Verb Wellington is delighted to announce a new Children’s Writers Residency and a Home-Based Residency to run in 2025. Applications open for both residencies on 28 April, as well for the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden Writers Residency which has been running annually since 2020.

“We are thrilled to offer two new opportunities for paid writing time,” says Verb’s Melanie Hamilton. “Our Katherine Mansfield residency always attracts over 70 applications so we’ve known there’s been demand for some time.”

The Children’s Writers Residency is an acknowledgement of the essential role that children’s authors have in Aotearoa. “We were devastated when we heard that the long-running University of Otago Children’s Writers Residency wasn’t able to run this year (due to decreased funding),” says Verb’s Claire Mabey. “It was an anchor in the ecosystem. Our residency is an attempt to put an opportunity back into the ecosystem. We are passionate about children’s books and the people who write them. Our children’s writers deserve support just as much as those writing for adult readers.”

The Home-Based Residency was developed as a result of consultation with writers. “There is a clear need for a more flexible residency that acknowledges that many writers have caring responsibilities or whose homes are best set up for their needs,” says Hamilton. “This residency enables a writer to work at home, with the same stipend and mentoring opportunities.”

Verb Wellington is taking a pause on their annual Readers & Writers festival in 2025 due to a decrease in funding and a need to explore more sustainable models to move towards. “The times have changed,” says Mabey. “When we started this organisation Wellington was more affordable, the cost of living crisis was muted. Now, life is really tough out there and we need to adapt what we’re offering and how we offer it so we can continue to serve our community in the best way we can on the resources we have.”

Residency applications open on 28 April and close on 11 May.

Information and how to apply to the Children’s Writers Residency is here.

Information and how to apply to the Home-Based Writers Residency is here.

Information and how to apply to the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden Residency is here.