Review

Where We Swim by Ingrid Horrocks

Reviewed by Sally Blundell

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Review

Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2021 edited by Tracey Slaughter

Reviewed by Sophie van Waardenberg

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Review

The Mirror Book: a memoir by Charlotte Grimshaw

Reviewed by Rachael King

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Review

The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere: A Biographical Portrait by Vincent O’Sullivan

Reviewed by Ian Wedde

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Feature

Ockham NZ Book Awards Finalists

Who’s in – and how you can read extracts.

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Review

National Anthem by Mohamed Hassan

Reviewed by Alison Wong

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Feature

The Interview: Vincent O’Sullivan

‘I’m sceptical about any group who want others to regard them as special.’

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Feature

Listen, Memory

David Howard learns how to appear in Ulyanovsk, City of Literature.

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Conversation/Kōrero

Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley

Go dark or go home: Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley dive deep.

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Feature

Our Many Pasts: Historical Fiction

Thom Conroy asks: is historical fiction New Zealand’s defining genre?

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Feature

Display It Like You Stole It: Letter from London

‘If Oceania is a continent, then it is a continent as complex as Europe’. David Eggleton in London for the Royal Academy of Art’s ‘blockbuster’ show.

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Feature

Fiction and Factions: the Political Novel in New Zealand

What makes a work of the imagination ‘political’?

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Feature

Why Aren’t You Reading Brown?

Not enough diversity in your reading diet? Here are 21 reasons to buy/borrow/read books by Maori and Pasifika writers right away.

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Feature

Poutokomanawa – The Heartpost

What kind of house does our literature inhabit?

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The ANZL

The ANZL is a community of writers from New Zealand – authors of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.

On our site you’ll find current biographical information for over 100 writers – our ANZL Fellows and Members – and a range of in-depth features about the diverse strands of contemporary New Zealand literature, as well as extended interviews, book reviews, round-table discussions, essays and a series of conversations/ kōrero that crosses oceans.

The site also features creative work by ANZL writers, including extracts from finalists in the annual Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

If you’d like an alert when we post new features to the site, please sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of this page. Festival directors and industry representatives can view our Author Showcase E-books here.

Fellows Members

Reviews

Where We Swim by Ingrid Horrocks

The Wednesday Review

14/04/2021

Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2021 edited by Tracey Slaughter

The Friday Review

09/04/2021

‘Our writers are also part of our heritage.’ – Siobhan Harvey

View the comics archive

Conversation/Kōrero: Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley

Go dark or go home: Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley dive deep.

Explore more: Features & Interviews//The Conversation/Kōrero//News//Extracts//Reviews

The Interview – Fiona Kidman

Fiona Kidman in conversation with Kelly Ana Morey - July 2016

Fiona Kidman talks to Kelly Ana Morey about real life and other fictions.

‘I tend to live inside my characters for a long time when I’m thinking about a book.’

Explore more: Features & Interviews//The Conversation/Kōrero//News//Extracts//Reviews

New releases

Sargeson Short Story Prize open for entries

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

All updates

'I started to feel very guilty, as though I’d perpetrated a crime, a rort' - Stephanie Johnson

Where We Swim by Ingrid Horrocks

Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2021 edited by Tracey Slaughter

The Mirror Book: a memoir by Charlotte Grimshaw

The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere: A Biographical Portrait by Vincent O’Sullivan

Ockham NZ Book Awards Finalists

National Anthem by Mohamed Hassan

The Interview: Vincent O’Sullivan

Listen, Memory

Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley

Our Many Pasts: Historical Fiction

Display It Like You Stole It: Letter from London

Fiction and Factions: the Political Novel in New Zealand

Why Aren’t You Reading Brown?

Poutokomanawa – The Heartpost

The ANZL

Reviews

Where We Swim by Ingrid Horrocks

Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2021 edited by Tracey Slaughter

Conversation/Kōrero: Tracey Slaughter and Sarah Strickley

New releases