Matariki Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Whakaue, Taranaki, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) has been awarded the 2026 Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa (TCA) and The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc $25,000 Writers’ Award for her untitled project on the life and art of Robyn Kahukiwa.
Williams will be working with Penguin Random House, Christchurch Art Gallery, Season Gallery, and the whānau of Robyn Kahukiwa, on the writing project which seeks to celebrate the significant contribution of artist Robyn Kahukiwa.
“Whaea Robyn’s work is ubiquitous: in kōhanga reo, doctor’s waiting rooms, classrooms and libraries, protest posters, and the homes of people she honoured by gifting work to them. We are incredibly honoured and humbled by this award, it gives us the opportunity to whakamana all that Robyn made and gave to the nation, and will allow us to create a taonga befitting what she was,” said Williams.
The selection panel of award-winning authors Vanda Symon, Jade Kake, and Vincent O’Malley said Kahukiwa’s art is instantly recognisable, but little is known about her life and journey.
“Robyn Kahukiwa passed in 2025 and this project will shine a well overdue light on this significant and beloved artist’s career and works,” said Symon, who convened the selection panel.
The selection panel also shortlisted Liv Sisson for a new nature book and Elizabeth Cox for a new work titled Cissy and Winnie: the Deaths of Two Wellington Girls.
“The three finalists selected not only presented fascinating and exciting topics with beautiful samples of prose, they also possessed a wow factor that made them stand out from a strong field. We wish all of the applicant the very best with their projects, and our congratulations to the winner and finalists, “said Symon.
The TCA | NZSA Writers’ Award received 47 applications in 2026 from writers working on an extensive range of projects from natural history, architecture, grief, memoir, immigrant experiences, adoption and identity, fine arts, biography and social history.
The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc was proud to administer the award this year. TCA and NZSA would like to thank all the writers who took the time to apply and to this year’s judging panel.
Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa (formerly Copyright Licensing NZ) plays a key role in making creative rights valuable assets for all New Zealanders, be they rightsholders like authors, publishers and artists, or users such as educators, students and businesses. TCA provides licences to help make copying, scanning and sharing printed works easy and legal.
New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works with Next Page, its developing Youth writer’s network and in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori.
