About Us
HOW THE FESTIVAL CAME TO BE
In May 2018 a group of friends decided that Queenstown needed its own Writers and Readers Festival and decided to make it happen. Tanya Surrey, Chris Fitzpatrick, Bethany Rogers, Emma Lange and Hamish McDonald were the founding trustees and after many months of planning they presented the inaugural Queenstown Writers Festival over two days in November 2019. In 2020 the festival grew to involve 14 writers over four days and it has gone from strength to strength each year since. Read on to find out more about this small, tight-knit group of book-loving volunteers!
THE FESTIVAL TEAM
Tanya Surrey
Tanya Surrey is a Queenstown lawyer specialising in criminal law and is involved in the arts scene in the Wakatipu community. She has a life-long love of books and is delighted to be leading the team bringing the Writers Festival to Queenstown.
Hamish McDonald
Hamish McDonald is a fifth generation Queenstown resident. Hamish originally was a Southland farmer but is now a chartered accountant and a consultant for KPMG working in both Queenstown and the North Island. He is the festival treasurer.
Chris Fitzpatrick
Chris Fitzpatrick has taught primary, secondary and adult students, and has a special interest in enhancing the literacy skills of students and teachers. She says reading helps her relax while opening her mind to different people’s worlds and ideas.
Debbie Jamieson
Debbie Jamieson has been a journalist in Queenstown and Central Otago for over 20 years. She has run the area's Stuff newsroom since 2011 and was editor for the Mirror newspapers, twice taking them to the finals of the NZ Media Awards.
Jen Smart
Jen Smart is a creative consultant and freelance writer with a background in education. She likes to read as widely as possible but does admit a soft spot for Latin American fiction, intergenerational sagas and anything to do with trees.
Karen Ellis
Karen Ellis is a teacher who has taught in Asia and in primary and secondary schools in New Zealand for 20 years. She is passionate about encouraging the younger generation to discover the joys and benefits of reading a good book.
Patrons
The patrons for the 2023 Queenstown Writers Festival were Joan Kiernan and Monica Mulholland, Lizanne and Julian Knights, the Dick and Diana Hubbard Foundation, and Miranda Spary. Thank you for your support!
2023 SPONSORS
