Writers in Residence
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The Centre's selection process is overseen by an independent panel, guided by its commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and celebrating diverse voices.
"Reading and assessing this year's applications was an enormous privilege for the selection panel," says Melanee Winder, selection panellist and Chair of the MKWC Trust. "We were energised and impressed by the quality of writing across a wide variety of projects."
Emma Neale, a 2025 recipient, reflects: "I am enormously grateful for the way my time at the centre encouraged and catalysed my new project. The centre should be treasured by all Aotearoa writers and lovers of literature."
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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.
Te Awhina Rangimarie Arahanga: 2012 Māori Writers Residency
Tongariro, Ruapehu, Aoraki nga MaungaWhanganui, Rangatikei, Waitaki, nga AwaTaupo, Waihora nga RotoNgati Tuwharetoa, Te Ati Haunui A Paparangi, Ngati Hauiti ki RataRapuwai, Waitaha, Ngati Mamoe, Ngai Tahu nga IwiPaimarireTe Awhina Arahanga comes from Christchurch and has had extensive ex
Chris Else: 2012 Autumn Writers Residency
Chris Else has had more than eight books published: six novels, and two collections of short fiction. His work appears in many anthologies and magazines, and he has written for stage and television. His most recent novel is Gith, published by Random House in 2008. In a Herald on Sundayreview Nicky P
Sarah Laing: 2013 University of Auckland Writers Residency
The Michael King Writers’ Centre is delighted to welcome back novelist and graphic artist Sarah Laing for her second residency at the centre.This year she holds the six-month The University of Auckland Residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre. In 2008, she held one of the short residencies fo
Don McGlashan: 2013 Summer Writers Residency
Don McGlashan is one of New Zealand’s most popular and celebrated songwriters and performers, whose music provides the soundtrack to our most significant national occasions as well as being heard around the world.He has won numerous awards for his albums, songs and for his film and television scor
Deborah Shepherd: 2013 Autumn Writers Residency
Deborah Shepard has written a blog about her residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre.Deborah Shepard held the Autumn Residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre. She is working on two books, an exploration of memoir, Writing Your Heart Out: The Art and Craft of Memoir and a Pain Journal.
Peter Wells: 2014 Autumn Writers Residency
Peter Wells is a distinguished writer and film-maker.As a writer, he won the 1992 NZ Book Award for Fiction for his first book of short stories Dangerous Desires, published by Viking Penguin in New York and Secker and Warburg in London. The book also won, among other awards, the PEN (NZ) Best Firs
Victor Rodger: 2018 University of Auckland Residency
Victor holds the University of Auckland Residency which he started on the 19th of February and is our fourth residency for the year. He will be with us until late in June. He is working on both a novel and short stories.Victor is a writer of Samoan and Scottish descent. His first play, Sons, debut
Rosetta Allan: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency
Our second residency for the year is held by Rosetta and she is working on her second novel.Rosetta spent her formative writing years developing her strengths in the area of poetry, both writing and supporting poetry events in her hometown of Auckland.Rosetta has published two volumes of poetry:
Lawrence Patchett: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency
Lawrence holds our third residency for the year and is working on a literary novel of communities in turmoil, set on a future Kāpiti Coast. It is an interrogation of Pākehā relationships with history in Aotearoa New Zealand.Lawrence is the author of the short-story collection I Got His Blood On Me
Helen Waaka: 2018 Emerging Māori Writers Residency
Helen Waaka (Ngāti Whaatua, Ngā Puhi) has joined us for the fifth residency of the year.Helen completed a Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing at Whitireia (Wellington) in 2011. The same year she won the Pikihuia award for best English-language short story with ‘Hineraumati’. Her stories have appe
Nadine Hura: 2018 Emerging Māori Writers Residency
Nadine Hura is of Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi and Pākehā whakapapa. She grew up in South Auckland but has spent much of her adult life living and working overseas. With a background in kaupapa Māori research and journalism, Nadine’s narrative essays explore themes of language, identity and belonging.Nadin
Allan Drew: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency
Allan is our first writer in residence for 2018 and is working on some contemporary short fiction.Allan recently completed his PhD in creative writing at Victoria University of Wellington. He writes mostly fiction, but also poems and non-fiction. His work has been published in journals and antholo