# Auckland Writers and Readers Festival Charitable Trust

**Charities Register number:** CC25635
**Status:** Registered
**Registered since:** 2008-06-09
**Sector:** Arts & Culture
**ICNPO group:** Culture and Recreation
**Region:** Auckland
**NZBN:** 9429043084609
**IRD donee status:** yes — donations may qualify for a tax credit

## Purpose

The Trust is charged with delivering a literary festival in Auckland on an annual basis which: -celebrates the work of local and international writers -promotes literacy and the enjoyment of the written word -promotes a high and positive public profile for New Zealand writers -promotes the recognition of excellence in literature -promotes ideas and intellectual debate -promotes literature which supports and reflects the partnership ideal of the Treaty of Waitangi -encourages international understanding and interest

## CharityData rating

- **Grade:** B+ (82.5 / 100)
- **Financial health:** 100/100
- **Governance:** 75/100
- **Transparency:** 65/100
- **Computed:** 2026-09-26 (methodology 3.11)
- **Flags raised by the methodology:** 1
  - trustees holding many concurrent board roles

Ratings are an analytical view computed from this charity's own filings to the Charities Register, using a published methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology. They are not advice and not a statement about any individual.

## Latest annual return (year ended 2025-08-31)

- **Total revenue:** NZ$2.66M
- **Total expenses:** NZ$2.51M
- **Surplus / deficit:** NZ$149k
- **Total assets:** NZ$3.35M
- **Total liabilities:** NZ$143k
- **Net assets:** NZ$3.21M
- **Cash reserves:** NZ$1.42M
- **Government grants:** NZ$116k (4.4% of revenue)
- **Donations:** NZ$347k
- **Staff costs:** NZ$627k
- **Paid staff:** 10
- **Volunteers:** 3
- **Source filing (PDF):** https://register.charities.govt.nz/Document/DownloadPdf?pdfType=AnnualReturnSummary&relatedId=0acbc0c6-0187-f011-bb46-0022480ffcd1&isPublic=true

All figures are as filed by the charity with Charities Services, in New Zealand dollars.

## Filing history

| Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Surplus/deficit | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-31 | NZ$2.66M | NZ$2.51M | NZ$149k | NZ$3.21M |
| 2024-08-31 | NZ$2.40M | NZ$2.39M | NZ$1k | NZ$3.06M |
| 2023-08-31 | NZ$1.88M | NZ$2.06M | not disclosed | NZ$3.06M |
| 2022-08-31 | NZ$1.75M | NZ$1.80M | not disclosed | NZ$3.23M |
| 2021-08-31 | NZ$2.24M | NZ$1.47M | not disclosed | NZ$3.29M |
| 2020-08-31 | NZ$1.11M | NZ$1.09M | not disclosed | NZ$2.52M |
| 2019-08-31 | NZ$2.31M | NZ$1.96M | not disclosed | NZ$2.50M |
| 2018-08-31 | NZ$2.06M | NZ$1.81M | not disclosed | NZ$2.15M |
| 2017-08-31 | NZ$2.15M | NZ$1.79M | not disclosed | NZ$1.90M |
| 2016-08-31 | NZ$1.76M | NZ$1.41M | not disclosed | NZ$1.54M |

## Governance

- **Officers on the register:** 10 current (25 including former)
- **Chair recorded:** yes
- **Auditor:** Moore Markhams
- **Most recent audit opinion:** unqualified

Individual officers and trustees are not listed here. Their names are on the public Charities Register (https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC25635) and on the charity's profile page.

## Disclosed funders

- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$42k, year ended 2025-03-31
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$35k, year ended 2019-03-31
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$25k, year ended 2026-03-31
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$20k, year ended 2023-03-31
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$20k, year ended 2022-03-31
- **Foundation North** (foundation) — NZ$20k, year ended 2021-03-31
- **New Zealand Community Trust** (foundation) — NZ$10k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Auckland Foundation** (foundation) — NZ$9k, year ended 2017-06-30

## Data freshness

- Register details: as of 2026-10-01
- Financials: last updated 2026-09-25
- Rating: computed 2026-09-26
- This document generated: 2026-10-01

Figures are as filed. A charity that has filed since the dates above may have newer numbers on the Charities Register.

## More data

- Charity profile: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/auckland-writers-and-readers-festival-charitable-trust
- Structured facts (JSON): https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/auckland-writers-and-readers-festival-charitable-trust/facts.json
- Short summary: https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/auckland-writers-and-readers-festival-charitable-trust/summary.md
- Rating methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology
- Official register entry: https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC25635
- Charity website: https://writersfestival.co.nz

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Published by [CharityData NZ](https://charitydata.co.nz). Canonical: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/auckland-writers-and-readers-festival-charitable-trust. Primary source: Charities Services (Ngā Rātonga Kaupapa Atawhai), Department of Internal Affairs. Analytical scores are CharityData's own, computed under a published methodology, and are not advice. Generated 2026-10-01T10:45:31.354Z.