09-11-2023
The venue is the Ockham Collective space at The Nix, 6 Nixon Street in the city (near the Great North/Newton/Ponsonby Roads intersection). The class size is limited to 18.
07-10-2023
New Zealand is the first country in the English-speaking world to launch an online collaboration between its independent bookstores; called BookHub, it will be a game changer for local booklovers. Launched 7 October on National Bookshop Day, BookHub is a site where readers can browse and buy books from more than 70 bookstores around the motu – all in one place.
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand’s project manager for BookHub Tony Moores says the site is a major disrupter to online bookselling:
“We’re proud to have developed the only website in the English-speaking world that offers book buyers access to the inventory of independent bookstores nationwide, all in one place.
“With more than a million local and international titles to choose from, Bookhub’s introduction means there is now a site for Kiwis to buy their books online that supports our bookstores.
An independent study commissioned in 2021 by Read NZ Te Pou Muramura found that 35% of New Zealanders bought their books online from overseas websites.
“We want online book buyers to choose BookHub. Using the site is more sustainable and it means consumers’ money stays here in New Zealand, supporting local economies and communities. It also means faster delivery of books.”
Mr Moores adds that buyers can liaise directly with a locally-based bookseller about their order, not a web bot or an online submission form.
“BookHub stands up to commercial and offshore competitors and at the same time enhances existing New Zealand bookshop websites.”
Publishers Association of NZ – Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) association director Catriona Ferguson says BookHub is the online platform that the industry has been waiting for.
“Taking an ingenious approach to highlighting local booksellers, BookHub has the power to transform the book retail landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“PANZ warmly welcomes the opportunity for increasing sales for booksellers and publishers from Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Ms Ferguson.
23-09-2023
Applications are now open for one of New Zealand’s top writing residencies: the 2024 Creative New
Zealand Randell Cottage Writers Fellowship. The fellowship comprises a generous stipend, funded by
CNZ and currently set at $30,582, and six months’ rent-free accommodation in one of Wellington’s
oldest heritage homes. The residency will run from July to December 2024.
The Randell Cottage Creative NZ Writer in Residence is selected by a Trust-appointed committee to
work on an approved project. The deadline for applications is Friday, 10 November 2022. The successful
applicant will be announced in December. For more information and to apply see here.
22-09-2023
The Fellowship offers published New Zealand writers the opportunity to write full-time, free from financial pressures. It provides an annual stipend of $20,000, and where available, the Sargeson Centre adjacent to the University of Auckland. The fellowship falls between February and October and may be shared by two fellows over the tenure period. Any published New Zealand writer living either in New Zealand or overseas is eligible to apply for the fellowship.
The 2023 fellowship, then called the Grimshaw Sargeson Fellowship, was awarded to Kelly Ana Morey and Evana Belich. View the media release here. The Eligibility, Terms and Conditions for the 2024 Fellowship can be found here. To apply, download the application form here.
Applications close on Sunday, 22 October 2023.
12-09-2023
Calling all budding reviewers!! The Aotearoa NZ Review of Books has two fantastic opportunities coming up: a free, skills-sharpening webinar on 21 September 6.30-8pm – register via stories@auckland.ac.nz – plus 8 mentorships with experienced book-page editors. More info at this link.
01-09-2023
The Michael King Writers Centre is pleased to announce that next year’s programme of residencies at the historic Signalman’s House on Takarunga Mt Victoria in Devonport, Auckland, is now open for applications. Writers awarded a residency can look forward to peaceful accommodation, the use of a writing studio, a supporting stipend and the opportunity to focus on a specific writing project.
The 2024 programme offers 14 residencies to emerging and established writers for periods of two to four weeks and one extended six-week residency for an established writer working on a significant new project. Awarded residencies will include up to four specifically for Māori or Pasifika writers.
Applications open Friday 1 September and close Monday 2 October. For the application form and more details see here.
15-08-2023
For those of you who struggle with the small print, or like to listen while you drive, or simply listen, Penguin Random House New Zealand have a number of audiobooks by New Zealand writers available for purchase on their website. These include work by ANZ fellows Patricia Grace, Maurice Gee and Witi Ihimaera, and members Jenny Pattrick, Dominic Hoey, Catherine Robertson and Charlotte Grimshaw. Have a look at their great selection here.
08-08-2023
Join Auckland University Press at Objectspace to celebrate the launch of Hiwa, a collection of contemporary Māori short stories featuring the work of twenty-seven writers.
A showcase of contemporary talent, Hiwa includes biographical introductions for each writer’s work, and explores the range of styles and subjects in the flourishing world of Māori fiction.
Working in English or te reo Māori, the writers range from famous names and award winners – Patricia Grace, Witi Ihimaera, Whiti Hereaka, Becky Manawatu, Zeb Nicklin – to emerging voices like Shelley Burne-Field, Jack Remiel Cottrell, Anthony Lapwood and Colleen Maria Lenihan.
Named for Hiwa-i-te-rangi, the ninth star of Matariki, signifying vigorous growth and dreams of the year ahead, this anthology reveals the flourishing world of Māori writing today in Aotearoa and beyond.
Wed, 9 Aug 2023 5:30 – 7:00 pm at Objectspace, Auckland. RSVP here.
08-08-2023
The Mātātuhi Foundation, established to support the growth and development of the literary landscape of Aotearoa, has formally assumed the sponsorship of the Best First Book awards at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Set up in 2018 by the Auckland Writers Festival, the organisation holds a biannual grants round, inviting submissions from projects that support and promote the work of New Zealand writers and/or increase the levels of engagement, or appreciation for New Zealand literature amongst New Zealand readers.
The four winners of The Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards for 2024 will be announced next year at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards ceremony on Wednesday 15 May, at a marquee event at the Auckland Writers Festival. The judges will select a Best First Book winner in each of the Ockhams’ four categories – Fiction, Poetry, General Non-Fiction and Illustrated Non-Fiction – from books by debut authors that have been shortlisted or longlisted in the awards. Each winner will receive $3000 and a 12-month membership of the New Zealand Society of Authors.
03-08-2023
Established authors, promising writers, and desperadoes burning, burning, burning like fabulous yellow roman candles or whatever are invited to enter the 2023 Surrey Hotel Writers Residency Award in association with Newsroom and Dick Frizzell. There is $5000 to be won in cold hard cash plus the honour and prestige of being awarded the coolest writers residency prize in New Zealand – winners get to stay in an actual hotel, with room service, with breakfast, with really interesting carpet in the hallways.
Applications open today, as of now, this very second, for the 2023 prize. Entries close soon, very soon; and a winner will be announced in about four weeks time, live on Jesse Mullligan’s afternoon show on Radio New Zealand, as per tradition.
Email stephen11@xtra.co.nz with the subject line in screaming caps THE SURREY HOTEL WRITERS RESIDENCY AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEWSROOM AND DICK FRIZZELL. The cut-off is midnight, Sunday, August 20. Send in a brief covering letter outlining the project you have in mind, and it wouldn’t hurt to maybe attach a few pages of the work in progress. Established authors and complete nobodies will be assessed on the merit of their application so long as they have had something published somewhere, in print or online. This is for writers of books, and books only for adults; no screenplay writers, no playwrights, no comics illustrators, no YA or children’s authors. It’s all about a book intended for grown-ups.
Winners will need to take up their residency before February 1, 2024. Dick Frizzell’s hard-earned prize money will only be transferred when the winners actually arrive at the Surrey Hotel. An international panel will act as judges. To old authors, to young writers, to mad people of whatever age with a good book in them: go forth and apply, and good luck.
03-08-2023
The New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa is now inviting submissions for the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. These prestigious awards promote excellence in, and provide recognition of, the best books for adult readers published annually in New Zealand. Titles with release dates between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 will be considered for the 2024 awards.
There are two submission dates. Publishers are asked to observe the guidelines for sending entries in two tranches, which are in place for ease of sending to judges. Submissions for titles published between 1 January 2023 and 31 August 2023 are now open and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 13 September 2023. Online entries for titles published between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023 open on Thursday 14 September and close 5pm on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
For books in the second tranche, page proofs will be accepted if books publishing in November and December have not been printed at the time of online submissions closing. In these cases, finished books must arrive with the Awards Administrator no later than 5pm on Wednesday 25 November.
Click here for eligibility criteria and a Call for Entries information pack, then enter online here.
All entries must be submitted online at www.nzbookawards.nz and fees paid by credit card via the online submission form.
For any further enquiries, please email Awards Administrator Rabia Khan at awards@nzbookawards.org.nz.
28-07-2023
Verb Wellington is thrilled to once again be offering this residency opportunity. Applications from writers who live in Aotearoa, working on any of the following forms are welcomed: short stories, the novel, poetry, creative non-fiction and memoir. The residency includes a stipend of $3,500 incl GST (NZD) to support your time. 2023 is an extra special year for Katherine Mansfield House & Garden as it marks 100 years since Mansfield’s death and a range of events and activities have been taking place throughout the year to celebrate Mansfield’s creative legacy.
Applications are now open and close 5pm, Tuesday 2 August. The successful applicant will be notified by Mon 14 August.
The residency takes place Sunday 29 October – Sunday 19 November (3 weeks). This timeframe includes the Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2023 which runs between 9 – 12 November and so offers the resident an opportunity to experience the festival.
The application form can be found here.
28-07-2023
AT THE BAY | I TE KOKORU are pleased to announce a new competition for a mix of storytelling genres: submit your micros, flash, hybrid work (including poetry and prose combined) or short stories.
Win $500 plus publication of your story at AT THE BAY | I TE KOKORU!
Submissions open 21 July – Sept 01, 2023
For more information and how to enter see here.
27-06-2023
The 2023 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement are now open for nominations. These annual awards recognise New Zealand writers who have made a notable contribution to New Zealand literature in the genres of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Nominations close at 1PM on 21 July 2023.
For more information about how to nominate an outstanding New Zealand writer for these awards please follow this link.
07-06-2023
As part of the online auction to help fuel the engine that powers creativity in Aotearoa New Zealand, bolster your bedside table with a stack of essential reading – all working to the theme of Provocations: 12 books to challenge, subvert and inspire! Generously donated by Paula Morris and Unity Books Auckland. SUPPORT THE ARTS BY PLACING A BID. The auction closes at 8:00pm on 11 June 2023 (NZ time). See The Arts Foundation Digital Auction – GalaBid
'NZ literature is such a vast and varied thing' - Pip Adam