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Longlist announced for the 2026 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel
After an extended judges’ deliberation, due to the high quality and diverse range of entrants this year, The Ngaio Marsh Awards are stoked to at last reveal our longlist for the 2026 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. 12 terrific stories from 12 terrific Kiwi storytellers. Congratulations to: Lucky Thing by Tom Baragwanath Carved In […]
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NZCYP: Picture Book Duo Claim Top Prize at Children’s Book Awards for Second Time
19 Aug 2026 Popular picture book author and illustrator team Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) have claimed the top prize at the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for the second time in their careers. Their vibrantly illustrated A Guide to Rocks, which deals with difficult feelings and was […]
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essa may ranapiri Writer in Residence Randall Cottage
The Randell Cottage Trust is delighted to advise that author essa may ranapiri has now taken up their writer-in-residence position at Wellington’s historic Randell Cottage, where they will be working on their first novel, Te Rama Tuna | Eeling by Torchlight, a coming of age story about two young trans Maaori friends/lovers. essa may ranapiri (Ngaati […]
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2026 Surrey Hotel/Newsroom writers residency award open
The prize money, courtesy of generous patrons Jude and Dick Frizzell, has been doubled from $5,000 to $10,000 and the residency at the Surrey is now a fortnight. There are now two destinations and two first prizes to choose from: the Surrey Hotel, in Grey Lynn, Auckland, or the Apple Pickers’ Cottages in Māpua, Nelson. Each […]
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Vale Riemke Ensing
Long-time NZSA member Riemke Ensing died aged 87 on 10th of August 2026 in Muriwai with family, books, paintings and poems. An oak tree will be planted in spring amongst the natives in Muriwai to celebrate Riemke’s life and work. She authored 10 volumes of poetry, works on art, and edited pioneering collections of NZ […]
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Submissions open for 2027 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
13 AUGUST 2026 The New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa has opened submissions for the 2027 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. These prestigious awards promote excellence in, and provide recognition of, the best books for adult readers published annually in Aotearoa. Titles with release dates between 1 January 2026 […]
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Headland literary journal is open for submissions until 24 August 2026
Established in 2014, Headland is an online journal publishing quality short fiction and creative nonfiction. The journal gives voice to aspiring writers alongside established authors from Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad. New Zealand is home to remarkable talent, and Headland aims to explore literary frontiers at home and abroad. Headland is edited by volunteers and […]
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Patron Saints of Roadkill & Other Stories
by Susanna Ellis Winner of the NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize publishes September 2026 A ghost moves into a woman’s apartment and begins to cough up teeth. A town keeps building as the sea prepares to take it back. A daughter inherits hunger like an heirloom. In this collection of short stories set […]
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Witi Ihimaera Smiler receives 2026 Whakamana Hiranga Icon Award
The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi welcomes Ann Robinson, Darcy Nicholas, The Topp Twins and Witi Ihimaera Smiler into a living circle of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant artists. Established in 2003, the Icon Awards Whakamana Hiranga are the Arts Foundation’s highest honour, recognising the remarkable impact each artist has had on their practice, community, and […]
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NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award 2026 opens
The NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award is a new award established by novelist Tina Shaw to encourage the development of original novels by fiction writers who are working on a new project. All applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. The NZSA Shaw Writer’s Award will provide a cash award of $5,000 to be […]
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Applications open for Michael King Writers Centre 2027 residencies
6 August 2026 17 residencies available in 2027 for writers across Aotearoa New Zealand The Michael King Writers Centre has opened applications for its 2027 Writers in Residence Programme, a national residency programme supporting writers from across Aotearoa New Zealand to develop major writing projects. The 2027 programme offers 17 residencies for emerging and […]
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Changes expand recognition for Kiwi authors
Hon Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs 6 August 2026 Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has announced changes to the Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors scheme that will see more New Zealand authors recognised for their books held in libraries. “Cabinet has agreed to lower the eligibility threshold for the […]
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