NZSA Advocacy, Public Lending Right, Copyright, Contracts Advice, and Fair Pay

Advocacy

The main aim of the Society’s advocacy is to support and represent the professional interests of all writers.  To this end, NZSA advocates for writers to ensure they are treated fairly and adequately rewarded for the use of their intellectual property. NZSA works in concert with other organisations across the sector to improve the visibility of NZ books and NZ writers and to support writing and publishing in Te reo Māori.

Current issues include the ongoing Review of the Copyright Act (started 2019), and the ongoing Review of Public Lending Right (started 2017),  the need for regulation around AI and copyright issues around the illegal use of authors’ work, declining levels of literacy, the underfunding and closure of some school libraries and offshore public library buying.

NZSA advocates for new PLR legislation that will compensate for free public access to digital books and books in school libraries by adding Educational Lending Rights and Digital Lending Rights to the existing legislation for print books, in line with international schemes.  NZSA also asks for an increase in the Authors’ Fund for Public Lending Right. We champion Fair Use Copyright Law that enables creators to be paid for their work.

NZSA supports writers at all stages of their career, whether they are emerging, mid-career or experienced writers. NZSA’s professional development is open to all writers, and all writers benefit from our sector advocacy. All writers benefit from Fair Use Copyright Law and Public Lending Rights. Writers occupy an important space in Aotearoa’s cultural life and writing underpins poetry, fiction, history and all non-fiction, music lyrics, film, television and screen. International research has proven the link between local content and literacy rates in children.  Our cultural output helps us shape our national identify, and creates a legacy for future generations.

Model Contracts

A number of model sample contracts are available on the website and advice sheets on best practice and what to look for in contracts. This comprehensively covers traditional and hybrid contracts, Self-publishing contracts, Ebook and audio digital rights contracts, ghostwriting, AI advice, Adaptation and Option agreements, Licensing, Translators contracts, and templates for engaging editors and assessors. These empower writers to understand what bundle of rights your work is comprised of, and how you can choose to assign or monetise these.

Copyright Law

The Copyright Act 1994   and the Copyright (Marrakesh Treaty Implementation) Amendment Act 2019

Fair Pay Rates

NZSA  regularly updates of schedules of fees for engaging writers as speakers and presenters in schools, at festivals, for writers holding creative writing workshops and training, and for other public appearances. We also publish payment rates per word where available for submissions to publications across poetry, short stories, essays, and articles.

Public Lending Right

Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors Regulations 2008
Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors Bill
Supplementary Order Paper

Why is Public Lending Right important?

Authors tell us why PLR matters – YouTube

What is Public Lending Right and why does it matter?

What PLR is and how it is used in different countries – YouTube