Applications are now open for the 2025 CLNZ/NZSA Writers' Award. This award is proudly brought to you by Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA).
The CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award of $25,000 is one of the highest value non-fiction prizes in New Zealand literature and it is now open for applications.
He $25,000 te nui o te Karāti Kaituhi o te CLNZ me te NZSA, te karāti mātua mo ngā pakimaero-pono o ngā momo-tuhinga o Aotearoa. Ka taea e ngā Kaituhi te tuku tono mō tēnei karāti.
- Awards $25,000 cash grant to a New Zealand writer
- Assists with research and associated costs
- Is one of the highest value prizes awarded for non-fiction in New Zealand
- Is open now for entries
The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project, and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. Writers with work in a broad range of non-fiction genres, including educational works, can apply.
The Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) Writers' Award has supported the creation of Rebecca Macfie's book Helen Kelly: Her Life (Awa Press), a biography of one of New Zealand’s political legends; Nic Low's book Uprising: Walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand (Text); the creation of Nick Bollinger's Ockham award-winning book Jumping Sundays: The Rise and Fall of the Counterculture in Aotearoa / New Zealand (AUP), Iona Winter’s creative non-fiction project, A counter of moons and the publication of Jade Kake’s book, Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere, a tribute to the late architect Rewi Thompson.
Last year, writer and historian Mark Derby won for his project with the working title Outlaw Prophet – Hakaraia Māhika and the Tauranga Wars. He says,
“The northeast Bay of Plenty, where my new book is set, is a long way from my home in Wellington, and not cheap to get to. I’ve been researching this book on and off for years in my own time, but the CLNZ | NZSA Writers’ Award gave me the boost to really commit to writing it. I’d done a few books already, but I’ve never written fulltime until I received this financial support. Then, a few months later, I got a call from Hakaraia’s descendants, inviting me to take part in a wānanga to share their knowledge of him. Because I had a travel budget, I could agree without hesitation. I think this book will be very much better for the support I’ve had from the CLNZ / NZSA fund.”
Want to apply?
First: Read the CLNZ | NZSA Writers’ Award Guidelines
Then: Fill in the CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award Application Form
We encourage non-fiction writers to consider applying for this award. Applications across the full range of non-fiction genres are welcome. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. It is the clear intention of the CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award that a book will be published as a result of being a recipient of the award.
Applications must be completed online by 4pm on Monday 18 July 2025.
Unsuccessful applicants will be advised before recipients are announced. Successful recipients will be contacted directly, and we will also publish the announcement on the CLNZ and NZSA websites and via social media.
The CLNZ | NZSA Writers’ Award is made possible through Copyright Licensing New Zealand’s Cultural Fund. The Cultural Fund’s objectives are to protect writers and publishers’ ability to earn revenue from their works; support the creation and production of new works and assist the commercial success of New Zealand works; and grow the number of works created and skills in the industry.
NZSA is proud to be administering the awards in 2025.
Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ)plays a key role in making creative rights valuable assets for all New Zealanders, be they rightsholders like authors, publishers and artists, or users such as educators, students and businesses. CLNZ provides licences to help make copying, scanning and sharing printed works easy and legal.
New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori and its developing Youth writer’s network.
For further information please email Claire Hill office@nzauthors.org.nz or Sam Irvine awards@copyright.co.nz
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash