Announcing the 2025 NZYWF Robert Lord Writers Cottage Young Writer in Residence!

By NZ Young Writers Festival | Posted: Wednesday Jun 25, 2025

NZYWF are thrilled to announce Nick Tipa (Kāi Tahu) as the 2025 NZYWF Robert Lord Writers Cottage Young Writer in Residence!

Nick is an Ōtepoti-based writer and performer. His work is informed by whakapapa, whānau, and his adolescent years growing up at the foot of Pātearoa (the Rock and Pillar range).

As an actor and musician, Nick’s writing grew from a desire to share his own stories. Earlier this year, he presented his debut solo play Babyface at the Dunedin Fringe Festival. Babyface was awarded the UNESCO City of Literature Beyond Words award. Nick is thrilled to take up residence in the Robert Lord Cottage for this year’s New Zealand Young Writers’ Festival.

Nick will spend two weeks at the Robert Lord Writers Cottage in Ōtepoti Dunedin, developing his craft, participating in the wānaka at Puketeraki Marae, and contributing to the NZ Young Writers Festival 2025 with fresh, critical, and creative work.

Want to join him?

There are just 5 days left to apply for the 2025 New Zealand Young Writers Festival (NZYWF)!

If you're aged 18–35 and ready to connect, grow, and create alongside other emerging writers in Aotearoa, this is your moment. Selected participants will join Nick at the three-day wānaka at Puketeraki marae, then perform at the NZYWF weekend in Ōtepoti.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to develop your voice, build community, and be part of a festival by young writers, for young writers.

Applications close Sunday 29 June — don’t miss out!

Express your interest now at youngwritersfest.nz/2025-programme