News

• Voices From Burma: Poets of No Name

  15-06-2021

  From New York on June 14th Asia Society, in association with the Iowa International Writing Program, hosted an evening of invited readings in support of the Burmese writers killed or arrested following the military coup earlier this year.

  New Zealand’s David Howard read alongside US Poet Laureates Joy Harjo and Robert Hass, Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek, Mayyu Ali, Esther Dischereit, Rafael Jesús González, Brenda Hillman, Khet Mar, Christopher Merrill, Meridel Rubenstein, David St. John, Preti Taneja, Chaw Ei Thein, Ko Ko Thett, and Kinga Tóth.

  Moderated by Kenneth Wong, the participants were asked ‘to say a few words about the plight of the poets in this conflict and the power of poetry, and then to read a poem or two by these Poets of No Name — a moniker chosen to safeguard their identity.’

  The event is online here. David’s reading begins at 1:28:40

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• Applications open for NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2021

  14-06-2021

  Calling for applications from writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama with a literary track record, who are currently working on a new project.  This annual $10,000 Fellowship is awarded each year to a mid-career or senior writer to work on a project that shows a high level of literary merit and national significance and is donated by Peter Beatson.

  In 2020 the fellowship was awarded to Auckland writer Siobhan Harvey, who used the fellowship to allow time to work on her poetry collection Ghosts which has now been published by Otago University Press. In addition, her essay, ‘Living in the Haunted House of the Past’ engaged with the themes of the poetry collection and was awarded 3rd place in the Landfall Essay Competition. Previous recipients have also included: Emma Neale, Michael Harlow, Tina Makereti, Jillian  Sullivan, Sue Wootton, and Frankie McMillan.

  Deadline for applications: midnight Friday 20 August 2021 To apply for the fellowship you need to be a member of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc). Membership is open to all developing and established writers. NZSA provides: literary sector news and opportunities, a mentorship programme, manuscript assessment, manuscript services, contract advice, advocacy and representation for writers, information on the publishing industry, grants and other opportunities, along with affiliation to international PEN.

  For further information contact Claire Hill 027 274 9373 claireh@nzauthors.org.nz
  To find out more and to access application forms

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• CLNZ/NZSA Writers’ Award open for entries

  03-06-2021

  The Writers’ Award is proudly brought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ). The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project, and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. Writers with work in a broad range of non-fiction genres, including educational works, can apply. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. It is the clear intention of the CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award that a book will be published as a result of winning the award.
  Dates for 2021: The CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award will open for applications on Thursday 3 June 2021, and will close at 4pm Friday 2 July.
  First: Read the CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award Guidelines
  Next: Consider reading this ‘Award Alchemy’ article from our NZ Author Magazine (pdf) or listening to Tracey Farr in the NZSA Live! podcast episode ‘Panel Discussion on the Business of Being a Writer’ (starting minute 1.50) on putting together the best application you can.
  Then: Fill in the CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award Application Form

  For more information see the NZSA website.

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• Call for judges of the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

  02-06-2021

  The organisers of the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are calling for expressions of interest from readers with a deep knowledge of New Zealand literature who would like to be considered as judges of the 2022 awards.

  The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards offer four principal prizes each year: the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction; the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry; the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction; and the General Non-Fiction Award. The judging of each of the four subject categories is undertaken by a panel of three judges with the relevant expertise and experience in that subject. One of the three will be appointed as convenor. The judges begin their reading in mid-September 2021.

  Expressions of interest forms and background information on the judging process and judges’ responsibilities can be downloaded from the New Zealand Book Awards Trust website or by emailing manager@nzbookawards.org.nz. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 30 June.

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• CLNZ/NZSA Research Grants 2021 – applications open

  19-05-2021

  Applications are now open for CLNZ/NZSA Research Grants 2021. There are four cash grants of $5,000 to help you research your latest fiction or non-fiction writing project. All NZ writers welcome to apply. Follow this link for more information and/or to apply.

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• Sargeson Short Story Prize open for entries

  06-04-2021

  First offered in 2019, the Sargeson Prize is New Zealand’s richest short story prize, sponsored by the University of Waikato. Named for celebrated New Zealand writer Frank Sargeson, the Prize was conceived by writer Catherine Chidgey, who also lectures in Writing Studies at the University. Entries open on 1 April for the 2021 Sargeson Prize and close at 11.59pm (NZST) on 30 June 2021. There is no entry fee, and entries are limited to one per writer, per division. The first prize in the Open Division is $6000, with $1000 for second place and $500 for third prize.

  The Sargeson Prize also encourages the next generation of writing talent with its Secondary Schools Division for students aged between 16 and 18. The first prize winner in this category will receive $500 and a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato, including accommodation, meals and mentoring.

  Acclaimed New Zealand writer Patricia Grace is the chief judge in this year’s Sargeson Prize..

  This year, winning stories in both the Open and Secondary Schools category will be published online on reading room, the literary arm of Newsroom, managed by journalist and author Steve Braunias.

  For more information on the competition, see the University of Waikato website here.

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• 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Award Finalists Announced!

  03-03-2021

  

  Congratulations to all the 2021 Ockham shortlisters, in particular ANZL members: Pip Adam, Catherine Chidgey, Brannavan Gnanalingam, Tusiata Avia and Vincent O’Sullivan.

  The 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shortlisted titles are:

  Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction

  Bug Week & Other Stories by Airini Beautrais (Victoria University Press)

  Nothing to See by Pip Adam (Victoria University Press)

  Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press)

  Sprigs by Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson)

  Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry

  Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker (Victoria University Press)

  Magnolia 木蘭 by Nina Mingya Powles (Seraph Press)

  National Anthem by Mohamed Hassan (Dead Bird Books)

  The Savage Coloniser Book by Tusiata Avia (Victoria University Press)

  Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction

  An Exquisite Legacy: The Life and Work of New Zealand Naturalist G.V. Hudson by George Gibbs (Potton & Burton)

  Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine by Monique Fiso (Godwit, Penguin Random House)

  Marti Friedlander: Portraits of the Artists by Leonard Bell (Auckland University Press)

  Nature — Stilled by Jane Ussher (Te Papa Press)

  General Non-Fiction Award

  Specimen: Personal Essays by Madison Hamill (Victoria University Press)

  Te Hāhi Mihinare |The Māori Anglican Church by Hirini Kaa (Bridget Williams Books)

  The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere a Biographical Portrait by Vincent O’Sullivan (Penguin, Penguin Random House)

  This Pākehā Life: An Unsettled Memoir by Alison Jones (Bridget Williams Books)

  The winners of the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, including the four MitoQ Best First Book award winners, will be announced at a ceremony on 12 May as a public event during the 2021 Auckland Writers Festival.

  The General Non-Fiction, Poetry and Illustrated Non-Fiction category winners will each receive a $10,000 prize. The winners of the four MitoQ Best First Book awards will each receive $2,500.

  The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are supported by Ockham Residential, Creative New Zealand, Jann Medlicott and the Acorn Foundation, Mary and Peter Biggs CNZM, MitoQ, Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand and the Auckland Writers Festival.

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• Dame Fiona Kidman recieves inaugural Irish Writing Fellowship

  22-02-2021

  One of New Zealand’s most accomplished authors and supporters of literature, Dame Fiona Kidman DNZM OBE, is the inaugural recipient of the University of Otago Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies (CISS) Irish Writers Fellowship.

  Initiated in 2020, the writing fellowships are aimed at facilitating and encouraging literary and cultural exchange between Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand.

  The Fellowship is supported by a partnership between CISS and the Caselberg Trust. During their tenure Fellows receive a stipend, office space on Otago’s Dunedin campus, use of a car and accommodation at Caselberg Cottage on the Otago Peninsula.

  Writers of Irish or Scottish birth, residence or affiliation can be selected as Fellows. Holders are invited to address and mentor students in Otago’s Irish and Scottish Studies and Creative Writing programmes and will participate in public events. The Fellowships alternate between Scottish- and Irish-affiliated writers.

• CNZ Michael King Writer’s Fellowship 2021- apply now

  16-02-2021

  The Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer’s Fellowship is awarded every two years to established writers to support their work on a major project. Creative New Zealand is seeking applications from writers in any literary genre who have published critically acclaimed literature works; been short-listed for or received one or more literary awards or fellowships. The award is valued at $100,000. Applications close at 1pm on 26 February 2021. For more information read here.

• Youth, Diversity and Vitality Reflected in Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Longlist

  28-01-2021

  Books that explore issues of identity, domestic life, war, food, our natural world and our people are among the 40 works of poetry, prose and non-fiction longlisted for the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards announced today. The works, selected from 179 entries, and 13 first-time authors, range from intimate to global in scale and traverse cultural, historic, artistic and imagined landscapes. The Awards also attracted a new sponsor this year. Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand has secured naming rights to the Illustrated Non-Fiction category for the next five years.

  Congratulations to the following ANZL members who are among the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlisted works:

  Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction

  Nothing to See by Pip Adam (Victoria University Press)

  Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press)

  Sprigs by Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson)

  Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry

  The Savage Coloniser Book by Tusiata Avia (Victoria University Press)

  Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker (Victoria University Press)

  Wow by Bill Manhire (Victoria University Press)

  Goddess Muscle by Karlo Mila (Huia Publishers)

  Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction

  Shining Land: Looking for Robin Hyde by Paula Morris and Haru Sameshima (Massey University Press)

  General Non-Fiction Award

  The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere a Biographical Portrait by Vincent O’Sullivan (Penguin, Penguin Random House)

  You Have A Lot to Lose: A Memoir 1956-1986 by C.K. Stead (Auckland University Press)

  The 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shortlist of 16 titles will be announced on 3 March 2021. The winners, including the four MitoQ Best First Book awards, will be announced at a public ceremony on 12 May during the 2021 Auckland Writers Festival.

  The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are supported by Ockham Residential, Creative New Zealand, Jann Medlicott and the Acorn Foundation, Mary and Peter Biggs CNZM, MitoQ, Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand and the Auckland Writers Festival.

  To find out more about the 40 longlisted titles go to http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards/2021-awards/longlist/

   

• NZSA / Auckland Museum Research Grant + Residency – deadline soon

  19-01-2021

  The NZSA / Auckland Museum Research Grant + Residency is a grant of $5,000 supplemented by the option of 4 weeks funded accommodation at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport. The Auckland Museum Library reading room and copying facilities for grant recipients as a working space as well as guided access to the library’s collections of manuscripts, pictures and publications.

  The recipient also receives a one year membership to the Auckland Museum Institute. Benefits of being a member include a free guided highlights tour of the Museum and special member pricing at the AM shop and for selected Museum events.

  The deadline is 31 January. Learn more and/or apply here.

• Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors

  04-12-2020

  The Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors scheme was established to provide for New Zealand authors, illustrators, and editors to receive payments in recognition of the fact that their books are available for free use in New Zealand libraries. As an author registered with the scheme, you’re entitled to receive an annual payment based on the number of copies of your title held in New Zealand libraries. This number is determined by a regular survey.
  Registering for the scheme
  You must register with the scheme each year in order to be eligible for payment, whether or not you have any new books.
  The registration period is from 1 January to 1 March.
  You need to be a New Zealand resident to register, meaning you have been in New Zealand for at least half of the last year, or you have a permanent abode here. Authors not registered this year can join the mailing list to receive future communications about the scheme by emailing us your contact details.
  PLR@dia.govt.nzPayments from the PLR fund
  The Public Lending Right fund is divided among registered authors, based on how many copies of their works are held by libraries. Previously stuck at $2 million for the last 12 years, the government announced an increase in 2020 of $1.7million over 4 years to allow for inflation, following advocacy.  (This is separate to changes required following the review of PLR, currently underway.) This review now sits with incoming Minister Hon Jan Tinetti.
  See how the fund has been distributed so far
  If you’re eligible for a payment, you’ll receive it by December 31, directly into your nominated bank account. More

• NZSA Mentor Programme 2021 – open for applications

  03-12-2020

  Apply now to be mentored by an established writer, poet, playwright. The NZSA Mentor Programme accepts applications for the 2021 programme from 1 Dec 2020 to 1 Feb 2021.The NZ Society of Authors Mentor programme 2021 seeks applications from writers looking for professional development, a safe space to discuss their work, intellectual community, role models, accountability and substantive feedback.

  The NZSA Mentor Programme is designed to givebeginning or emerging writers who demonstrate potential and commitment the opportunity to work closely with an experienced writer as their mentor in order to hone their writing skills and, in the process, take a piece of work from the early stages to a polished manuscript with potential for publication.

  The writers and creators who gained mentorships in 2020 polished and refined their skills under the mentorship of these talented professionals: Pip Adam, Mandy Hager, Pippa Werry, Vanda Symon, Fiona Kidman, Kiri Piahana-Wong, Sue Reidy, Lee Murray, Geoff Walker, Paula Morris, Cilla McQueen, Vivienne Plumb and Alison Wong.

  This programme is made possible thanks to support from Creative New Zealand. This year, as part of our commitment to diversity we have again tagged 3 mentorships for emerging writers identifying as Maori, Pasifika, and Asian. More

• 2020 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement: live online panel tonight!

  24-11-2020

  Creative New Zealand in partnernership with Auckland Live and The Big Idea invite New Zealanders from across the motu to come together for a live, online panel discussion with the 2020 recipients of the Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement, facilitated by John Campbell.
  Celebrate the award recipients for 2020:
  Sir Tīmoti Kāretu (non-fiction)
  Jenny Bornholdt (poetry)
  Tessa Duder (fiction)
  When: Tuesday 24 November (Tonight)
  Time: 6:30 – 7:00pm NZST
  Where: Creative New Zealand Facebook or Creative New Zealand YouTube channel
  During the live stream, viewers can submit questions to the writers using the comment threads on Facebook and YouTube.

• 2020 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement: winners announced

  10-11-2020

  Congratulations ANZL member Jenny Bornholdt who has been honoured with the 2020 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement ­in Poetry alongside Sir Tīmoti Kāretu (Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement ­in Non-fiction) and Tessa Duder (Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement ­in Fiction). The Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement were established in 2003. Every year New Zealanders are invited to nominate their choice of a New Zealand writer who has made a significant contribution to New Zealand literature in the genres of non-fiction, poetry and fiction. This year each recipient will be awarded $60,000 in recognition of their outstanding contribution to New Zealand literature. For the Creative New Zealand full announcement see here.