Name: Feel the Fear
Start: 2026-03-29T03:00:00+13:00
Location: Lake Wānaka Centre, 89 Ardmore street, Wānaka

There’s a saying that goes “do one thing every day that scares you”. Should you? Our speakers share their disparate experiences of, and approaches to, fear. In 2022, New Zealand rally driver Emma Gilmour became the first-ever woman driver for McLaren Racing and was the first woman to win a round of the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC). At 26, Lisette Reymer was appointed Newshub’s Europe Correspondent, covering events including the Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict. She was named 2024 Reporter of the Year and her book No, I Don’t Get Danger Money is out now. Leader of roots band The Eastern, Adam McGrath has navigated long tours, late nights and health scares on his way to becoming one of the country’s most beloved folk singers, and what NZ Herald called “NZ's toughest-minded songwriter”.
Do take the opportunity to grab a drink and a bite to eat from the friendly staff at our in-house caterers, Federal Diner. They will have a pop up café open in the Armstrong Room for the duration of the festival weekend.
Chris and the team from Paper Plus Wānaka will also have a book stall in the Armstrong Room featuring books by several of our speakers. Chris will kindly donate a percentage of sales back to the festival, so buying a book not only supports a great local business, but also supports our festival events!