I'm new to Auckland, any LT meetups or book clubs?

Hello! My name is Emily and we just moved here from Seattle for six months. I'd love to get out and about and meet local LibraryThingers, I am a member of an LT book group in Seattle and would be interested in participating in one here, if possible. We haven't quite figured out where we are living yet, are currently in an extended stay type hotel in Newmarket. (Speaking of which, if you know of a great rental near the Auckland hospital and/or Devonport, please let me know! I've just started looking on trademe, too :).

I also can't wait to get an address so I can sign up for a library card!! :o) :o)

Hello Emily, I hope you enjoy your stay in New Zealand. I am not sure how many LibraryThingers there are in this part of the world. Hope you get to meet up with an Auckland group - I live a couple of hours away, in Hamilton. Regards, Monica

Edit: just checked - there are 192 in this group, more than I expected :)

Hi Monica, thanks for answering! Hopefully there might be one or two in the Auckland area interested in coffee and saying hello to a newbie to the area!

If we make it to Hamilton, I'll be sure to let you know :)

Have a great day!

When we lived in Auckland, I attended New Zealand Society of Authors meetings at the Uni- lively group, which I joined. I think you can go to meetings without being an author, to hear the talks and readings. Being on the e-mail list would be worthwhile.

A visit to the nearest libraries might also put you in touch with reading groups or workshops.

Hi Monica, I live in the other island....so cant be involved in a meetup unless you are also travelling south :) But good luck with finding somewhere more permanent, and with finding some NZ LTers!

Oh, and the only Aucklanders I know of are Alex (roundballnz) and Kerry (avatiakh), maybe kiwiflowa is there too?

Hi, bitser and IreadthereforeIam, thank you for your messages. And thank you for the suggestion re the society of authors, that sounds really interesting. We just moved into an apartment so at long last I've got an address for signing up for a library card! :)

Thanks again for your help!

Another way to connect is to visit bookshops, both new and especially used-and-rare, and look for notice boards with events, etc. We lived in Grafton by the hospital and the domain, and could walk to a great many good bookshops. (I brought back several cases of NZ books to the 'states and have added to them since. The more you get out and attend readings, etc. the more likely you are to find a congenial group.

Aside from a few authors (Janet Frame, Ngaio Marsh, Keri Hulme, Witi Ihimaera), NZ literature is not well known in the 'states, so when you visit NZ bookshops it's good to ask for recommendations, make lists, and start reading the work that Kiwis consider their literary foundation. That makes it easier to discuss literature and writing when you're in a group.

Hi bitser! Thank you very much for your post. We found a place to rent and have since moved in, I even managed a quick trip to Sydney to visit friends and see Eddie Vedder on tour :) I also got my library card and am very grateful that they use stickers on the spines to designate local authors.

I like your suggestions and I do need to get out to local bookstores soon. I'd love to join a book group and I think the library and bookstores will have the best possibilities.

Thanks again to everyone!

Hi everyone, I haven't checked the group recently ....

I don't know any LTers in real life only via here really, but as above check out local indie bookshops they are great for book club links ... Timeout & Unity books are my favourites for Brick & Mortar shops

Hi roundballnz,

I just went to a library event last night for a NZ comic strip author, Dylan Horrocks, and Unity Books was there to sell his books. I'll definitely have to check out the real store!

I joined the book club at the library, too, my first meeting is in two weeks. Thanks again to everyone for suggestions, it's been great living here in Auckland, I can't believe two months have already flown by!

It's my favourite city on earth.

Not that I've lived in a great many others.

Great to hear you found a book club, keep an eye out for AK writers/readers festivals in May ?? as well, there usually free & library events as well ....

I have been in Auckland for a long time, but new to LT. Like Emily, I would be keen on meeting up and doing some reading together in a book club. Also, having a severe coffee addiction, that is a mild incentive too. ;-)