September 1, 2026

Applications are now open for one of New Zealand’s top writing residencies: the 2027 Randell Cottage Writers Fellowship. The fellowship comprises a generous stipend of $32,000 and six months’ rent-free accommodation in one of Wellington’s oldest heritage homes, with potential to be accompanied by a partner or even a young family. The residency will run from July to December 2027, and will mark the 25th anniversary of the writing residency at Randell Cottage.

“We’re excited to be looking for an extra-special candidate who’ll help us celebrate the Randell Cottage Fellowship’s twenty-fifth year in style,” says Trust Chair Christine Hurley.

The fellowship is open to mid-career New Zealand writers, meaning any writer with a growing body of published work. The Trust is particularly interested in hearing from mid-career and Māori and Pasifika writers. Full eligibility criteria can be found on the Trust website at www.randellcottage.co.nz/residency/new-zealand-writer-in-residence.

Built in Thorndon in 1867, the Cottage has been painstakingly restored and is close to the National Library, the Turnbull Library and National Archive. Alongside the annual six-month residency for mid-career New Zealand writers, the Cottage also offers an annual residency to an author from France in the first half of the calendar year. The Cottage has provided a peaceful inner-city base for both New Zealand and French writers from a range of genres: novelists, poets, biographers and more.The first New Zealand resident was Peter Wells, in 2002. He has since been followed by Tim Corballis, Michael Harlow, Renée, Beryl Fletcher, Whiti Hereaka, Jennifer Compton, Kirsty Gunn, Pat White, Peter Walker, Vivienne Plumb, Denis Welch, Tina Makereti, Witi Ihimaera, Owen Marshall, Stephanie Johnson, Stephen Daisley, James Norcliffe, Paddy Richardson, Michalia Arathimos, Lynn Davidson, Rose Lu, Rachel O’Neill, Hinemoana Baker, Saraid da Silva and the current writer in residence, essa may ranapiri.The Randell Cottage Writer in Residence is selected by a Trust-appointed committee to work on an approved project.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 23 October 2026. The successful applicant will be announced in December.

Application forms and further information can be found at www.randellcottage.co.nz/residency/.

Any queries or requests for further information can be sent to info@randellcottage.co.nz.