Residency Alumni

Hinekura is a Māori woman, educator, weaver, researcher and mother who descends from the Far North iwi of Te Rarawa and Nga Puhi in Aotearoa…

Sam is an artist and writer from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, now at home in Māwhera.  He has published two collections of poetry with Te Herenga Waka…

Joy, our 13th resident for the year, lives in Pōneke. Her debut collection of short fiction Dream Girl was published by Te Herenga Waka University Press in 2023. She completed her…

While at the Michael King writers centre Barbara  will be working on the final draft of The Mystifications, a slightly true novel about a mystery…

Darryn (Ngāti Maniapoto) is a Palmerston North-based academic, writer and pāpā of three. He has written in te reo Māori short stories, board books, picture…

Craig, our tenth writer-in-residence, is the author of the novels Nailing Down the Saint and The Mannequin Makers, and the story collection A Man Melting, which won the 2011…

Claire is the founder of literary organisations Verb Wellington and LitCrawl Wellington. She is co-curator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts’ writers…

Hazel, our eighth Writer-in-residence for the year, is the author of three books: Solo: Backcountry adventuring in Aotearoa New Zealand (MUP, 2022); Wild Westie (Penguin,…

Fijian writer Daren Kamali is a poet, writer and musician, creative arts youth worker and mentor. He cofounded the South Auckland Poets Collective in 2008.…

Vasanti writes, illustrates and designs books for ages, four to forever. Her picture books have sold around the world and won numerous awards. Vasanti is…

Dani, our fifth writer-in-residence for 2024 is a wellington-based writer of poetry, essays, scripts and short fiction. They completed their Masters of Creative Writing at…

Tehnuka (she/they) is a Tamil tauiwi volcanologist born and raised in Ōtautahi, and living in Kirikiriroa. She has over thirty short stories, poems, and essays…

Sonya is an award-winning writer, reporter and producer and is the founder and Executive Director of the children’s charity Kiwi Christmas Books. She was a broadcast…

Guy is a writer, composer, actor, producer and teacher. He trained at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and international theatre school École Philippe Gaulier,…

We have welcomed Rose, a Wellington based writer, as our first writer-in-residence for 2024. Rose gained her Masters of Creative Writing at the International Institute…

Our final writer-in-residence for the year, Ruby is a prose-writer, poet and artist. She tutors creative writing at the University of Auckland, and in high…

Joan’s latest book is Song of Less (Cordite Books, 2022), a verse novel exploring ritual, taboo, and the limits of individualism in the ruins of ecological…

Sherryl began her writing career with short stories and poetry, many of which were published in journals and magazines. Two collections of poems were published…

Mary-anne is a musician and writer of children’s fiction and she lives in Havelock North. She found inspiration for her first two books, Snakes and…

Our 14th writer-in-residence, Atakohu (Ngāti Māhanga) is an Auckland-based journalist who has worked for national and international print media, including Mana magazine, the New Zealand…

Hana, (Ngaati Mahuta, Ngaati Hinerangi, Waikato/Tainui, Waitaha, Ngaati Waewae ki Kai Tahu Poutini) is a mother, artist, writer and independent researcher based in Kawerau. They…

Liz is a writer, editor and performer who has two poem collections, In bed with the feminists, part of which was winner of the Kathleen…

The recipient of our eight week residency, the 11th for the year – Helen is a poet and essayist from the Kapiti Coast, Wellington. Her…

Caroline (Te Uri o Hau, Pākehā) is an award-winning author, manuscript assessor and book coach, book reviewer and writing teacher. Her memoir Ripiro Beach won…

Amber is a Sā-māo-rish (Ngāpuhi/Manase) writer of things from Tāmaki Makaurau, with a Gemini Sun / Virgo Moon. She is a poet, storyteller, Amateur Astrologer,…

Jacquie (Tainui and Ngāti Koata) is published in several anthologies, including the short story collection Nga hau e Wha, (Stories on the four winds) She…

Originally from Kyiv, Nataliya is a Christchurch-based writer, playwright, street performer, researcher, theatre-maker and a Gothic nerd. She is the founder and director of NO…

Rosetta, our sixth writer-in-residence for the year, spent her formative writing years developing strengths in poetry, receiving the Kathleen Grattan Poetry and the Metonymy Poetry…

Gwynneth is a writer and editor from Ōtautahi Christchurch who recently became the librarian at Christchurch Women’s Prison. Writing essays since the mid-1990s, her practice…

Sam is an award-winning, prolific playwright and journalist, noted for his queer and political work. He has won the Bruce Mason Playwrighting Award, New Zealand’s…

Josie lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with her husband and two daughters. Her debut novel, Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts will be published by…

Our second writer-in-residence Duncan is a screenwriter, playwright, novelist, performer and short story writer. He has written film scripts, plays, short stories and novels, touring…

Kia hari te tau hou! We are very happy to have welcomed Daniel as our first writer-in-residence for 2023, he will be working on an…

Vana is a Greek-New Zealand poet who has been moving between Aotearoa and Kirihi Greece, and has now settled in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Her most recent…

Madison is a Wellington-based editor and works for the Air Force. Her hobbies include painting and chronically reinventing herself. She holds a Master of Creative…

Erik is the author of the poetry collections There’s No Place Like the Internet in Springtime (2018) and Another Beautiful Day Indoors (2022), both with Victoria University Press.…

Pauline is an author and educationalist of Samoan, Tuvaluan, Scottish and Irish heritage.  Her first book Dawn Raid: My New Zealand Story received Best New…

Craig is a Wellington-based writer who works as Publishing Manager at Te Herenga Waka University Press and is our 14th writer-in-residence for the year. His…

Emma (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Porou) is a junior doctor at Middlemore Hospital. Emma hosts the RNZ podcast on Māori health equity, Getting Better, which won…

Born in Whanganui and raised on farms around the North Island, Bren MacDibble incorporates her love of the land into her environmentally themed children’s books.…

We have welcomed our 12th resident for the year Shriya – her creative practice (plays, film scripts, short stories, and poems) focuses on people’s daily…

Clare was born in Aotearoa, raised on Whadjuk Noongar Country in Western Australia and has lived in Pōneke since 2005. Her first novel, Unsheltered (Scribner,…

Our tenth writer-in-residence for the year, Gillian is an award-winning children’s author. Her books include the popular “Explore and Discover” series about nature habitats. Her…

Our ninth resident for the year, Sinead (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) is a kairangahau and writer who lives in Wellington. Her work has been…

Tara is a Te Whanganui-a-Tara based cartoonist and art school drop-out. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from Massey University and can often be…

Our seventh resident for the year, Michele has been a writer, producer and dancer across the globe. Her fiction and non-fiction has been published widely…

Matthew is a writer, scholar, and teacher based in Wellington. He returned home in 2021 after several years teaching university English in Iowa. Much of…

We have welcomed our fifth writer-in-residence for the 2022 Programme… Ashleigh is the author of How I Get Ready (VUP, 2019), Can You Tolerate This? (VUP, 2016), and Magnificent Moon (VUP,…

Scott’s (Ngāti Kahu), first home was on an air-force base in Blenheim, New Zealand. His love of books came from the birthday gift his father…

Faith (Sāmoa|Germany, Clan Gunn|England), is a writer and editor who grew up in the Waikato but now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is the founder…

Our second writer-in-residence for the year, Shilo (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) is an award-winning writer and journalist. The Pōrangi Boy is her first book and the…

Happy New Year! We are very happy to have welcomed Claire as our first writer-in-residence for 2022. Claire is a fiction writer and legal researcher…

Miro is a filmmaker, filmmaking teacher and a poet whose memoir of a counterculture New Zealand adolescence, In the Time of the Manaroans (Victoria Univeristy…

Jordan Hamel is a Pōneke-based writer, poet and performer. He grew up in Timaru on a healthy diet of Catholicism and toxic masculinity. He was…

Zarah is a writer from Auckland. She is the author of Nostalgia Has Ruined My Life (Giramondo Publishing, 2021) and Autobiography of a Marguerite (Hue…

Helen is a widely published children’s and young adult author, spoken word poet and award-winning playwright. She has written an impressive collection of work for…

Pip is a Wellington writer, editor and oral historian who specialises in creative non-fiction. Her memoir Song for Rosaleen, about caring for her mother when…

The first writer to have the timing of her residency affected by the pandemic; Kiran reviews books regularly on RNZ and her writing has appeared…

Tracy is a Wellington writer who used to be a scientist. Her debut novel, The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt, was long- and shortlisted…

We have welcomed our 13th writer-in-residence. Octavia  is a Cambridge based writer with a PhD in science communication. She likes using speculative fiction to talk…

Kyle is one of New Zealand’s most eclectic and prolific writers. From multi-layered picture books (Old-Hu-hu; Hill & Hole) to laugh-out-loud junior fiction series (Dinosaur…

Kate graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from VUW in 2000.  Her MA project was her first novel, Breakwater.  Kate has also published short…

Our tenth writer-in-residence for the year, Ingrid, is working on a collection of interconnected short stories from women’s lives over a two-hundred-year period. Some of…

Jared is an archivist, historian and writer based in Wellington. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Overland, History Workshop Journal, The Spinoff, Newsroom and…

Nathan is an award-winning writer, theatre-maker and performance poet based in Ōtautahi. His work largely focuses on the slipperiness of identity and the politics of…

Steph is an award-winning writer from Taranaki, New Zealand (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Ati Awa). She spent fifteen years writing radio advertising before deciding…

Our sixth writer-in-residence for the year; Gina, is of Fijian, Scottish and Welsh descent.  She is the author of Black Ice Matter, which won Best…

We welcomed Rachael not only as our final writer-in-residence for 2020 but also, by wonderful coincidence as the 100th writer to take up a residency…

From Queenstown, Jane is the author of the Lily Max children’s trilogy, published by Luncheon Sausage books. “Lily Max: Satin, Scissors, Frock” (2015) was a…

We have welcomed Lana as our fourth writer-in-residence for the year. Lana is an editor, critic and author based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Since 2012 she…

Anna has written several books of poetry, most recently Pasture and Flock: New and Selected Poems, and also writes occasional fiction and academic books.  She…

Our second writer-in-residence for the year Emma (Kāi Tahu), is a Taranaki based writer whose work has previously appeared in Sport, Newsroom, Hue and Cry,…

We have welcomed our first writer in residence for 2021! Kerrin has published four collections of poetry: Three Days In a Wishing Well (2012); There’s…

Amy is a New Zealand writer of Rarotongan descent. She has a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Auckland with first class honours,…

Our 18th writer-in-residence, Maria is a published writer of stories for adults and children. Born in Wellington and of Cook Islands descent, her stories offer…

Our 17th writer-in-residence; Tom is an author, academic and journalist. He has written two books about the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire disaster, Hazelwood (Penguin Random…

Pip has published a collection of short stories, Everything We Hoped For (VUP, 2010) and two novels, I’m Working on a Building (VUP, 2013) and…

Jane is a poet, writer and editor who lives in Wellington with her family. She has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the…

Ko Māori me Airihi me Kōtarina ngā iwi o ōku tīpuna. I whakahautia ahau e ngā ngahere o Houtū I amoamohia ahau e ngā wai…

We welcome our 12th resident for the year – Tina writes essays, novels and short fiction. Her latest novel is The Imaginary Lives of James…

Aroha is the first resident since the interruption of Covid-19, to be able to enjoy his full residency with us – he is our 11th…

Because of the Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions, Albert started his residency from home and was able to take up residence as we moved to Level…

Fifi is our ninth resident for the year and the first to be affected by Aotearoa’s Level 4 Alert status for Covid-19. This means Fifi…

Penny joins us for our eighth residency – she is an Art Historian having held roles in public art galleries in New Zealand. The author…

Megan is co-editor of The Spinoff art section. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she graduated with…

We have welcomed Hera to the centre as our sixth resident for the year. She has published two books, ‘Hera Lindsay Bird’ with Victoria University…

Jeff is our fifth resident for the year and is the author of five books. His interest in Māori and Polynesian cultures has produced the…

David edited Landfall  and Landfall Review Online between 2010 and 2018. He is a recent recipient of a Janet Frame Literary Trust Award, an Ockham…

Josh (JP Pomare), (Ngā Puhi), grew up the youngest child of four, on a farm outside of Rotorua. After high school, he studied politics, media…

Tru, (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Te Tarawa, Ngāti Kahu o Torongāre)  is a choreographer, curator, and poet working across performance and writing disciplines. She is a…

We have welcomed Rose as our first writer in residence for the New Year.  Rose says her aim as a writer ‘is to produce books…

Makereta holds the last residency for 2019. She is I-Taukei-born Fijian, from the Noco District of Rewa in Viti Levu. She was adopted by kaivulagi…

Mariana is a writer, artist, and forager. Born in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, she has ancestral roots in Sāmoa, Scotland, England, Ireland, and France. She is…

Fiona has joined us for her four week residency, the 19th for the year. She is a writer and director, playwright, actor and Arts Laureate,…

Jo is an acclaimed New Zealand author whose output has been globally recognised. Her book The Search for Anne Perry was numbered in the top…

Murray takes up our 17th residency to work on an essay that takes a small section of Auckland and reads its monuments for their historical,…

A writer and theatre-maker Jo is the founder and artistic director of Barbarian Productions (theatre company). Recent theatre works include Sing It To My Face,…

Kirsten is our 15th writer-in-residence for the year and is the author of two books of fiction, Tess (2017) and The Invisible Rider (2012). In…

Our 14th residency for the year is held by Rijula who lives and works in Wellington.  Rijula holds a PhD in Creative Writing and was…

Jade is an architectural design, writer, and housing advocate. Of Māori and Dutch descent, her tribal affiliations are Ngāpuhi (Ngāti Hau me Te Parawhau), Te…

Author of six novels and five collections of poetry, Emma works as an editor and occasional creative writing tutor. She was raised in New Zealand,…

Phillipa is our eleventh resident for the year – she lives in Wellington and writes fiction, non-fiction and plays for children and young adults. Her…

Gigi’s first book, The Intentions Book was shortlisted for the 2013 New Zealand Post Book Awards and long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Award. Her second…

Our ninth resident for the year – Dominic is an author, playwright and poet based in Tamaki Makaurau. His debut novel, Iceland was a New…

Meagan is an Auckland based writer of European and Māori descent born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. She moved permanently to New Zealand in…

We have welcomed Gary as our seventh resident for the year, he is a playwright, director and writing teacher whose work is produced locally and…

Diane is a novelist, memoirist, and poet who runs an online and face to face creative writing school, Creative Writing Dunedin. During her residency –…

Ivy has been awarded a late summer residency, our fifth for the year and is working on a multi-volume collection, Diaspora. Ivy says ‘Diaspora is my…

Colleen is of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Irish descent. After returning to New Zealand in 2016 after fifteen years in Tokyo and one in New…

Steve is working on his third full-length collection of poetry that explores the climate of reproach and apology that pervades our public discourse today and…

Yvette, our second resident for the year is a LGBTQIA writer who was born in Australia and is now a New Zealand resident living in…

We have welcomed Rachel as our first writer-in-residence for the year. Rachel is a filmmaker, writer and artist based in Te Whanganui-ā-Tara, Aotearoa. Their debut…

We have welcomed Serie as our fourteenth and last resident for the year. Serie was born in Aotearoa to a migrant German-Samoan mother and a Palagi…

Pala Molisa is a Ni-Vanuatu academic who has recently finished teaching at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Accounting and Commercial Law. His PhD looked…

Mark Broatch is the author of several non-fiction books, short fiction and poetry. He was deputy editor at the NZ Listener and culture editor at…

We are delighted to welcome Tracy back to the centre for a residency – she was a visiting writer in 2009 and worked on her…

Jacquie McRae (Tainui and Ngāti Koata) is working on a project that is a fictional novel based on facts about the colourful history of the…