HBRW 2026 - Fertility Matters

Join actor, journalist and award-winning playwright Elisabeth Easther and acclaimed journalist and broadcaster Susie Ferguson for a conversation about storytelling, life choices, health, careers and the unexpected paths life can take. Our very own Kate O’Keeffe will be in the chair. Elisabeth Easther has adapted her award-winning play Seed into a novel — a warm, witty and heartfelt story described as “ripe with humour and heart”. Following four women as they navigate fertility, life choices and parenthood, Seed explores the many ways our lives can unfold. Susie Ferguson’s new book, Bloody Minded, offers a candid look at her remarkable career and the challenges of living with a hidden illness. The award-winning broadcaster and Endometriosis NZ ambassador shares her experiences of building a brilliant career while navigating the realities of endometriosis. With Kate O’Keeffe guiding the conversation, this promises to be an engaging and honest discussion about ambition, identity, motherhood, health, creativity and the stories we tell about our lives. Author Bios Elisabeth Easther Elisabeth Easther is an actor, journalist, award-winning playwright and book reviewer. Best known for her work on Shortland Street and Islands of the Gulf, she makes her fiction debut with Seed, a warm, witty and heartfelt novel exploring fertility, friendship, life choices and parenthood. Susie Ferguson Born in Scotland, Susie Ferguson is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster who has built an acclaimed career in New Zealand and around the world. After graduating from The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and the University of the Arts London, she became a war correspondent, reporting and presenting from some of the world’s most challenging environments, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Susie emigrated to New Zealand in 2009 and spent eight years as co-host of RNZ’s top-rating Morning Report. She has also created radio documentaries and podcasts, including RNZ’s The Unthinkable and Undercurrent: Misinformation in Aotearoa. She now hosts RNZ’s Saturday Morning, is an ambassador for Endometriosis NZ, and lives in Wellington with her family. Her new book, Bloody Minded, explores her experience of building a successful career while living with a hidden illness. Kate O’Keeffe Kate O’Keeffe is a multi-award-winning and USA Today bestselling author known for her fun, feel-good romantic comedies, brimming with humour, heart and happily-ever-afters. A native New Zealander, Kate has created numerous popular series and built a devoted international readership. When she’s not writing, Kate can usually be found reading rom-coms, binge-watching her favourite shows, or spending time with friends and family in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand.