Launched by Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) in partnership with the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA), this inaugural scholarship is designed to nurture the next generation of writers as they transition from secondary school into tertiary study.
CLNZ & NZSA Announce Secondary School Leavers Scholarship
Copyright Licensing New Zealand and the New Zealand Society of Authors are proud to announce the CLNZ | NZSA Secondary School Leavers Scholarship.
As part of our commitment to ensuring creative rights remain a valuable asset for all New Zealanders, this inaugural scholarship is designed to provide a tangible foundation for students transitioning from secondary school to tertiary arts degrees.
We are offering five grants of $2,000, split between the successful student and their licensed school, to celebrate and support the writers of tomorrow.
Applications must be submitted through schools, with each school able to nominate up to two students. Nominated applicants are required to submit an original short story or piece of fiction between 500 and 2,000 words.
This initiative is open exclusively to schools with a copyright licence, and we invite eligible educators to help identify and champion the next generation of literary talent.
Eligible students include those in Year 12 or 13 who are planning to leave school at the end of 2026 and enrol in a Level 5 or higher arts degree. The scholarship is open to students attending schools that hold a current CLNZ copyright licence.
Applications open 1 May 2026 and close 1 July 2026.
For enquiries, please email awards@copyrightlicensing.co.nz