Writers in Residence
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The Michael King Writers Centre is proud to support 18 New Zealand writers through its 2026 residency programme, hosted at the historic Signalman's House in Devonport, Auckland. Selected from over 150 applicants across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama and writing for children, this year's recipients are:
Anne Kayes, Cassie Hart, Cello Forrester, Chris Tse, Claire Baylis, Connie Buchanan, Emma Hislop, Gina Butson, Jordan Hamel, Josie Shapiro, Kirsten McDougall, Kirsty Powell, Liv Sisson, Rebecca Hawkes, Sarah Ell, Sue Wootton, Trina Elkington-Ball, and Vincent O'Malley.
For eligibility, stipend and accommodation details, see About our Residency Programme.
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For a list of our alumni from 2005 to 2026, by first name see here.
Since the Centre opened in 2005, over 200 New Zealand writers have held supported residencies, with international residencies added from 2013 in association with the NZ China Friendship Society and Varuna House, NSW.Alumni include Eleanor Catton (final draft of The Luminaries, 2012), Whiti Hereaka (Kurangaituku, 2017) and biographer Rachel Barrowman, alongside Poet Laureates Vincent O'Sullivan, David Eggleton and Ian Wedde, and writers Gina Cole, Roger Horrocks, Ashleigh Young, Josh Pomare, Jane Arthur and Pip Adam.
Use the filter to select by year.
Kirsten McDougall: 2026 Late Winter Residency
Kirsten is the author of three books and numerous short stories; her best-selling novel She’s a Killer was long listed for the Dublin Literary Award. While in residency at the Michael King Centre she will be working on a novel which has roots in her short story ‘Walking Day’ which won the 2020 Sunday Star Times short story competition.
Jordan Hamel: 2026 Late Winter Residency
Jordan is a writer, performer, and Fulbright Scholar. He holds an MFA from the University of Michigan.
His debut poetry collection Everyone is Everyone Except You, was published in New Zealand by Dead Bird Books in 2022 and by Broken Sleep in the UK in 2024.
Michelle Duff: 2025 Late Winter Residency
Michelle is an award-winning writer and journalist from Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She was the winner of the 2023 Fiction Prize from the International Institute of Modern Letters. Her journalism has appeared in Aotearoa and internationally, including in The Guardian, Stuff, New Zealand Geographic, The Mel
Tracy Farr: 2021 Late Winter Residency
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 for three prestigious literary awards in Australia, and her second novel, The Hope Fault, was one of NZ Listener’s 100 Best Books of 2017. Both novels were published