News

• New Poet Laureate – Call for Nominations

  20-06-2017

  This award  recognises an outstanding New Zealand poet, who receives $80,000 and is supported by the National Library to concentrate on their own work, take part in literary events, and utilise the Poet Laureate blog. Nominations close on 11 August, and the new Laureate will be announced on National Poetry Day, Friday 25 August 2017. Further information and a nomination form here

• Winston Churchill McNeish Writers’ Fellowship open now

  13-06-2017

  Created in memory of James McNeish, and through the generosity of the McNeish family and the New Zealand Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, this new fellowship is for promising writers aged 25-40 to travel and live overseas. Closing date is 1 August. Full details here

• Book Launch – Elizabeth Smither’s ‘Night Horse’

  07-06-2017

  Sometimes surreal, sometimes funny, often enchanted, Elizabeth Smither’s new poetry collection Night Horse (AUP) is a quirky and whimsical observation of the mundane world around her, which she shows to be full of surprises. Launch 6pm – 7.30pm Tues 20th June at the Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland. All welcome.

• Queen’s Birthday Honours: Emily Perkins

  06-06-2017

  Congratulations to Emily Perkins who has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature. Emily says the honour came “absolutely out of the blue” – to join those from the arts world including the Montana Book Award and the international Believer Book Award. For more information, read here.

• Ockham Awards Announced!

  17-05-2017

  We can’t list them all here, but special congratulations to ANZL member Catherine Chidgey ,winner of the $50,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize for her fourth novel, The Wish Child. For a full list of the amazing category winners see here.

• Applications Open – CNZ Writers’ Award

  15-05-2017

  The Writers’ Award of $25,000 is offered to writers of any genre of non-fiction, to devote time to a specific writing project. Deadline for applications is 9 June 2017. More details here.

• Event – Sarah Broom Prize Announcement and Poetry Readings

  15-05-2017

  This year’s shortlist includes ANZL member Cliff Fell, along with Hera Lindsay Bird, and Sandi King. Guest judge Carol Ann Duffy will introduce the finalists and then announce the winner of the 2017 Sarah Broom prize at the Auckland Writers Festival on Sunday 21 May 4.30-5.30pm. The finalists will also read poems from their submissions. This is a free event.

• Public Lecture – Selina Tusitala Marsh ‘Tala Tusi: The Teller is the Tale’

  10-05-2017

  Poet and academic Selina Tusitala Marsh powerfully explores the relationship between our stories, ourselves, and the fate of our literature if we ignore the wisdom offered by ‘tala tusi’ in her remarkable New Zealand Book Council lecture, 13 May, 9-10 am at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin. This event is brought to you by the New Zealand Book Council in partnership with the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival.

• Book Launch – Apirana Taylor’s ‘Five Strings’

  10-05-2017

  As part of the Auckland Writers Festival, Apirana Taylor is launching his new novel Five Strings (Anahera Press) with introduction by Witi Ihimaera. Launch is 17 May, 6-7.30 pm at the Auckland Central City Library, Lorne Street. All welcome.

• Owen Marshall to Present the 2017 NZBC Lecture

  28-04-2017

  In this fourth recent New Zealand Book Council Lecture, renowned short story writer, novelist, poet and ANZL Fellow Owen Marshall will explore the nature of the short story and its role within society; share his own personal history with the short story; and discuss his favorite writers and their craft. Publication date is 1st October 2017. Event details TBC.

• Auckland Event: Frankie McMillan and Kevin Ireland discuss poetry and war

  07-04-2017

  As part of the Anzac commemorations, one of NZ’s most celebrated and awarded poets ANZL Fellow Kevin Ireland will meet with award winning short story writer, poet and Michael King/Auckland University writer-in-residence Frankie McMillan, to read and discuss poetry relating to war. This is a public event, at Kerr Street Artspace, 28 Clarence St, Devonport, Auckland, at 4pm, Sunday 30 April. All welcome. Koha entry.

• Book Launch – ‘The Chiming Blue’ by Marilyn Duckworth

  27-03-2017

  These new and selected poems by critically acclaimed novelist, short-story writer and ANZL Fellow Marilyn Duckworth meditate with wit and warmth on love, memory, the writing life, and disorder. The Chiming Blue (Victoria UP) is Marilyn’s first poetry collection since Other Lovers’ Children, published in 1975.  All welcome to the launch on 6th April, 6pm – 7.30pm at Unity Books, 57 Willis St, Wellington.

• National Poetry Day Registrations Open

  17-03-2017

  Calling all poets and lovers of poetry! Registrations are now open for the Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day twentieth anniversary celebration 25 August 2017. Planning an event, activity or competition? For tips, information and the online registration form, see here.

• New Book – ‘Obsession’ by Elspeth Sandys

  10-03-2017

  A brilliant new book by Elspeth Sandys, Obsession (Upstart Press), is a literary mystery tale, the story of an obsessive love affair and its long-felt repercussions. The two people at the heart of the story are writers. The third person in the triangle is a celebrated poet of Dalmatian extraction. For more details see here.

• Book Launch – ‘Blood Ties’ by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman

  08-03-2017

  Join Jeffrey Paparoa Holman at the West Coast launch and reading of his new collection Blood Ties: New and Selected Poems 1963-2016 (Canterbury UP), this Saturday, 11 March, 7pm at the Bonzai Cafe, Greymouth. All welcome. More details about Jeffrey’s work here.