NEWS
Auckland Writers Festival announces new artistic director from UK
One of the UK’s leading literary industry talents has been announced as the new artistic director of Auckland Writers Festival, Waituhi O Tāmaki. The new move
Catherine Chidgey wins major prize at 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
A ‘powerfully compelling’ novel narrated by a cheeky magpie called Tama has flown off with New Zealand’s top literary prize. The Axeman’s Carnival, by Ngāruawāhia-based writer
Harvey Keitel joins cast of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Harvey Keitel has signed on to star in the eagerly anticipated Sky and Peacock TV adaptation of the Heather Morris novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Granta names Eleanor Catton in Best of Young British Novelists list
New Zealand author Eleanor Catton has made Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists list.
Scary Monsters by Michelle de Kretser wins Rathbones Folio Prize for fiction
Australian author Michelle de Kretser’s novel, Scary Monsters, has won this year’s Rathbones Folio Prize for fiction. Described by the judges as “a work of beautifully
Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler wins prestigious travel writing award
English-born Australian publishing entrepreneur, businessman and writer Tony Wheeler has won the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing. Co-Founder of Lonely Planet, Tony
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris to be adapted for screen
The Tattooist of Auschwitz, the bestselling novel by New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based writer Heather Morris is being turned into a six-part TV series. The co-production with Britain’s
Cate Blanchett wins BAFTA best actress for role in Tár
Cate Blanchett won best actress for her acclaimed performance as a composer-conductor in Tár.
Sam Neill to star opposite Annette Bening in new drama series Apples Never Fall
Actor and FANZA arts patron Sam Neill will star opposite Annette Bening (American Beauty, The Kids Are All Right) in the highly anticipated new drama, Apples Never
Exiles by Jane Harper named ‘book of the month’
The highly anticipated fifth novel from ‘Australian queen of crime’ author Jane Harper, Exiles, hit the shelves in the UK on 2 February. Arriving with great
Australia and the UK announce landmark orchestral exchange
The Australian High Commission in London, Acting High Commissioner to the UK, Lynette Wood, has announced a ground-breaking new partnership between Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and London
FANZA hosts special fundraiser at the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery in London
In November we were thrilled to host a special invitation-only event for FANZA’s most loyal supporters and friends at the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery in London. After taking
New Zealand actor Sam Neill awarded knighthood
FANZA arts patron Sam Neill has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The Jurassic Park star, who grew up in Christchurch, NZ,
The Spoken Object by Dr Gene Sherman – a new book on fashion, jewellery, design and architecture
Leading Australian cultural advocate Dr Gene Sherman has released a beautiful new book documenting her life, work, architecture and design achievements – plus her art, jewellery
Not Now, Not Ever: Ten years on from the misogyny speech – new book by Julia Gillard published
Where are we now, ten years on from Julia Gillard’s “misogyny speech” – the speech that stopped us all in our tracks? The new book from
2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize – enter before 1 November
This month, hundreds of writers will be writing and rewriting their stories before submitting them for the 2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The prize is free
House of Oz wins Best Venue at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards 2022
The brand-new all-Australian arts space at the Edinburgh Festival, House of Oz, has won Best Venue at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards 2022. A celebration of
Australian author Kate Morton’s new book, Homecoming, will hit the shelves next April
The literary world is abuzz with the thrilling news that Australian author Kate Morton’s hugely anticipated new book, Homecoming, will be published in the UK on
UK/Australia Season 2021-22 Brochure Now Available
The UK/Australia Season 2021 -22 Brochure is now available to download. Catch up on the amazing line-up of events taking place across the UK this year.
Love Is Only Love: FANZA’s fantastic fundraiser with the fabulous Sam Harrison
The FANZA team is still on a high, humming along to the best of Broadway after its fundraiser performance of Love is Only Love – the funny, perceptive
The Secret River by Kate Grenville makes the list for BBC Two’s Between the Covers
BBC show Between the Covers has revealed further books, including The Secret River by Sydney-born Kate Grenville, that will be discussed in its star-studded new series.
Revealed: The Stella Prize 2022 shortlist
The Stella Prize for Australian women and non-binary writers worth $50,000, has just announced its shortlist for 2022 – with the inclusion, for the first time
“It’s like a marriage” – Jane Campion talks about making her new film, The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion’s new film The Power of the Dog, based on Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel of the same name, leads the nominations at the BAFTAs and
Oceania Now: Contemporary Art from the Pacific – Christie’s Paris online auction
Christie’s Paris has curated an exhibition and online auction entitled Oceania Now: Contemporary Art from the Pacific featuring many artists practising from New Zealand which they seek
OUT NOW: Devotion by Hannah Kent
From the bestselling author of Burial Rites and The Good People, Devotion is a stunning story of girlhood and friendship, faith and suspicion, and the impossible lengths we go to for
Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery hosts London Pacific Fashion Week event
London Pacific Fashion Week will kick off this Friday with a colourful catwalk showcase of Kirrikin‘s SS23 collection. Founded by Amanda Healy, an award-winning fashion entrepreneur
A Taste of Live Music to Come in 2022
The year 2021 winds down leaving us no more certain about what lies ahead, but one thing we can be sure of is that creative talent
Cabaret queen Dolly Diamond lights up the FANZA Christmas party
London may be luminous with festive lights, but none was able to outshine Dolly Diamond as she glided into the FANZA Christmas party in a glittering
New book ‘Looted Gold’ delves into mystery of the missing Kruger Millions
This week sees the publication of Looted Gold, a book written by New Zealanders Blake Wilkins and Mike Dwight to debunk the myth of the missing
Barry Humphries announces new UK tour
The Dame Edna Everage creator will be back on stage a decade after announcing his retirement. The Australian actor will tour the UK next year from
David Gulpilil, ‘one of the greatest artists Australia has ever seen’, dies after lung cancer diagnosis
David Gulpilil, the actor who lit up the screen in his 1971 debut film Walkabout and recently starred in a biographical documentary about his remarkable life,
Festive Firebird – A Tribute To Ballet performance
A little magic was sprinkled when Tait Memorial Trust hosted Festive Firebird – an evening of music and ballet – at Leslie MacLeod Miller’s glorious and
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason serialised on BBC Radio 4
Sorrow and Bliss, the critically acclaimed debut novel by New Zealand author Meg Mason, is being serialised this week as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the
Cate Blanchett to star with Ben Stiller in The Champions film adaptation
Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Ben Stiller are teaming up to turn the 1960s espionage television series The Champions into a film. In addition to acting,
Hurry, before it’s too late! Tickets selling fast for Jodie Comer’s West End debut in Prima Facie
Tickets are selling at lightning speed to see Killing Eve star Jodie Comer make her highly-anticipated West End debut next year. Prima Facie is written by
Built for Ballet by Leanne Benjamin hits the shelves
The dazzling new autobiography by Leanne Benjamin – former principal dancer at The Royal Ballet – is the talk of the dance world as it goes
Stars gather for the launch of Leanne Benjamin’s autobiography, Built for Ballet
It was a full house at Australia House in London this week for the launch of Leanne Benjamin’s autobiography, Built for Ballet. As the High Commissioner
Sam Neill lights up screens in new series Invasion
Can Hollywood star and FANZA Arts Patron, Sam Neill, defend Oklahoma against a terrifying alien takeover? That is the question that lies at the heart of
Three Sisters – latest book from bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The long-awaited arrival of the latest book by international bestselling author Heather Morris is finally here! Three Sisters is based on the lives of Holocaust survivors
Ōkārito Ways
British songwriter Larry Mindel has just released Ōkārito Ways, a love song to the wetlands of Southland’s beautiful but vulnerable Ōkārito Lagoon. Those looking for a
UK-Australia Season 2021-22 Launch 1 September
(An eye-witness account from your FANZA roving reporter) Mary Beard riddled with guilt. Leanne Benjamin teetering. Julia Gillard disbelieving. Barry Humphries quelling his inner Sir Les.
Congratulations to Robbie Arnott – Winner of 2021 Age Book of the Year
Congrats to Robbie Arnott for winning the Age Book of the Year Award with his novel The Rain Heron.
UK based, New Zealand-born poet, John Gallas, continues to enchant
‘WHAM it hit me. (In fact WHAM-BAM, it hit us.) There is just no denying the arrival of the other half of your soul. Irresistible, scientific
Fanza Fringe inaugural event special: Diving In Podcast
Welcome to the FANZA Fringe –Our own companion to the UK Australia Season. Our inaugural Fringe event is a chat about books with the Diving In
UK / AU Season Book Launch
Ancestors, artefacts, empire: Indigenous Australia in British and Irish museums Museums across Great Britain and Ireland hold Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (collectively referred to as
UK Australia 2021/22 Season launch
The Season is the largest ever cultural exchange between the two nations and involves more than 200 live and digital events across both nations.
Indigenous Literacy Day 1st September 2021
To celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD), the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is proud to present Celebrating Stories and Language, a free virtual event for all Australians going
Cassandra Pybuss wins National Biography Award (Australia)
Author Cassandra Pybuss has won the National Biography award for her book Truganini. The story of Truganini, a Nuenonne woman from Bruny Island off Tasmania, is
Opera at Holland Park with Julien van Mellaerts, 25-27 July
Looking for an open-air evening of opera favourites, with a roof covering just in case of rain?
Tales of the past 2019 Ngaio Marsh Awards finalists
Several tales exploring historic eras are named among this year’s Ngaio Marsh Awards finalists. Now in their tenth season, the Ngaio Marsh Awards celebrate the best
London Australian Film Festival review
This year’s London Australian Film Festival offered four days of screenings at the Regent Street Cinema in late June, as well as a special pair of
Jane Campion Casts Cumberbatch and Moss
After a decade of being absent from the big screen, Academy Award-winner New Zealander Jane Campion is readying her first feature since 2009’s Bright Star.
NZ writer Harley Hern named Commonwealth Short Story Prize regional winner
New Zealand writer Harley Hern has been named the regional winner for the Pacific in the 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, for her story ‘Screaming’. Hern’s
Study links value of the arts in guarding against depression
Regular visits to the cinema, theatre or to museums dramatically reduce the chances of becoming depressed in older age (50+) a study has found. This UK
Air New Zealand UK New Zealander of the Year Award 2019
Congratulations to FANZA board member Colleen Toomey who has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Air New Zealand UK New Zealander of the Year Award for her expertise
Full house for FANZA Opera Extravaganza!
October saw FANZA join forces with Goodenough College in central London to host a fabulous evening of opera before an enchanted capacity audience. The Great Hall’s
Geoffrey Robertson Lunches with FANZA Members
More than 100 friends of FANZA and JUSTICE enjoyed riveting anecdotes fom the maverick barrister and passionate defender of press freedom and human rights over a
Poet Nina Powles Wins New UK Prize
Wellington-born Nina Powles is one of the three recipients of the inaugural Women Poets’ prize, which aims to celebrate the empowerment of women and reward “creatively
Cast Announced for BBC’s ‘The Luminaries’ Adaptation
Eleanor Cotton’s award-winning novel The Luminaries is to be adapted for television by the BBC. Set on New Zealand’s South Island against the backdrop of the
Kiwi Artist Wins at Castle Fine Art Summer Exhibition
Tim Christie, following on the heels of his success at the NZ Art Show, has come away with the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the Castle Fine
Michelle de Kretser wins second Miles Franklin Literary Award
Australian author Michelle de Kretser has won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for a second time with her satirical novel The Life to Come. Taking place
Anna Hansen’s Modern Pantry Celebrates a Decade
The Modern Pantry has been at the heart of New Zealand’s presence in London for a decade. To celebrate, New Zealand raised chef Anna Hansen is
Rose Matafeo Wins Fringe Comedy Award
Kiwi comedian Rose Matafeo triumphed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award. She is the fifth woman to win the award,
Australia & NZ talent arrives en masse for the Edinburgh Festival
With the world’s leading festival city now in full swing there’s a brilliant array of Australian and New Zealand talent to enjoy – both well-known established authors
Australian journalist’s ‘captivating’ debut snapped up for HC’s global programme
A “captivating coming-of-age” debut from an Australian journalist will be published by Borough Press as part of the HarperCollins Global Publishing Program. Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher
‘The Hope Fault’ by Tracy Farr published in UK
The Hope Fault is a celebration of the complexities of family and a meditation on the faultlines that threaten to unsettle our lives. In Cassetown, Geologue Bay,
‘WatAdventure in Australia’ crowdsources with kids via PopJam
A new publishing company has teamed up with PopJam to allow children to help create assets for its upcoming picture book, WatAdventure in Australia. Before creating
Stella Duffy and Ngaio Marsh shortlisted for the crime-writing Dagger Awards
Money in the Morgue by Ngaio Marsh and Stella Duffy (HarperCollins) is among the crime writers shortlisted for more than one prize at this year’s Dagger
New Greer titles due in the UK for Autumn 2018
Bloomsbury Publishing will publish Germaine Greer’s controversial essay On Rape in September, while UK rights to Germaine by Elizabeth Kleinhenz have been snapped up by Scribe
Claire Zorn to Launch in UK
The deal sees Raven Books, Ransom’s new YA imprint, launching Australian author Claire Zorn in the UK Ransom Publishing, traditionally a schools’ publisher, has taken on
Jane Harper – The Dry
‘One of the most stunning debuts I’ve ever read…Read it!’ David Baldacci Amid the worst drought to ravage Australia in a century, it hasn’t rained in
Three ANZ Writers Shortlisted for Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Twenty-four outstanding stories have been selected by an international judging panel out of 5182 entries from 48 Commonwealth countries. The writers come from 14 countries including,
Jane Rawson – From the Wreck
‘It’s hard to find the right words to praise this novel. I think we need a whole new critical vocabulary to be invented. Rawson recreates a
Eating Well Everyday by Peter Gordon
‘Peter Gordon’s food is the finest example of culinary magic.’ Yotam Ottolenghi Tasty and daring, yet simple and straightforward, the Godfather of fusion cooking Peter Gordon
The Shepherd’s Hut by Tim Winton
For years Jaxie Clackton has dreaded going home. His beloved mum is dead, and he wishes his dad was too, until one terrible moment leaves
Rather His Own Man by Geoffrey Robertson
Geoffrey Robertson led students in the ’60s to demand an end to racism and censorship. He went on to become a top human rights advocate, saving
NZ artist Luke Willis Thompson nominated for Turner Prize
New Zealand artist Luke Willis Thompson has been nominated for the Turner Prize. One of the world’s most renowned visual arts awards, the Turner Prize is
Dancenorth to Tour UK
Dancenorth, one of Queensland’s most exciting companies, renowned for their daring athleticism and high-powered choreography, will be touring the UK and Europe this summer. This follows
All Day at the Movies by Fiona Kidman
(Published by Aardvark, paperback, 8 March 2018) The choices of the past echo through the generations in this moving New Zealand saga tracing the lives of
Salt Creek by Lucy Treolar
(Published by Aardvark, paperback, 22 February 2018) 1855. Failed entrepreneur Stanton Finch moves his family from Adelaide to the remote Coorong area of Southern Australia, in
Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion & Anne Buist
(Published by Two Roads, hardback, 5 April 2018) A smart and funny story of mid-life and second chances from the author of The Rosie Project and
A Hundred Small Lessons by Ashley Hay
(Published by Two Roads, paperback, 8 March 2018) A novel of two families, interconnected through the house that bears witness to their lives. When Elsie Gormley
The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashley Hay
(Published by Two Roads, paperback, January 2018) ‘Exquisitely written and deeply felt … a true book of wonders.’ Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of YEAR OF
Australian Chamber Orchestra awarded three-year residency at the prestigious London Barbican Centre
The residency, at the Milton Court Concert Hall, will be for two weeks each year, starting in the 2018/19 season. The ACO will join the