• Announcing the Inaugural Mercedes Webb-Pullman Poetry Award

    New Zealand/Australian writer Mercedes Webb-Pullman died in Kapiti in July 2023. Mercedes’ family has decided to use any future royalties from her published works to fund an annual poetry award in her name, which in 2024 will be $500 NZD.   For this inaugural award, and in honour of Mercedes’ revolutionary spirit, entries are invited from […]

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  • Announcing the 2024 Moore Prize Jury for Writing on Human Rights

    1 May, 2024 – For immediate release The Christopher G. Moore Foundation is delighted to announce the jury for their eighth annual literary prize honouring books that feature human rights themes. The Prize has been established to provide recognition to authors who, through their work, contribute to the universality of human rights. This unique initiative […]

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  • Defend Press Freedom Amidst Israel’s War on Gaza: World Press Freedom Day 2024

      “Amid the mounting death toll, destruction, and reports of harrowing atrocities, journalists in Gaza risk their lives and limbs to cover the war. Deliberately targeting journalists, and indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure journalists, amount to war crimes. All those responsible must be held to account. Protecting press freedom and ensuring the safety of […]

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  • PANZ welcomes Courtney Sina Meredith as new Association Director

      The Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu is delighted to announce that Courtney Sina Meredith has been appointed as Association Director. PANZ President | Tumuaki Claire Murdoch says, “Courtney needs no introduction to Aotearoa’s literary community as a writer. However, what blew our panel away in a seriously competitive field of candidates […]

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  • Paul Goldsmith: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy, NZ Herald

     Byline: Paul Goldsmith is the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in […]

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  • Huia wins 2024 Bologna Prize, Best Children’s Publisher in Oceania region

    10 April 2024   Books+Publishing Huia Publishers, based in Aotearoa New Zealand, is the 2024 Oceania winner of the Bologna Prize (BOP) for the Best Children’s Publisher of the Year. The Māori-owned independent publisher has been operating since 1991, with a mission to ‘share stories that resonate with our people, that reflect our experiences and that value our culture and […]

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  • Storylines Margaret Mahy National Awards Day & Award Winners

    Congratulations to all of the 2024 Storylines Award winners who were presented with their awards on Sunday 7 April at an event held at the National Library of NZ in Parnell, Auckland. The 2024 winners are; Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award: The Dragon Hunters written by James Russell, illustrated by Link Choi Storylines Janice Marriott Mentoring […]

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  • PEN International releases War, Censorship, and Persecution caselist 2023

    The PEN International Case List 2023/2024, has been released, highlighting challenges for writers in global conflicts and emphasizing the need to safeguard freedom of expression, especially in war-torn regions. War, Censorship, and Persecution documents 122 cases of writers facing harassment, arrest, violence and even death worldwide. These include 26 people imprisoned, 23 detained, 22 harassed, 14 […]

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  • Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2023 captures the spirit of the times

      The latest edition of the online anthology Ōrongohau | Best New Zealand Poems is now live, featuring 25 poems chosen by Poet Laureate Chris Tse from nearly 4000 published in 2023. “These are the poems that surprised and delighted me the most, that made me pause to sit in my own discomfort or revel […]

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  • Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day August 23

    The date for this year’s Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day is Friday 23 August. Event registrations and seed funding applications are now OPEN. Head over to www.poetryday.co.nz for registration forms, resources and more. Let’s come together to make poetry shine! #NZPoetryDay.

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  • 2024 Writer in Residence Ben Brown reconnects with heritage at Waikato 

      Dedicating the year to writing his first novel isn’t the only positive thing about being named the Kaipukahu University of Waikato Writer in Residence for 2024. Award-winning children’s author, poet and writer, Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Paoa), says this year is not only about writing a novel that’s been on […]

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  • New service to help local writers and artists protect their creative rights

    March 25  Only 12% of New Zealand creatives surveyed by Copyright Licensing NZ (CLNZ) are confident they know their rights when it comes to copyright. But failing to keep on top of crucial documentation and understand copyright implications can have serious financial consequences. A new offering aims to address this knowledge gap by making copyright […]

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