CLNZ/NZSA $25,000 Writers’ Award 2019: Applications are Open

  • $25,000 award to a New Zealand writer

  • one of the highest non-fiction prizes in New Zealand literature

  • brought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ)

“If you’re thinking about applying – do it! Like me, you might just surprise yourself with a win.” – 2018 recipient, Nic Low.

In 2018 writer Nic Low (Ng?i Tahu), received the $25,000 award towards his project Uprising.

“I’m writing a book about Ng?i Tahu in the Southern Alps, told through walking journeys. Winning the CLNZ Writers Award has been a huge boost for the project. After quietly working on it on and off over the years, I suddenly had the resources and time to give it my full focus. It’s allowed me to attend hui, conduct interviews, and spend serious time at my desk completing a draft,” Nic says of winning the award.

The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. In a broad range of non-fiction genre, specifically including education works, it is the clear intention of the Writers’ Award that a book will be published as a result of winning the award.

The CLNZ/NZSA Writers’ Award is made possible through CLNZ’s Cultural Fund. The Cultural Fund’s objectives are to:

Protect – writers and publishers’ ability to earn revenue from their works
Support – the creation and production of new works and assist the commercial success of New Zealand works
Grow – the number of works created and skills in the industry

We encourage non-fiction writers to consider applying for this award.  Applications for the full range of non-fiction genre are welcome.  Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and writers of proven merit.

Applications must be completed online by 4pm on Friday 6 September 2019.

The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa is proud to be administering this award in 2019.