About the competition

In 1997 Landfall celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, then editor Chris Price launched the Landfall Essay Competition, sponsored by Otago University Press. From 2009, the competition has been an annual award.

The purpose of the competition remains as it was at the outset: to encourage New Zealand writers to think aloud about New Zealand culture, and to revive and sustain the tradition of vivid, contentious and creative essay writing in this country – as embodied in the non-fiction of early Landfall contributors such as Bill Pearson, in the essays of past winners of this competition, and in the essays the journal continues to publish.

• Essays should not exceed 4000 words.
• The competition is judged by the editor of Landfall.
• The winner is announced and published in each November issue of Landfall.
• The winner receives $3000 and a year’s subscription to Landfall.
• Entries for the 2019 Landfall Essay competition are now open. The closing date for receipt of entries is 31 July 2019.

For more information, click here!