New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa

Writers Against National Library Disposals - public meeting

Writers and supporters will gather for a public meeting on November 11 to protest serious concerns about our National Library’s partnership with the Internet Archive. “To find that a great national library like that of New Zealand is collaborating in a scheme to break the cherished copyright laws and give...
Register now for Take Up Space!

Free Zoom spoken word/performance poetry workshops led by Aiwa and Gemishka of arts collective - Creative Creatures. Whether you want to connect with the community, reflect, vent, or take on a new challenge - the workshops aim to provide a safe and fun way to do so. The workshops are for...
Get that story out of your head and onto the page!

Writers Practice presents: A 2-day online workshop with Mandy Hager on 20 and 27 October from 10am-12pm. Do you have a story you’re burning to tell but don’t know how to tackle it? Whether fiction, memoir or narrative based non-fiction, you’ll learn how to centre a story around a point...
NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize Opens 2022

Award for fresh writing with a 'unique and original vision' The NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize celebrates the life and work of the writer Laura Solomon. As set by Laura, the main criteria for the exciting prize is for new writing with a ‘unique and original vision’. Published and...
Whiti Hereaka, Recipient of the NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2022

Whiti Hereaka is an award-winning novelist and playwright of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Tainui and Pākehā descent, based in Wellington. She will use the fellowship to complete the research and development for a new novel. Whiti says: 'I’m not sure if there are enough exclamation marks in the world to express how...
2021 Michael Gifkins Prize awarded to Tom Baragwanath for Paper Cage

2021 Michael Gifkins Prize awarded to Tom Baragwanath for Paper Cage Tom Baragwanath has been awarded the 2021 Michael Gifkins Prize for his crime novel Paper Cage. Baragwanath wins a publishing contract with Text and a NZ$10,000 advance against royalties. Baragwanath accepted the award during an online event hosted by Text...
2021 Graeme Lay Short Story Competition

Open to all NZSA members $500 first prize, $250 second prize, $100 third prize Opens Thursday 09 September, closes 4pm, Thursday 14 October Brought to you by NZSA Auckland Branch Conditions of entry The competition is open to all NZSA members. All entries must be original and not previously published or broadcast. before...
Four Cash Grants Awarded to Support NZ Writers

The 2021 Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) inc Research Grants have been awarded to four New Zealand writers. The $5,000 grants support New Zealand writers who wish to undertake research for a fiction or non-fiction writing...
$25,000 Writers' Award has been awarded to Writer, Architectural Designer, and Housing Advocate, Jade Kake

Jade Kake (Ngāpuhi,Te Whakatōhea,Te Arawa) has been awarded the 2021 Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) inc, $25,000 Writers’ Award for her project on the legacy of Professor Rewi Thompson (1953-2017; Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa). Working with...

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc

Our Mission
Why you should join us

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc is the principal representative for the professional interests of writers. Protecting basic rights to freedom of expression, working to improve income and conditions, promoting Aotearoa New Zealand writing and literary culture. Developing and creating a community for writers.

The right to freedom

of expression

The right to fair reward

Our Writers

The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) has been representing the interests of NZ writers since 1934. We are a community of writers who are proud to include some of New Zealand’s finest writers as members. NZSA fights for freedom of expression through our affiliation to International PEN.

Branches and Hubs

Our eight branches from Northland to Southland offer the opportunity to network with other writers, attend workshops, take part in seminars, enjoy social events, learn aspects of the craft of writing, enter branch specific competitions, and participate in decision-making about the Society.

Membership Benefits

We represent writers of all genres and formats at all stages of their career. We offer information services, professional development programmes, advice and advocacy, awards, grants, residencies and fellowships, promotional opportunities and members discounts.

Latest News

The NZSA New Zealand Heritage Literary Awards 2021 – Winners Announced
22 October 2021
The NZSA New Zealand Heritage Literary Awards 2021 – Christchurch Heritage Festival 2021 – People and Place – our stories revealed This year’s winners and runner-up of the NZSA New Zealand Literary Heritage Awards have been selected from over 160 entries submitted in all six categories. The winners and runners-up were
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UK and NZ agree to $1-billion free trade deal – NZ Herald – copyright
21 October 2021
October 21, 2021 Read Article Here: UK and New Zealand agree to $1bn free trade deal – NZ Herald “For its part, New Zealand will eliminate tariffs on 100 per cent of tariff lines on British imports on the day the agreement comes into force. The agreement will also change
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A sad farewell to Otago NZSA member Donna Young – RIP
20 October 2021
Donna Marie YOUNG was a member of NZSA Otago and was our Otago branch chair for some years. She died last week and will be sadly missed. Our sincere condolences to her husband Richard and her family. A beautiful soul and wonderful mother passed away from a stroke on October
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MissionPartners

The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc is proudly supported by Creative New Zealand and a range of other organisations. We also take part in industry-wide coalitions and campaigns. Thanks to all those who support us and the literary sector in Aotearoa. For more about each please visit our Partners page.