Truth in the Telling

How do we write other people’s stories? What do we leave in and what remains unseen?

Asher Emanuel’s The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City is a propulsive and narrative driven exploration of the lives of three men entrenched in the criminal justice system. Acknowledged with the 2026 Te Kohu Kairangi Award for best reporting of Māori affairs, the investigative journalism of Aaron Smale (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Pākehā) has included abuse in state custody, and environmental exploitation as examined in his book, Tairāwhiti: Pine, Profit and the Cyclone.

How do these writers capture the stories of others by using fiction writing techniques: creating arcs, characterising people, unfurling facts – without blurring the line of truth?

In conversation with writer and journalist, Māni Dunlop (Ngāpuhi), they discuss the influence of fiction on their work, and how narrative can drive new ways of understanding facts.

Verb's official Festival Bookseller, Unity Books will be on-site bookselling, and Asher and Aaron will be book signing after the event.

This event is part of the 2026 Verb Readers & Writers Festival. Please see verbwellington.nz for more information.

Festival Passes are a great way to save money and enjoy the full festival experience: just $80 for a 4-event pass. They are available until midday Thursday 24 September.

Many thanks to our generous funders, sponsors and members of Verb Community in supporting Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2026.