Geoff Chapple and Margaret Pointer win the 2013 CLNZ Writers’ Awards.

Geoff Chapple and Margaret Pointer win the 2013 CLNZ Writers’ Awards.

Geoff Chapple and Margaret Pointer win the 2013 CLNZ Writers’ Awards. Well known writers Geoff Chapple of Devonport and Margaret Pointer of Wellington were presented the 2013 Awards plus $35,000 each at a ceremony held at the Auckland Town Hall

Well known writers Geoff Chapple of Devonport and Margaret Pointer of Wellington were presented the 2013 Awards plus $35,000 each at a ceremony held at the Auckland Town Hall.

Geoff Chapple was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to tramping, tourism and literature in the 2012 and is committed to continuing to write about things he feels deserve notice. Once published, this book will take readers on a literary journey along the Te Araroa trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Readers will be encouraged readers to look closely at the ground that we walk on. Described as a high end travel book, Terrain will include travel stories from around New Zealand supported by interesting facts on the geological make up of our country.

The selection panel commented that Geoff’s book promises to be “fascinating for the lay reader – part travel book and part introduction to NZ geology. Information about landforms interspersed with humour and written with a style that could only enthuse the reader. This book fills a ‘gap’ in New Zealand non-fiction and is a book that will be dateless.”


Margaret Pointer’s passion for research and writing was rekindled during her time living in Niue. During this time, Pointer researched and documented the Niuean people’s involvement in WWI and organised a museum exhibition. Senior teacher of history by trade and armed with a passion for research and writing, Margaret Pointer’s winning project focuses on 200 years of contact, interaction and change for the people of Niue. The book is to be titled Niue – a History 1774-1974 and will become an important addition to school’s and library’s Pacific collections.

The selection panel felt that “this is a ground breaking piece of work. Nothing of great substance has been written in this area, yet there is a huge Niuean population in New Zealand. The book promises to bring to light sources and images that have not yet been published and it is clear that Margaret has the support of significant people in Niue society.”

The CLNZ Writers’ Awards is one of the largest monetary prizes of its kind having contributed well over $1 million to NZ non-fiction. Every year, the two winners each receive $35,000 to research and devote their time to a specific non-fiction project.

For more information about the Awards or to request an interview with the winners contact:
Jackie Hayward
Communications Manager
Copyright Licensing New Zealand

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