To celebrate International Mother Language Day 2026, Dunedin City of Literature is thrilled to showcase a remarkable collection of podcasts, Layers of Identity – Otago Access Radio.

These podcasts, which include poems, speeches, and personal essays, gather the voices of 15 young writers and orators from Ōtepoti aged 8 to 24 as they journey through whakapapa, culture, and belonging. With their honest storytelling, these writers invite us to listen deeply — to their histories, their hopes, and the many layers that make them who they are.

Dunedin City of Literature is thrilled to collaborate as publisher of the pieces in a special upcoming title, Layers of Identity, that will celebrate the power of rangatahi identity and storytelling. You can listen to all the podcasts on the website below.

UNESCO Cities of Literature and International Mother Language Day

Manchester leads the UNESCO Cities of Literature on International Mother Language Day celebrations in February, and so each year we share how other cities are celebrating this special day. You can find out how other Cities of Literature are celebrating below.