Here is a quick round-up of what’s on in the next 24 hours of the Going West Festival.

Tonight there’s a film at Lopdell House Gallery in Titirangi – Nga Mahi a Nga Tupuna – a collection of very early Maori footage from the NZ Film Archive which goes way back to 1901. 7.30pm, $10, door sales available.

Also tonight at the Corban Estate Arts Centre is Word Up, an event for 15-18 year-olds, in which poetry, music, comedy will all make an appearance. MC Nathan Matthews, funky soul band members from Spacifix, ‘prizes, giveaways, special guests, food and fun’. 7-11pm, gold coin entry.

Tomorrow, of course, is Storyfest at the Kelson Community Centre just off Great North Road on the way to Henderson. It’s ‘a feast of word-based delights’ for everyone from grandparents to toddlers. It seems the weather will be crap, so I would say come early. There is live theatre, storytellers, puppetry etc. Take a camera, there are some great photo opportunities: entranced kids with their mouths hanging open.

Finally tomorrow there is a poetry workshop with Paula Green at the Corban Estate Arts in Henderson - 10.30-4pm, $115 gets you fed as well as educated. I can confirm that as I write there are two places left. Be quick – call 09-838 4455 if you’re interested. But more on Paula...

I met her at the Friday night of the Festival, where she and Bill Manhire were talking about the apparent paradox that many poets are quite shy and retiring, yet are compelled to stand up in front of others and bare their souls. To my chagrin, I hadn’t read her work at that stage, but have got that sorted… although I’m gunning for a review copy of her latest, Crosswind. Paula is the author of three collections of poetry, and is the Literary Fellow at the University of Auckland this year.

Also as an on-going part of the Festival, a poem of Paula’s – The North Western Line – is the basis of a superb exhibition at the Corban Arts Estate. It’s written all around the walls of the gallery at about hip height, and various artists including big guns such as John Pule, Gretchen Albrecht, Michael Hight, John Reynolds and Judy Millar have responded to parts of the poem with an artwork – painting/photographs/sculpture and jewellery. It’s a great idea and an excellent exhibition I went with three kids, so will have to go back if you know what I mean.

So there you go. Enough to boost your culture quotient for the weekend.