NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 November 2024

Following the release of a new set of funding criteria in July, including an increase in grant size from $5,000 to $20,000, the Mātātuhi Foundation is proud to announce record funding for five more initiatives.

Legacy Projects

• NZ Society of Authors: to establish a complete record (including author narratives), for Aotearoa New Zealand’s two longest-standing literary awards.
• The Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust: to develop enduring resources that showcase the legacy of Hone Tuwhare.
• Gigi Fenster: to develop close reading resources to promote and support the study of Aotearoa New Zealand literary masters in secondary and tertiary organisations.

Platform

• The Coalition for Books: to identify, nurture and increase readership and sales for emerging NZ writing talent through the establishment of the New Voices of Aotearoa platform.

Children’s Literature

• Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa: to extend the Storylines Schools Programme into the East Cape and onboard te reo Māori-fluent presenters who can visit kura kaupapa Māori and te reo Māori immersion units.

Our 12^th bi-annual funding round attracted a diverse collection of projects from writers, community groups, and literary organisations and has culminated in the largest amount of grant funding being released since Mātātuhi Foundation’s inception in 2018.

“Our revised funding criteria and increased grant sizes have opened new doors for creativity and collaboration in the literary sector. We’re seeing a notable uptick in innovative projects and partnerships that promise to enrich New Zealand’s literary landscape. As we look towards 2025, we’re optimistic about the potential for even more impactful initiatives. The Mātātuhi Foundation is committed to supporting this positive momentum, fostering connections, and helping to shape a vibrant future for literature in Aotearoa,” said Anne Blackburn, Foundation Chair.

Established by the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki to support the local literary community with funding for new literature-related initiatives, the Foundation has now invested more than $400,000 into Aotearoa’s literary sector.

Grants to date have supported workshops, websites, podcasts, digital resources, and community projects, including those that celebrate and preserve our literary history.

ENDS.

Additional Information

• The Mātātuhi Foundation was established by the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki in 2018 to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary community with funding for new literature-related initiatives.

• Bi-annual funding rounds are held in May and October each year.
• Applications for up to $20,000 in funding will be accepted.
• All applications must meet one or more of the following priority areas: Sustainable Platform for NZ literature, NZ Children’s Literature, NZ Literary Legacy.
• Project submitters must demonstrate a strong track record in execution and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Projects must articulate a pathway to sustainability in their application.
• All applications must be submitted via our online form.