New Zealand writers' centre
The Michael King Writers Centre is a writing centre on the slope of
Takarunga / Mount Victoria in
Devonport , Auckland, New Zealand, which offers residencies to early career and experienced writers. It was established in 2005 in honour of New Zealand historian
Michael King .
About the centre
The centre is based at the Signalman's House, a historic house built in 1898, on
Takarunga / Mount Victoria in
Devonport , Auckland.
[1]
[2]
As of November 2022
[update] the centre had hosted around 140 writers-in-residence.
[3] Residencies are of short length to encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds.
[3] As of 2024
[update] residencies are offered for between two and three weeks,
[4] although in the past they have been offered for as long as six months.
[5] The centre also offers short-term accommodation for visiting writers on a paying basis.
[6]
[7]
History
At the memorial service for historian and writer
Michael King in 2004,
Gordon McLauchlan suggested that a writers' centre in King's name should be set up.
[8] The centre was established through a charitable trust; together with McLauchlan, founding trustees included
Christine Cole Catley ,
[9]
Witi Ihimaera and
Geoff Chapple .
[10]
The centre officially opened in July 2005.
[2]
[3] The first writer-in-residence was Geoff Chapple.
[11]
Between 2007 and 2020,
University of Auckland residencies were offered at the centre, supported by
Creative New Zealand , which required the writer to spend time at the university's English department.
[12]
[13] In 2010 the centre began offering Māori writers' residencies, developed with the assistance of Witi Ihimaera.
[14] In July 2011 the centre offered a free week's residency for four writers affected by the
Christchurch earthquake .
[15]
In 2014, in partnership with several organisations including the Shanghai Writers' Association, the centre began running an exchange whereby Chinese writers could undertake a residency at the centre and New Zealand writers could undertake a residency in
Shanghai .
[11] In 2021 the centre announced a new exchange programme with
Varuna, The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains, Sydney.
[16]
[17]
From 2008 to 2019 the centre offered a programme of workshops for young writers, and since 2012 has published a literary journal of students' work titled Signals .
[18]
[19] The programme was put on hold in 2020, and the centre has instead run the Signals Awards for writers aged 16 to 21.
[19]
[20]
[21]
Notable residents
Notable recipients of Michael King Writers Centre residencies have included:
Rachel Barrowman (worked on biography of
Maurice Gee , 2010)
[22]
Ann Beaglehole (2009)
[23]
Eleanor Catton (wrote the final draft of
The Luminaries , 2012)
[24]
Geoff Chapple (first resident, 2005)
[11]
Gina Cole (established Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2021)
[25]
Dick Corballis (worked on biography of
Bruce Mason , 2008)
[26]
Bill Direen (
University of Auckland residency, 2010)
[27]
David Eggleton (wrote Time of the Icebergs poetry collection, 2009)
[28]
Chris Else (2012)
[29]
Tracy Farr (2009, 2018, 2021)
[30]
[31]
Karyn Hay (2018)
[32]
Whiti Hereaka (worked on play Rewena , 2012; finished draft of novel Kurangaituku , 2017)
[33]
[34]
Roger Horrocks (2015)
[35]
Anna Jackson (2017)
[36]
Jade Kake (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, 2019)
[37]
Anne Kennedy (University of Auckland residency, 2014)
[38]
Sarah Laing (worked on graphic novel about
Katherine Mansfield , 2013; also 2008)
[39]
Colleen Maria Lenihan (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, worked on short story collection Kōhine , 2019)
[40]
Kirsten McDougall (2019)
[41]
Fiona McGregor (through New Zealand-Australia writers' residency exchange, 2023)
[17]
Frankie McMillan (University of Auckland residency, 2017)
[42]
Arthur Meek (wrote play about
Mary Martin , 2011)
[43]
Kyle Mewburn (2021)
[44]
Kelly Ana Morey (Māori writer-in-residence, completed novel Daylight Second , 2014)
[45]
Vincent O'Sullivan (worked on biography of
Ralph Hotere , 2009)
[46]
Lawrence Patchett (emerging writer-in-residence, 2018)
[47]
Joan Rosier-Jones (2008, 2010)
[48]
Maria Samuela (emerging Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2020)
[49]
Elspeth Sandys (2016)
[50]
Ian Wedde (wrote novel The Catastrophe , 2009)
[51]
Philippa Werry (2019)
[52]
Mere Whaanga (Māori writer-in-residence, 2015)
[53]
References
^
"Once upon a time..." The New Zealand Herald . 10 August 2013. p. D6. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
a
b
"The week ahead" . Sunday Star-Times . 17 July 2005. p. A11. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
a
b
c Chumko, André (26 November 2022).
"The crucial luxury of the artist's residency" . Stuff . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"About Our Residency Programme" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Michael King Writer's Centre – Residency Deadline" . New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa . 6 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Writers Accommodation Bookings" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"NZ's national writer-residency organisation continues with an extended number of residencies in 2019" . Creative New Zealand . 12 August 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Writers' centre proposed to honour King" . The New Zealand Herald . 19 April 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^ Robinson, Michelle (7 August 2011).
"Bright star of Kiwi writing battles wait" . Sunday Star-Times . p. A9. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"The Michael King Writers Centre Trust" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
a
b
c Chanwai-Earle, Lynda (17 October 2016).
"Kiwi writer returns to the Shanghai rain" . Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Writers in residence" . The University of Auckland . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"The University of Auckland/Creative New Zealand Writer-in-Residence at the Michael King Writers' Centre 2011" . Creative New Zealand . 30 November 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"First Maori writer's residency at Michael King Writers' Centre" . The Big Idea . 17 December 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^ Gates, Charlie (21 July 2011).
"Treat offered to writers suffering 'quake brain' " . The Press . p. A6. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Michael King Writers Centre announces new international residency exchange opportunity with Varuna" . Kete Books . 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
a
b Magrin, Federico (8 May 2023).
"Kiwi writer in shock after being selected for international residency" . Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^ Pollock, Kerryn (22 October 2014).
"Michael King Young Writers Programme, 2009" . Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
a
b
"History of the MKWC Young Writers Programme" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Signals Young Writers Awards 2021" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Signals Young Writers Awards 2023" . Michael King Writers Centre .
^
"Rachel Barrowman: 2010 Summer Writers Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 2 August 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Ann Beaglehole (2009)" . Michael King Writers Centre . 7 August 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2022 .
^
"Booker winner's North Shore link" . North Shore Times . 22 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^ Tania (23 March 2021).
"Gina Cole: 2021 Established Pasifika Writers Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . Retrieved 1 August 2022 .
^
"Massey prof gets residency" . Manawatū Standard . 13 August 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"2010 Writer-in-Residence selected" . University of Auckland . 8 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Better or verse" . Sunday Star-Times . 17 April 2011. p. F10. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Chris Else" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Tracy Farr" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Tracy Farr: 2021 Late Winter Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 27 July 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^ Dann, Jennifer (20 November 2018).
"12 Questions: Author and media personality Karyn Hay" . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Visiting Author: Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa)" . Publishers Association of New Zealand Inc . 20 November 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Michael King Writers' Centre 2017 Residency Recipients Announced" . Creative New Zealand . 21 November 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Roger Horrocks: 2015 Autumn Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 31 July 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Anna Jackson" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"$25,000 Writers' Award for 2021 has been awarded to writer, architectural designer, and housing advocate, Jade Kake" . The Big Idea . 1 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Anne Kennedy" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Author writes home about Palmy" . Manawatū Standard . 18 October 2018. p. 11. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Colleen Maria Lenihan: 2019 Emerging Māori Writers Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Kirsten McDougall" . Academy of New Zealand Literature . Retrieved 13 May 2023 .
^
"Frankie McMillan: 2017 University of Auckland Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 18 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2020 .
^
"Climbing life's ladders" . The New Zealand Herald . 2 July 2011. p. B14. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"The Michael King Writers Centre announces its Residencies for 2021" . New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa . 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Kelly Ana Morey" . Academy of New Zealand Literature . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Vincent O'Sullivan: 2009" . Michael King Writers Centre . 2 August 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Lawrence Patchett: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^ Majurey, Erin (24 July 2015).
"Esteemed author will host writing workshop" . The Daily Post . p. A7. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Maria Samuela: 2020 Emerging Pasifika Writers Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 10 November 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Elspeth Sandys" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
^
"Recipe for disaster" . The New Zealand Herald . 13 August 2011. p. B14. Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Philippa Werry" . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^
"Mere Whaanga: 2015 Māori Writer's Residency" . Michael King Writers Centre . 31 July 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2024 .
External links