• New survey shows continued drop in Kiwis reading – Annual NZ Book Council report

    Posted on 27 August 2018

      442,600 adult New Zealanders didn’t read a book in the past year, according to new research out today. Books are competing with television and computer screens for our leisure time, and 45-54 year olds had the lowest percentage reading of any age group. The study also found that fewer Kiwi men are reading books. […]

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  • Illegal book download site Oceanofpdf.com has been taken down

    Posted on 22 August 2018

    Piracy website Oceanofpdf taken down Published August 1, 2018 by Charlotte Eyre in the UK magazine The Bookseller Oceanofpdf, a website that was giving away pirated e-books, has been taken down. The website, in operation for seven months, had a US domain name and offered users free PDF or Epub downloads of thousands of books, angering […]

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  • MEDIA STATEMENT: The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa Supports Women Writers

    Posted on 17 August 2018

    New information detailing that women writers in New Zealand are targeted for abuse is a cause for concern. Writer and publisher Lani Wendt-Young recently tweeted about a history of Facebook abuse she has been subjected to, including rape and death threats. In an interview published in Stuff, the author of the Young Adult series Telesa, […]

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  • NZSA Oral History Podcast Series Launching at National Writers Forum

    Posted on 17 August 2018

    Spanning thirty years, involving four interviewers and including over twenty writers, the New Zealand Society of Authors is opening its audio history. Hear authors tell their story of fighting institutions, government and sometimes each other to advocate for writers rights. Hosted by Karyn Hay, the series will include interviews from the late 1990’s with writers […]

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  • Joy Cowley to give the annual New Zealand Book Council lecture – Oct 4 Te Papa

    Posted on 16 August 2018

    This year’s Book Council Lecture will be given by beloved children’s author Joy Cowley at Te Papa on October 4. In her warm and engaging talk The Power of Story, Joy will draw on a lifetime’s experience of inspiring children to read. Entwining practical advice on how to spark a love for reading with her thoughts […]

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  • Martin Green – Pantera Press keynote address to 2018 PANZ conference

    Posted on 6 August 2018

    Here is the transcript of the inspiring keynote speech from Martin Green – delivered at the PANZ Publishers Association of New Zealand conference in July. Martin is from independent Australian publisher Pantera Press and we thank Martin for allowing us to share this address.  

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  • NZ writers: ebook piracy website – sample TakeDown notice

    Posted on 12 July 2018

    The NZSA is deeply concerned about a website, oceanofpdf.com, which makes available free copies of published books. Many Australian, English and NZ authors’ books are now or may be available for free download, particularly titles which are published internationally. It appears that this website is hosted in the United States. If you find your book is […]

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  • Authors’ fury at website offering free book downloads – writer’s beware!

    Posted on 8 July 2018

    Authors including Philip Pullman, Robin Stevens and Maz Evans have reacted angrily to a new website offering free illegal downloads of their books. OceanofPDF.com has a US domain name and offers users free PDF or Epub downloads of many bestselling authors’ books, including eight Philip Pullman titles, 14 books by Malorie Blackman, 11 by Bali Rai […]

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  • Dr Anita Heiss – one of the NZSA National Writers Forum 2018 Keynote speakers

    Posted on 6 July 2018

    Dr Anita Heiss, one of Australia’s best-known authors of indigenous literature is visiting Auckland from 21-23 September as a keynote speaker at the 2018 National Writers Forum. Organised by the New Zealand Society of Authors, this conference is the only national conference for writers from across the profession. Dr Heiss, who is an author, poet, […]

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  • New Human Rights Commissioner responds to concerns over hate speech protections

    Posted on 11 June 2018

    Paula Tesoriero: We strongly support right to freedom of speech 11 Jun, 2018 Rights are not absolute and they do not exist in isolation. Photo / 123RF NZ Herald By: Paula Tesoriero I am concerned at recurring speculation that the Human Rights Commission is campaigning to limit free speech. Those who hold this view say we […]

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  • CHRIS ELSE IS NZSA PRESIDENT OF HONOUR 2018-2019

    Posted on 8 June 2018

    The NZSA is delighted to announce that Chris Else is their 2018-2019 President of Honour.  This prestigious position is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of his or her contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in New Zealand. As President of Honour, Chris Else will deliver the annual Janet […]

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  • 2018 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Shortlist announced

    Posted on 24 May 2018

      Twenty-four outstanding stories have been selected by an international judging panel from 5182 entries from 48 Commonwealth countries. The writers come from 14 countries including, for the first time, Samoa and Ghana. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction in English from the Commonwealth. As well […]

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