CLNZ | NZSA Research Grants
The Research Grants are proudly bought to you by the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc (NZSA) and Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) to support New Zealand writers by providing assistance to writers who wish to undertake research for a fiction or non-fiction writing project.
A broad range of fiction and non-fiction writing projects are eligible for these grants, however some works and projects are excluded, so make sure you carefully read the application guide before applying. Applications can be submitted in English or te Reo Māori.
Application form for the CLNZ | NZSA Research Grants
Four Open $5,000 Research Grants are available in 2024
One of the four Research Grants is targeted at diverse writers and diverse and new topics, and writers who propose to write on issues or subjects that are topical in present day Aotearoa.
Applications open 10 May 2024 (9am)
Applications close 7 June 2024 (4pm)
Please keep an eye on this page, our social media pages, and (if you are a member) on the Literary Bulletin for updates about the grants.
Past Recipients
2023 Read the full media release about the winners here
Trevor Bentley – with book project Te Kaewa – The Wanderers: Māori Sailors on EuroAmerican Ships, 1790s-1890s
Saige England – with novel project No Graves for Ghosts
Hana Tapiata – with book project Atua Rei: the wisdom of Māori goddesses and ancestral knowledge
Michael O’Leary – with project History of Paekākāriki
2022 Read the full media release about the winners here
Maria Samuela – with project novel, Kana
Bonnie Etherington – with book project, A Fried Egg in Space
Sylvan Thomson – with book project, The Third Kingdom
Emma Espiner (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Porou) – with project Practical skills for the zombie apocalypse (working title)
2021 Read the full media release about the winners here
Lauren Keenan (Te Ātiawa ki Taranaki), for her project Rākau: The Lost Tree
Anthony Green, for his project Hurt, Hope, and Healing
Lillian Duval, for her project Six-legged Ghosts: Stories of the Insects of Aotearoa
Grant for a writer whose project is on diverse and new topics, and on issues or subjects that are topical in present day Aotearoa New Zealand: Bonnie Maihi, for her project The Brilliance of Resilience – Hope for a generation
2020 Read the full media release about the winners here
Fraser Smith for his project Bouncing Back
Vasanti Unka for her project Somewhat Indian – A New Zealand Story
Elizabeth Cox for her project Elemental: New Zealand’s Women Architects
Wystan Curnow for his project Colin McCahon, Let Us Possess One World.
2019 Full media release about the winners
Open Grant: Giovanna Fenster – writing ‘Be Reasonable’. This entry impressed the judges with its originality. “We felt that as research continues the subject may broaden to investigate areas as yet unexplored. A clever concept with contemporary applications.”
Open Grant: Philip Simpson – writing ‘Remarkable Plants of Aotearoa New Zealand’. The judges said that Philip’s project will be another volume in this author’s fascinating exploration of our country’s flora. Philip is described by one of the panel as ‘a botanist story teller’ and another as ‘like being taught by a favourite teacher.’
Open Grant: Ghazaleh Golbakhsh – writing ‘The Shah of Grey Lynn and Other Stories’. The judges felt Ghazaleh’s entry was outstanding. It was “a piece of writing that kept enticing you back for yet one more read.”
Stout Grant: Joanne Drayton – writing ‘A Good Listener’. Joanne Drayton is an acclaimed New York Times bestselling author who has published six books and numerous chapters and articles. The judges said Joanne has a deserved reputation and her writing has a wide popular appeal. “A well thought out and engaging proposal for a project of national significance and interest.”
2018:
Open Grant: Jock Phillips – writing ‘A History of New Zealand in 100 Objects’. This book will tell the history of New Zealand in an accessible and interesting way – through the stories of 100 objects carefully chosen to be representative and intriguing.
Open Grant: Philip Matthews – ‘Funny As’, the first comprehensive history of comedy in New Zealand. Covering everything from live performance to literature to screen culture, it looks at how we express our sense of humour and what for.
Open Grant: Pip Desmond – ‘Some People Feel the Rain’ about the death of 21-year-old Nicky Stevens.
Stout: Dr Mike Dickison – ‘The New Zealand Amateur Naturalist,’ a collection of practical activities for Kiwis aged 9–teen encouraging them to explore and observe the natural world and become citizen scientists.
2017:
Jamie Robins
Phil Garnock-Jones
Pip Hall
Michalia Arathimos
2016:
Susy Pointon
Jared Davidson
Grace Millar
Aaron Fox
2015:
Heather McQuillan
Paul Moon
Philippa Werry
Paul Bensemann
2014:
Hannah August
Alison Wong
Adam Dudding
2013:
Witi Ihimaera
Laurence Fearnley
2012:
Kelly Ana Morey
David McGill
2011:
Jenny Argante
Stout Grant
2010:
Bradford Haami
Rebecca Priestley
2009:
Jocelyn Robson
Bill Morris
2008:
Simon Nathan
Peter Wells