Cultures being celebrated

In its biggest year to date, the Otago Polyfest is weaving together cultural sharing and community pride.

Posted: Tuesday Sep 02, 2025

Writer ‘uplifted’ after receiving Janet Frame Prize

A Dunedin novelist and poet is having an "astonishing" run after about 30 years in the game, most recently securing a $1...

Posted: Tuesday Sep 02, 2025

Calling all poets!

Entries for the 2025 Robert Burns International Poetry Competition are now open. Entries close 6pm 30 November 2025.

Posted: Monday Sep 01, 2025

New Zealand Chinese Language Week 2025 has officially begun!

This week is all about celebrating Chinese languages, culture, and connection across Aotearoa.

Posted: Monday Sep 01, 2025

Happy publication day to Wednesday’s Children

A new edition of Robin Hyde’s captivating feminist novel

Posted: Monday Sep 01, 2025

Happy publication day to Nor the Years Condemn

A beautiful new edition of Robin Hyde’s poignant post-war novel

Posted: Monday Sep 01, 2025

2025 Te Tauihu Short Story Awards

Entries close 31 August 2025

Posted: Friday Aug 29, 2025

Nembeka Ganaii's Layers of Identity

Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and be...

Posted: Friday Aug 29, 2025

The Janet Frame Prize 2025 awarded to Emma Neale

In memory of Janet Frame who was born 101 years ago on this day. Congratulations Emma!

Posted: Thursday Aug 28, 2025

Poetry Scrum

To celebrate Exeter’s involvement in hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in the UK, Exeter City of Literature are h...

Posted: Thursday Aug 28, 2025

Poetry Box review: Why Not? by Swapna Haddow

Posted: Thursday Aug 28, 2025

Today on Write Spot

Acclaimed writer Nicole Flattery is the 2025 Writing Fellow at the University of Otago's Centre for Irish and Scottish S...

Posted: Wednesday Aug 27, 2025

Kete Books Review: Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2025

Reviewed by Savannah Patterson

Posted: Wednesday Aug 27, 2025

Melbourne City of Literature International Literary Programmers Roundtable

Next year Melbourne City of Literature are bringing back one of their signature programs - International Literary Progra...

Posted: Wednesday Aug 27, 2025

OARsome Morning Show - 22-08-2025 - New Zealand Young Writers Festival - Kate Schrader

New Zealand Young Writers Festival - Festival co-director Kate Schrader previews this year's New Zealand Young Writers F...

Posted: Tuesday Aug 26, 2025

Creative New Zealand and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples sign first MoU to support Pacific language storytelling

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories – a new initiative supporting Pacific creatives to write and publish in Pacific languages.

Posted: Tuesday Aug 26, 2025

Kete Books Review: The Anatomy of Sand, by Mikaela Nyman

Reviewed by Erica Stretton

Posted: Tuesday Aug 26, 2025

Asia New Zealand Foundation Internships

Applications open 1 September 2025 and close 13 October.

Posted: Monday Aug 25, 2025

Asia New Zealand Foundation Research Grants

Round 2: Opens 1 September 2025 and closes 30 November.

Posted: Monday Aug 25, 2025

Layers of Identity

Today, on National Poetry Day eve, OAR FM celebrated their talented Phase 2 contributors and completion of our Layers of...

Posted: Friday Aug 22, 2025

Zoey Hipolito’s Layers of Identity

Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and be...

Posted: Friday Aug 22, 2025

Breaking News: Robert Sullivan Named New Zealand Poet Laureate

We are so excited with this wonderful announcement!! Warm congratulations to Robert Sullivan (Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu) - New Z...

Posted: Friday Aug 22, 2025

Poetry Shelf celebrates The Venetian Blind Poems: a gathering of illness poems

When I wrote Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women's Poetry (MUP, 2019), I built a house, dividing the book into rooms, ...

Posted: Thursday Aug 21, 2025

Poetry Box School Zoom Gift

Posted: Wednesday Aug 20, 2025

Review: Twelfth Night - strong characterisation and comic action anchor a hazy production

Erin Harrington reviews Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare, directed by Alison Walls, at the Court Theatre, Saturday ...

Posted: Wednesday Aug 20, 2025

Creative writing collection and 2025 competition launched

Entries close Wednesday 10 September 2025.

Posted: Wednesday Aug 20, 2025

The former gang member and prison inmate turned doctor

Dr Timoti Te Moke graduated from Otago Medical School, University of Otago in 2023 and received the Hauora Māori Prize i...

Posted: Wednesday Aug 20, 2025

Call for Papers - BSANZ 2025 | DUNEDIN, NZ, 18–21 November 2025

Deadline extension to Thursday 21 August

Posted: Tuesday Aug 19, 2025

Creative New Zealand have two funding rounds open!

Applications close 18 September 2025

Posted: Tuesday Aug 19, 2025

Writer's residency to tell the story of Berlin's alligator

Congratulations Octavia 🤩🐊

Posted: Tuesday Aug 19, 2025

Read 'Lucas and The Moon' by Lucas Hale

Lucas kicks his ball higher and higher, until it hits the Moon. He climbs a ladder to apologise and rubs the Moon's brui...

Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025

Celebrate National Poetry Day with a special evening honouring Brian Turner

Friday 22 August, Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery, Alexandra

Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025

Poetry Workshop with Emma Neale

Sunday 24 August, Invercargill Public Library - Limited spaces, book now!

Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025

Applications open for NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025

A $10,000 Opportunity for Writers - Deadline for applications: Thursday 18 September 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 18, 2025

Tickets are now on sale for the Super Book Birthday Bash of the YEAR!

The (Not So) Superheroes (the Terrible Trio #1) - 30 August, 4pm, University Book Shop Otago

Posted: Friday Aug 15, 2025

Kupu Writers' Retreat 15 - 17 August, Te Roto o Ōkataina

The KUPU Writers’ Retreat will bring Māori writers, publishers, and mentors together at Lakes Lodge Ōkataina.

Posted: Friday Aug 15, 2025

Otago Polyfest seeking volunteers

It’s only a few weeks until this year’s Otago Polyfest – and organisers are seeking volunteers.

Posted: Friday Aug 15, 2025

A Torry Quine

Author Beatrice Hale reflects on the genesis of her series of historical novels for children.

Posted: Friday Aug 15, 2025

NZ Young Writers Festival 2025 Programme launched!

Posters are up around Ōtepoti. The countdown is real. And in just 4 weeks, NZYWF take over the city with workshops, pane...

Posted: Thursday Aug 14, 2025

2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Winners

A huge pakipaki mai to all the winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Posted: Thursday Aug 14, 2025

Today on Write Spot

Children's writer Swapna Haddow is celebrating her new graphic novel The Terrible Trio: The (Not So) Superheroes with il...

Posted: Wednesday Aug 13, 2025

*WATCH* Happy International Youth Day!

Today we’re shining a spotlight on young voices making a big impact with technology. Check out this fantastic video writ...

Posted: Tuesday Aug 12, 2025

Entries for the 2025 Robert Burns International Poetry Competition open soon!

Open for entries 1 September - 30 November 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 11, 2025

Poetry Shelf review

Landfall 249: Autumn 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 11, 2025

Applications open for Michael King Writers Centre 2026 Residencies

Applications close Monday 1 September 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 11, 2025

2025 Bucheon City of Literature Residency Program - Call for Applications

Applications close 31 August 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 11, 2025

Landfall Tauraka 250 Symposium - Friday 17 October 2025

Call for Submissions - 200-word abstract and short bio by 5pm, 22 August 2025

Posted: Monday Aug 11, 2025

New book alert!

Acting in Aotearoa traces a cultural history of acting practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand, whose Indigenous Māori practiti...

Posted: Tuesday Aug 05, 2025

'The Swiss Wolf' by Kathryn van Beek (Strong Words 4)

Kathryn van Beek talks about and reads from 'The Swiss Wolf', which was commended in the 2023 Landfall Tauraka Essay Com...

Posted: Tuesday Aug 05, 2025

The UBS weekly bestseller list is here!

Posted: Tuesday Aug 05, 2025

NEW PODCAST: Between The Lines with Aahana

Aahana Mundamattam takes on the role of your classic English teacher – plucking your favourite stories from their pages ...

Posted: Monday Aug 04, 2025

2025 Pikihuia Awards Finalists

Posted: Monday Aug 04, 2025

Phantom Billstickers gears up for National Poetry Day

Phantom Billstickers is ready to hit the streets with poem posters for its annual campaign sponsoring and celebrating Na...

Posted: Monday Aug 04, 2025

Calling all young storytellers!

The 2025 Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge is back - and this year’s theme is "My Time Machine." Entries close ...

Posted: Monday Aug 04, 2025