• Kāpiti Readers and Writers Autumn Series Starts in April

    Posted on 17 March 2026

    This series is jointly organised by Kāpiti WEA and Bookmark Kāpiti celebrates the people, stories and places of the Kāpiti Coast through a series of engaging weekly conversations with writers, historians and creative thinkers connected to the region. Each session explores how storytelling – through books, film, history and research – helps us understand ourselves and […]

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  • Te Awa Pōkākā – Tēnā koutou katoa ngā kaituhi e tuhi ana i te reo Māori

    Posted on 13 March 2026

    Hei te tau 2027 ka whakaputahia he paenga kōrero o ngā tuhinga Māori taketake hou. Te taitara? Te Awa Pōkākā. Ngā ētita? Witi Ihimaera rāua ko Vaughan Rapatahana. Ko te minenga pironga? Ngā rangatahi ina koa. Te mea ai, ‘Mā te rangatahi te ao e ārahi’! Kua tuwhera te tukunga o ngā tuhinga paki me […]

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  • The 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize 

    Posted on 13 March 2026

    Prize Money: Worth a total of $12,500 Closing: 18 May 2026 Judges:  Delia Falconer, Jonathan Ricketson, and Beejay Silcox Australian Book Review welcomes entries to the 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for an original short story. The prize – worth a total of AU$12,500 – is open to all writers […]

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  • Vale Neville Peat

    Posted on 11 March 2026

    We share the sad news that Neville Peat, MNZM, died peacefully March 1 at Dunedin Hospital after a short illness, aged 78. He was an author, journalist, photographer and naturalist and had published more than 40 books covering history, landscape and nature. Home is an Island (2022) explored islands contributing to the character of New Zealand. […]

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  • Taryn Dryfhout wins NZ Founders Book Grant Award

    Posted on 11 March 2026

    Congratulations to NZSA member Taryn Dryfhout who has been awarded the NZ Founders Book Grant Award 2026 to work towards her publication of History of Adoption. nzfounders.org.nz/literary-awards

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  • THE BIGGEST NAMES IN BOOKS ARE COMING TO AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL WAITUHI O TĀMAKI IN MAY 2026

    Posted on 11 March 2026

     A star-studded line-up bursting with well-known literary powerhouses, global thinkers and fresh new voices will take to the stage for the 27th Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki from 12 – 17 May. Announced today, the programme features more than 220 artists from across the country and the world in over 170 events, creating a […]

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  • Wes Lee shortlisted for The Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize 2025 – 2026

    Posted on 11 March 2026

    NZSA member, Wes Lee, has been shortlisted for The Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize 2025 – 2026, in London. The Keats-Shelley Prizes (£4000 prize pool) were established in 1998 by The Keats-Shelley Memorial Association in London. This year’s judges for poetry are Professor Deryn Rees-Jones and Will Kemp. The theme of The Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize was chosen to mark the […]

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  • NZPS 2026 INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION – closes March 15

    Posted on 9 March 2026

    𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟓)!! 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Open Open Junior (17 years & under) Haiku Haiku Junior (17 years & under) 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞: Anna Jackson – Open Isla Huia – Open Junior Graham Bates – Haiku Sandra Simpson – Haiku Junior All winners […]

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  • Iran: PEN International calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities that undermine international peace and security law

    Posted on 6 March 2026

    Iran 2026 Statement 6 March Written By PEN International    ‘We are witnessing grave challenges to world peace and security, with political leaders utterly failing to uphold international law and actively dismantling the rules-based order. The international community has a crucial responsibility to uphold international law and support UN institutions in resolving disputes between states through diplomacy, not […]

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  • PEN International: International Women’s Day 2026 – Take Action for Valeryja Kaściuhova (Belarus)

    Posted on 6 March 2026

    Writer, editor and political scientist Valeryja Kaściuhova is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Homel, Belarus. Arrested in June 2021, she was convicted in March 2023 on politically motivated charges commonly used to silence independent voices and is reportedly in need of medical care. PEN International is deeply concerned by Kaściuhova’s continued imprisonment and urges […]

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  • Aotearoa NZ Children’s Book Week

    Posted on 6 March 2026

    Read NZ Announces Dates! Saturday 15th August – Friday 21st August Children’s authors and illustrators: More info and please register your interest and regional availability to be involved in bookshops or libraries This year, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura are leading the first ever Aotearoa NZ Children’s Book Week Sat 15 of August – Friday the 21st of August […]

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  • The Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize

    Posted on 5 March 2026

    Is there a manuscript in your bottom drawer just waiting to be finished? Have you got a burning idea for the perfect crime … on paper? The winner will be awarded a publishing contract with an advance against royalties of $AUD 25,000. The prize will be open to all unpublished full-length manuscripts in the crime or […]

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