Ngā Whakataetae
Writing Contests & Grants
CLNZ / NZSA Writers’ Award
Made annually by the New Zealand Society of Authors with the support of Copyright Licensing New Zealand, this award is open to ‘New Zealand writers of non-fiction, including educational material.’ Winners receive $25,000, ‘to devote time to a specific writing project.’
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
Applications are now closed for 2023.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
N/A
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CNZ Louis Johnson New Writer’s Bursary
Funded by Creative New Zealand, this award ‘provides a stipend that enables a published writer or playwright at an early stage of their career to create a new work.’ The dollar amount varies depending on the amount requested for the project. The most recent award was $11,000, but has been as much as $25,000.
MĀORI WRITERS INCLUDE
KEY DATES
Opens 14 March 2022 – 8 April 2022.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Submission details here.
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CNZ Todd New Writer’s Bursary
Funded by Creative New Zealand and for emerging writers, this award ‘enables a writer or playwright at an early stage of their career to write a new work.’
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
N/A
Entry date for 2022 to be announced later in the year.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
N/A
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Kathleen Grattan Poetry Award
This biennial award is for an original book-length collection of poems by a New Zealand or South Pacific permanent resident or citizen. Individual poems in the collection may have been previously published, but the collection as a whole should be unpublished. The winner will receive $10,000 and a year’s subscription to Landfall.
KEY DATES
Entries closed 31 July 2023.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
N/A
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Landfall Essay
This annual award was established in 1997 to mark 50 years of the literary magazine Landfall. The competition aims to ‘to encourage New Zealand writers to think aloud about New Zealand culture, and to revive and sustain the tradition of vivid, contentious and creative essay writing.’ Essays should not exceed 4000 words. The winner receives $3000, their essay will be published in the November issue of Landfall, and they receive a year’s subscription to the magazine.
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
Entries for 2024 close 31 July 2024.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
See website.
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National Flash Fiction Day New Zealand Competition
Open to all New Zealand writers, submissions of flash fiction must be unpublished and no longer than 300 words. The winner receives $1,000, first and second runners-up $400 and $100 respectively.
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
Open for submissions in 2024.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
See website.
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National Schools Poetry Award
Held annually by the International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML), this competition is open to Year 12 and 13 students. Submissions can be in English or te reo Māori. ‘The winner and nine finalists win cash and prizes for their poems, plus an invitation to attend an exclusive masterclass with leading New Zealand poets at the IIML at Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn campus.’
KEY DATES
Entry deadline for 2024 is yet to be confirmed.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Enter here.
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NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize
A new award open to ‘published and unpublished writers to enter manuscripts written across genres, i.e. fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, drama, or children’s writing…. For new writing with a unique and original vision.’ Manuscripts must be unpublished, and between 40,000-100,000 words. Poetry manuscripts should be 70-100 pages in length. The prize is a $1000 advance, and a publication contract with The Cuba Press.
KEY DATES
Applications open from 5th November to 15 March 2024.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
N/A
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Pikihuia Awards
Established by the Māori Literature Trust in collaboration with Huia Publishers, this biennial short story competition open to all Māori writers aims ‘to discover and promote new and emerging talent.’ The categories are: First-time Writer in Te Reo Māori, First-time Writer in English, Emerging Writer in Te Reo Māori, Emerging Writer in English, Published Writer in Te Reo Māori, Published Writer in English. The winner in each category receives $2000, and two runners-up in each category receive $500. Selected winners and finalists have their entry published in Huia Short Stories – the contemporary fiction series by Huia Publishers.
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
Sargeson Prize
Established in 2019, New Zealand’s richest short story prize is sponsored by the University of Waikato. The Open Division is for writers aged 16 and over. Entries must be a single story no longer than 5000 words. First prize is $6000, second and third $1000 and $500. Winning stories will be published on Newsroom, in its literary section ReadingRoom. The Secondary Schools Division is for students enrolled at a secondary school between the ages of 16-18. First prize is $500, second and third prize $200 and $100.
KEY DATES
Entries open on 1 April for the 2024 Sargeson Prize and close at 11.59pm (NZST) on 30 June 2024.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
See website.
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Sir Julius Vogel Awards
These annual fan-voted awards recognize excellence in science fiction, fantasy or horror, and are presented at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention. Categories may vary annually. ‘Professional nominations can be for novels, short stories, art and others. Fan nominations can be for fanzine, writing, art, services to fandom, Services to Science Fiction and more.’
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
N/A
SUBMISSION DETAILS
See website.
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Sunday Star Times Short Story Awards
Established in 1984, this annual short story award ‘has helped launch the careers of many well-known writers,’ including Eleanor Catton, Owen Marshall, and Sarah Quigley. There are two categories: the Open division has a prize of $5000, the Under 25 division has a prize of $1000. Winning entries are published in the Sunday Star Times, and Stuff.co.nz.
In 2021 a new category for an Emerging Māori Writer was added, with prize money of $1000, judged by Patricia Grace.
MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE
KEY DATES
Entries for 2023 have now closed. Entry date for 2024 to be announced next year.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
N/A
FIND OUT MORE
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/300688854/2023-sunday-startimes-short-story-awards–terms-and-conditions
Hono mai kia whiwhi ai koe i ngā pānui ā-marama mā te īmēra
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About
Wharerangi means storehouse or raised platform, and this is the site’s kaupapa: to provide a packed storehouse of information for Māori writers of fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry, and a platform for our publications—from a one-off story to a full-length book. Each section supplies information and links for opportunities, including places to read contemporary Māori literature and publish new work.
Contact
For any enquires about information on this site, or to advise of any modifications or updates please contact us on: wharerangi@maorilithub.co.nz
Support
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