How to Apply

What are the eligibility requirements?

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and have lived continuously in New Zealand for three years prior to making application. Temporary absences from New Zealand during that period may be disregarded.
Applications are sought from established writers across all genres of creative writing e.g. fiction, poetry, literary non-fiction, children’s fiction and playwriting.
There is no requirement that writers should have published a large number of books, provided that the book or books (or plays) they have written to date have made a favourable impact.
The prize carries with it an expectation that the successful candidate will be a good ambassador for New Zealand and for New Zealand literature.
The prize is not suitable for writers at a very early stage in their writing career, or who have yet to attain public recognition as a writer.
A list of previous fellows accompanies these guidelines. This will help candidates consider whether they are suitable applicants for the prize.
The successful applicant will be required to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover the period of absence from New Zealand.

What will the selection panel consider when awarding the prize?

Of paramount consideration will be the literary achievement of the applicant to date, and ability to produce a work of substantial literary quality if awarded the prize. However, it should be noted that this sought-after prize carries more benefits and opportunities than a straightforward writing grant. Where several candidates are thought to be equally suitable, other factors that might be taken into account are:

whether the prize will further develop the career of an emergent writer whose work has already made a considerable impact
whether it will contribute to a new career direction for a senior writer
whether it might provide an opportunity for a successful writer who has had little previous opportunity to travel
the likely impact that a new environment and cross fertilisation of ideas from a different culture will have on the writer’s work
how the writer will further the aims and contribute to the promotion and continuance of the prize.

When considering the above, no one factor on its own will be a reason to award the prize but one or more of them may contribute to the final decision.

Can I combine the residency with other activities abroad?

The trustees expect that the residency will be the primary reason for travel and that the successful candidate will be committed to undertaking an approved writing project. The candidate may be accompanied by a close companion and/or family and may align the residency with secondary purposes for travel.

What is meant by the term a good ambassador for New Zealand?

All recipients of the prize will be required to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner and to have the necessary qualities of self-reliance and resourcefulness to cope with a prestigious overseas residency.

Successful candidates will be expected to participate in any associated social activities and be prepared to promote the sponsor and the prize at every opportunity. During their tenure, they will be expected to liaise with contacts and maintain the goodwill of all those involved with the prize, especially in Menton.
Successful candidates will be required to ensure that there is a printed acknowledgment in any published work that results from the tenure of the prize.

What are the prize winner’s responsibilities to the sponsor?

The recipient will be expected to appropriately acknowledge New Zealand Post’s support in any dealings with the media. He or she should also be available for events and promotional photographs in relation to the prize, if requested by New Zealand Post.

When will the decision be announced?

The successful applicant will normally be advised in September or October followed by a public announcement at a later event (normally in November) arranged by the sponsor.

How do I apply?

Applicants should complete the attached official application form and submit it to Creative New Zealand by the closing date, together with a covering letter; a CV of published works and associated literary activities and a written proposal of the work to be undertaken in Menton. Late applications cannot be accepted.