Literary heavyweights, media insiders and local talent will converge in Tauranga later this month as the Escape festival returns with what is being described as a bold line-up.

Running from October 23 to November 2, the Tauranga Arts Festival’s boutique literary event promises a “stirring and stimulating” programme, according to general manager Sarah Cotter, with appearances from award-winning writers, broadcasters and chefs, including Jenny-May Clarkson, Damien Wilkins, Catherine Chidgey and Chelsea Winter.

Tauranga Art Festival general manager Sarah Cotter said Escape will be a “stirring and stimulating” celebration of readers and writers, some of them local creatives.

Attendees can expect a diverse mix of offerings, said Cotter.

Also featuring will be raconteur writers Te Radar and Ruth Spencer with their book named Kiwi Country, Tauranga’s very own internationally acclaimed Anne Tiernan (her second book The Good Mistress was released this year), award-winning journalist Naomi Arnold and author of Northbound, and Sarah Ell who has made The Elms / Te Papa Tauranga the subject of her historical work named The Spirit of a Place.

The late, great, Tauranga writer Sherryl Jordan will be honoured at Escape. She is remembered as one of NZ’s greatest fantasy writers.

Escape will also feature a panel of seasoned journalists debating Media Madness. Jared Savage, Alisha Evans, Naomi Arnold and Jenny-May Clarkson know first-hand that the media landscape is woeful.

The demise involves shrinking newsrooms, AI on rapid ascent, and social media proving to be a go-to news source.

This team of experts will look at what the state of the media looks like for global, national and local politics, culture and our society at large.

The Escape programme has been devised by former Tauranga resident Claire Mabey, the books editor for The Spinoff, and founder of Wellington’s literary festival, Verb, and an award-winning children’s writer.

Her first book The Raven’s Eye Runaways was published in 2024 and recently recognised as winner of the Best First Book award at the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults at the NZ Book Awards.

Its sequel is due out early next year. Claire, who says writing is her “happy place,” also plans to write a children’s book set in Wellington.

The former Tauranga Girls’ College student, now aged 40, has a long association with the Tauranga Arts Festival. In her early 20s she was festival co-ordinator, and later (after stints working abroad) returned as producer and publicist, and then associate director.

“I have always felt a connection with Tauranga Arts Festival and value my time being involved with it. It’s an unexpected bonus to be involved in the programming of Escape 2025.

“It’s an energising line-up and I can’t wait to attend. It will be fun to be back as the festival feels like home,” said Mabey.

“I still remember the smell of Baycourt, and the magic of the Crystal Palace – once you step in there the rest of the world is gone as you are in festival land."

The Carrus Crystal Palace tent on Tauranga’s Strand will go up later this month, in preparation for the festival.

For more about the festival, and to purchase tickets see www.taurangafestival.co.nz. Tickets are also available on Eventfinda.