Venue: Northcote Tavern, 37 Queen Street, Northcote Point
Cost: Free. Pay for your own food and drinks. Complimentary birthday cake for everyone.
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Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of International Writers' Workshop in the Highlander Bar & Eatery at the historic Northcote Tavern on Auckland's North Shore and launch our 50th anniversary members' anthology. We will be asking for RSVPs so we have an idea of numbers for our hosts at the Tavern. Please email your name, and the names of any guests you are bringing, to iww-writers@outlook.com by Friday 3 July 2026
We anticipate members and friends to start arriving from 11.45am for a midday lunch – everyone can order what they like to eat or drink, just pay when you order.
Check out the extensive Northcote Tavern menu here here. Coffee and cookies is available at the adjacent Espresso Bar.
There is ample parking at the Tavern, accessed from the street behind.
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- Tuesday 21 July 2026
Workshop Meeting
Venue: Lindisfarne Room, St Aidans.
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Trigger
... snatched away ...
Workshop
Results of the Off the Beaten Track Travel Story judged by Yvonne van Dongen followed by readings and synopses from the entrants into the competition. Entrants, please ensure you have a copy of your entry acccessible.
Members Share segment
A member-hosted writing prompt or activity.
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- Tuesday 4 August 2026
Workshop Meeting
Venue: Zoom (link to be announced via email).
Visitors $10.
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Trigger
... in the dead of night ...
Workshop
Memory Writing Workshop Presenter TBA
Competition Due
A Single Poem – up to 40 lines, to be judged by Gail Ingram. Check out her bio on her website
theseventhletter.nz
What Gail looks for in a poem
- Originality of language – surprising word choices, images and sounds
- Insight – that moment in the writing where the view of the writer/reader shifts and we gasp; we discover something about the the world and ourselves
- Fine crafting – that movement across a line or stanza, the subtle play of the poem's shape, deliberate repetition not accidental, form enhancing content
What Gail would rather not see in a poem
- the flip side of above points – not original (cliched, same old language)
- doesn't have movement towards discovery, merely descriptive
- the form, shape, language of the poem doesn't really capture or enhance what the poet is trying to say
An email with submission instructions will be sent to all 2026 IWW members. Submissions will open on Wednesday 29 July and close at 5pm on Tuesday 4 August. The Monthly Competition Rules apply.
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- Tuesday 18 August 2026
Workshop Meeting
Venue: Lindisfarne Room, St Aidans.
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Trigger
... away with the fairies ...
Workshop
Results of the Single Poem – up to 40 lines judged by Gail Ingram followed by readings of the poems from those who entered and are at the workshop. Entrants, please ensure you have a copy of your poem with you to read.
Members Share segment
A member-hosted writing prompt or activity.
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- Tuesday 1 September 2026
Annual General Meeting and Workshop
Venue: Zoom (link to be announced).
Annual General Meeting – starting at 10.30am sharp.
Matters to be dealt with include:
- Minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting
- Presentation of Annual Reports and accounts for 2025-2026
- Election of officers
- The setting of the annual subscription
- Other business that was sent to the secretary as a remit (in writing) by 11 August 2026
Click here for access to the AGM forms.
This will be followed by readings of today's trigger and a short workshop.
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Trigger
... under construction ...
Workshop
Following the AGM, if time, there will be a member-hosted activity or writing prompt.
Competition Due
Memory Story – length and judge to be advised..
This competition is open to paid up IWW members only.
An email with submission instructions will be sent to all 2026 IWW members. Submissions open on Wednesday 26 August and close at 5pm on Tuesday 1 September. The Monthly Competition Rules apply.
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