RESIDENCY 2026

After a highly successful event in 2025, In other words, Ōtaki (IOWŌ) / Kia rerekē te hua, Ōtaki is delighted to call for applicants for our 2026 10-day residency programme.  

The residency is for five Aotearoa storytellers whose work reflects positive and/or progressive ways of thinking about people, community and the environment. 

If you’re a professional, mid-career to senior Aotearoa-based storyteller who works in fiction or non-fiction (poet, novellist, playwright, librettist, biographer, essayist, screenwriter, digital media content creator or other), and whose work reflects positive and/or progressive ways of thinking about people, community and the environment, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re open to all artforms using words as a base!

Local storytellers are welcome to apply.

WHAT WE OFFER

10 days in your own beach bach at beautiful Ōtaki on the stunning Kāpiti Coast, from Friday 4 September to Sunday 13 September (inclusive).

Travel support to and from Ōtaki (within Aotearoa). This is discussed in more depth with successful applicants, but we intend to ensure travel costs are not a barrier.

A comprehensive ‘care’ package provided by our local community and partners. This includes groceries, provisions and other essentials. The five beach-baches are donated by the Ōtaki community. Sponsorship, both cash and in-kind, is also received directly from our community.

Please note, this is not a paid residency. Applications close at 5pm on Sunday, 05 April.   More