12/10/2026
Kiri Allan’s Go Hard or Go Home and Charlotte Glennie’s Every Second Counts are both honest and hard-hitting memoirs that begin with accidents that dramatically changed the course of their lives. This is a rare opportunity to hear from two women who have lived life at full speed. Chaired by Naomi Arnold.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
Nelson Centre of Musical Arts | Sat 24 Oct | 3.30PM
Kiri Allan’s memoir, Go Hard or Go Home, opens with the July 2023 car crash in Wellington that led to her resignation from Cabinet and Parliament’s front bench. By the time of the crash, Allan had already endured a divorce, cancer treatment, intense public scrutiny, and mental health struggles. The crash became the public culmination of a period in which her personal and professional lives were under enormous strain. Go Hard or Go Home is a fearless memoir of ambition, disruption and survival in NZ politics – from the front bench to rock bottom – and beyond.
Charlotte Glennie’s memoir, Every Second Counts, opens with a near-fatal accident, which occurred when she was a fledgling journalist. Much of the memoir follows how she rebuilt her life and went on to become one of New Zealand’s most prominent foreign correspondents, reporting from across Asia on events such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and political upheavals. Her recovery is a story about resilience and making the best use of time during our one precious life on this planet. Every Second Counts: A story of deadlines, daring, danger, and what happens when you fall is fascinating and fast-paced memoir.
Supported by: Maruia River Retreat
Presented by: Go Media
Thanks to: Penguin Random House, Moa Press
Book tickets now: https://nelsonartsfestival.nz/event/behind-the-headlines/
