New Zealand literature news

2009 Montana New Zealand Book Awards shortlist announced

02 June 2009.

The announcement of the finalists in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards is much anticipated every year. The winners will be announced 27 July 2009.

The 2009 judges are Professor Mark Williams, Jane Westaway and Margo White.

The finalists are:

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Michael King Fellowship Recipient Announced

28 May 2009.

Takaka resident, writer Philip Simpson has been awarded the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship to research and write a comprehensive natural and cultural history of the New Zealand totara tree. The Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship is New Zealand’s largest writing fellowship and supports established writers to work on a major project over two or more years.

When he met Michael King in 2000, Philip never imagined that he would one day hold the Fellowship named in his honour.

“It will change my life forever. It’s a marvelous gift - two uninterrupted years to immerse myself in the mysteries of totara!” said Philip Simpson on hearing he had been awarded the fellowship.

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright said he was pleased the Fellowship would support such a historically significant work.

“As a Montana award-winning writer Philip Simpson has already contributed two comprehensive and hugely enjoyable books on New Zealand’s natural and cultural history” Stephen Wainwright said. “The iconic significance of the giant totara trees in New Zealand’s development coupled with Philip’s considerable rigour in his approach will result in a unique work of non-fiction that New Zealander’s will relish.”

Philip Simpson will be the seventh recipient of the Michael King fellowship since its inauguration in 2003. It was renamed in recognition of the late Michael King for his contribution to literature and his role in advocating for a major fellowship for New Zealand writers.

Previous recipients of the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship are Owen Marshall, Vincent O’Sullivan, C.K. Stead, Rachel Barrowman, Neville Peat and Dame Fiona Kidman.

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New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults winners announced

20 May 2009.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults reward excellence in children's literature, recognising the best books for children and teenagers published annually in New Zealand. Awards in four categories: Young Adult Fiction, Junior Fiction, Non Fiction, and Picture Book.

The winners are selected from five finalists for each category. The winners are:

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Michael King Writers’ Centre/Creative New Zealand Writers-in-Residence selected

06 January 2009.

Two writers have been selected for residencies at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport, Auckland, in early 2009.

They are prominent Wellington poet, fiction writer, editor and biographer, Vincent O’Sullivan, and Dunedin writer and poet, David Eggleton.

Vincent O’Sullivan, who has published an extensive range of poetry, fiction and drama, as well as academic books, is working on a biography of artist Ralph Hotere. He will be at the centre between February and April.

David Eggleton is working on a collection of poems drawing on Polynesian myths and legends. He will be at the centre between April and June.

Both writers plan to use their time in Auckland to carry out research in the area, as well as to write.

The residencies, which have an associated stipend of $8,000 each, are funded by the Michael King Writers’ Centre and Creative New Zealand.

The Michael King Writers’ Centre is New Zealand’s full first writers’ centre. It aims to support New Zealand writers and to promote New Zealand literature by securing funds for residencies, organising literary events and programmes for writers. It is based in the historic Signalman’s House on Mt Victoria in Devonport.

Including the 2009 short residencies, a total of nine writers have had the opportunity to stay at the centre for periods between six weeks and six months since the project was launched in 2005. In addition, a large number of writers have rented rooms at the centre while they work or carry out research in Auckland.

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Tessa Duder awarded an Honorary Doctorate

29 September 2008.

It's not often Tessa Duder is lost for words, but the author, editor and playwright admits to being "gobsmacked" when she got word she was being awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato.

Gobsmacked and honoured. "It's a huge honour, especially when I see the other writers who’ve been awarded before me – Janet Frame, Don Stafford, Maurice Gee, Margaret Mahy, Michael King. I’m moved and flattered," she says.

Tessa Duder was Waikato University's first writer in residence, appointed in 1991. During that year, based in the university's English Department, she completed books three and four in her Alex Quartet; books that have become New Zealand children's classics.

"That year was a watershed year for me. I was wonderfully welcomed, and without a university background I found it stimulating having access to university life, the library and the general ambience of the place. I not only wrote every day but also appeared on stage in the university production of Twelfth Night. I relished that experience too because I hadn't been on stage for about 30 years."

A former journalist and better than average piano player, Duder loves the research necessary before writing a novel or short story. Last year she was awarded an Artists to Antarctic Fellowship and six months before heading to the ice she read little else but books about the frozen continent and its explorers. She's presently working on a novel that uses her Antarctic experience. "I probably research too much, but then a good novel is a bit like an ice-berg; you only see the tip but you need that big bit underneath for it to work. I don’t think research is ever wasted."

Duder has been winning awards for her children's books since 1985, many for the novels in the Alex series based on her teenage experiences as a champion swimmer. In 2007 she was thrilled to receive the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Much-loved Book Award for Night Race to Kawau. Her anthology A Book of Pacific Lullabies, won the Russell Clark Award for its illustrator Anton Petrov. Other awards include an OBE in 1994 and the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal in 1996, both for her distinguished contribution to New Zealand Children's Literature.

Her adult book of short stories titled Is she still Alive? came out this year and claimed a spot on the best seller list for 11 weeks. "Now my publisher would like another adult book and I have a few other exciting things in the wind, along with my anthologies and editing work."

Duder has also been closely connected for many years with two well-known national charities. After 15 years as a trustee, she recently became deputy chairman of the Spirit of Adventure Trust, and has worked for the Storylines Children's Literature organisation since its founding in 1989. She has also been national president of the New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN Inc).

Tessa Duder received her honorary doctorate at the University of Waikato graduation ceremony on Friday 3 October. "I’m still astonished. I know how prestigious this is. It’s wonderful."

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Leading New Zealand writers honoured

10 September 2008.

Three of New Zealand‘s most celebrated writers - WH (Bill) Oliver, Lloyd Jones and Elizabeth Smither were honoured at tonight's 2008 Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement at Premier House in Wellington.

Each writer receives $60,000 in recognition of their significant contribution to New Zealand literature. The Awards are administered by Creative New Zealand.

These three writers were recognised in the categories of Poetry [Elizabeth Smither], Fiction [Lloyd Jones] and Non-Fiction [WH Oliver].

Prime Minister Helen Clark said writers Bill Oliver, Lloyd Jones and Elizabeth Smither have all added something special to New Zealand's cultural landscape through their work.

"These awards were created to recognise those who have made an enduring contribution to literature in New Zealand. Their work reflects the nuances and subtleties of what it is to be a New Zealand writer. From the uniqueness of this country and the people who live here to worlds beyond these shores, their work adds depth and richness to our literary traditions."

Writer Dame Fiona Kidman was awarded the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship earlier this year. She was also present at the ceremony where her achievements were acknowledged.

Creative New Zealand Chair Alastair Carruthers thanked the writers for the outstanding contribution they had all made to New Zealand literature.

"The calibre of this evening's recipients exemplifies New Zealand's strong literary tradition. Their body of work reinforces and enhances our unique culture which is in turn recognised internationally."

The Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement, along with the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship, were established in 2003.

Every year, New Zealanders are invited to nominate their choice of an outstanding writer who has made a significant contribution to New Zealand literature in the genres of non-fiction, poetry and fiction. The nominations are assessed by an expert literary panel and recommendations forwarded to the Council of Creative New Zealand for approval.

The complete list of recipients to date is:

Fiction: Janet Frame (2003), Maurice Gee (2004), Margaret Mahy (2005), Patricia Grace (2006), Fiona Farrell (2007), Lloyd Jones (2008).
Poetry: Hone Tuwhare (2003), Kevin Ireland (2004), Alistair Te Ariki Campbell (2005), Vincent O'Sullivan (2006), Bill Manhire (2007), Elizabeth Smither (2008).
Non-fiction: Michael King (2003), Anne Salmond (2004), Philip Temple (2005), Judith Binney (2006), Dick Scott (2007), WH (Bill) Oliver (2008).

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