Writers in Residence
-
example in here
-
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."
-
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.
-
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.
Serie Barford: 2018 Established Pasifika Writers Residency
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 father. She has published three poetry collections: Plea to the Spanish Lady (Hard Echo Press), Glass Canisters (Hard Echo Press) and Tapa Talk (Huia).
Pala Molisa: 2018 Emerging Pasifika Writers Residency
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 at the role that accounting practices play in helping to exacerbate and perpetuate many of the major social and ecological crises we
Trevor Bentley: 2018 Established Pasifika Writers Residency
Trevor was educated at the Auckland and Waikato Universities and has a special interest in researching, teaching and writing about the interaction of Māori and Pakeha in pre treaty New Zealand. Based in Tauranga with his wife Helen, his interests include reading, music and travel. Trevor has written
Karyn Hay: 2018 Late Spring Residency (2)
Karyn Hay is an award-winning novelist and broadcaster: her debut novel Emerald Budgies won the New Zealand Society of Authors Hubert Church Best First Book Award in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards in 2001. She was awarded a Frank Sargeson Fellowship in 2004; and is a literary advisor to the Fra
Mark Broatch: 2018 Late Spring Residency (1)
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 the Sunday Star-Times, and a recipient of a Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship in 2011. He has just launched his latest book Word to the Wise: Untangling t
Tracy Farr: 2018 Spring Residency
We are delighted to welcome Tracy back to the centre for a residency – she was a visiting writer in 2009 and worked on her first novel The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt during that time. In 2014 Tracy won the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Award and in the same year her debut novel (as above), appeare
Kelly Joseph: 2018 Emerging Maori Writers Residency
Kelly Joseph (Ngati Maniapoto) is a writer and artist currently living in Westland with her two daughters and husband. She has previously had stories published in Huia Short Stories 5,7,8,10, and 12; in the anthology Black Marks on The White Page; and in journals such as Hue and Cry, Takahe and JAAM
Jacquie McRae: 2018 Māori Writers Residency
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 campaigns for the prohibition of alcohol in New Zealand, and the resulting illicit trade of home brewed whisky.Jacquie says, ‘I have chosen to transport the re
Ian Wedde: 2009
Ian is a distinguished Wellington poet, novelist and critic. He has published a large number of poetry collections and novels, and his poems appear in numerous journals and anthologies. He was editor of the 1985 Penguin Book of New Zealand Verse, co-edited with Harvey McQueen, and has won many disti
Vincent O’Sullivan: 2009
Vincent published an extensive range of poetry, fiction and drama, as well as academic books. He was at the centre between February and April 2009 working on a biography of artist Ralph Hotere. He used his time time in Auckland to carry out research in the area, as well as to write.Ralph Hotere: T
David Eggleton: 2009
David Eggleton is a poet and writer who lives in Dunedin. He is a popular and dynamic performance poet, has written books and been selected as the Montana reviewer of the year. He has been described as “one of New Zealand’s more engaged contemporary poets and cultural commentators” (Critic, July 200
William (Bill) Direen: 2010 University of Auckland Writers Residency
William (Bill) Direen is a writer and a well-known figure in New Zealand music circles. Originally from Christchurch and Dunedin, Direen has recently been living in Paris and previously spent several years in Berlin. He is best known as a poet and musician, but he has also written theatre scripts, l
Rachel Barrowman: 2010 Summer Writers Residency
Rachel Barrowman worked at the centre for eight weeks from early 2010. She is a Wellington-based writer and historian. She is the author of a number of works in the field of New Zealand cultural and intellectual history, including histories of the Alexander Turnbull Library and Victoria University o
Martin Edmond: 2010 Autumn Writers Residency
Martin Edmond held an eight-week residency from mid-March to May, also offered with the support of Creative New Zealand. Edmond was born in Ohakune and grew up in small North Island towns before studying in Auckland and Wellington. He spent five years touring internationally with the avant garde the
Bradford Haami: 2010 Māori Writers Residency
Bradford Haami was selected for the first ever Māori residency at the centre, for eight weeks from May. Based in Waitakere, Bradford Haami has written extensively about Māori history and culture, as well as being a documentary and drama writer, a director and producer, and a researcher at Te Papa in
Nelson Wattie: 2011 Autumn Writers Residency
Nelson Wattie was awarded the Autumn Residency (mid-March to mid-May) to work on a literary biography of Kapiti poet, novelist and playwright Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. Dr Wattie is an author, translator, academic and opera singer from Wellington, who taught in German universities for many years an
Michelanne Forster: 2011 University of Auckland Writers Residency
Michelanne Forster is a playwright, scriptwriter, fiction writer and editor who moved to New Zealand in 1972 from her native California. She is a graduate of Auckland University and the Auckland Secondary Teachers College.She was the Michael King/University of Auckland Writing Fellow in 2011. Duri
Ben Brown: 2011 Māori Writers Residency
Ben Brown was awarded the Māori Writer’s Residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre for 2011 (eight weeks from mid-May). He is known for his poetry, children’s books, non-fiction and for his short stories. Since 1992 he has collaborated with his wife, illustrator Helen Taylor, on numerous publica
Arthur Meek: 2011 Summer Writers Residency
Arthur Meek was awarded the eight-week Summer Residency, from January to mid-March 2011. Arthur Meek, who lives in Auckland, has written for stage, screen and radio, worked extensively as an actor and performed in musical comedy. Last year he received the Best New Play and Outstanding New Playwright
Whiti Heraka: 2012 Māori Writers Residency
Whiti Hereaka, from Wellington, held the 2012 Summer Residency at the Michael King Writers Centre, from January to mid-March.Whiti is a playwright, novelist and screenwriter who has won many awards even though she is at an early stage of her career. She has been admitted as a barrister and solicit