Breton Dukes wins NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates Breton Dukes on winning the NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025 to work on a collection of connected short stories. This annual award is made possible by the generosity of the Beatson’s. In establishing this fellowship, they have given NZ authors a valuable opportunity to be economically secure while they bring a project to completion. It’s a commitment and affirmation for New Zealand Aotearoa writers. The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) offers its sincere thanks to the Beatsons.

Breton Dukes has this to say about his win: "It's hard being a writer. The self-doubt. The blank page - that blinking cursor! And let's be frank, this government and most of the previous ones don't care/haven't cared about the arts. They don't care about literature. Those in power would struggle to spell the word. Their idea of funding the arts is a joke. We grovel for every cent. And books don't sell - especially short story collections. So, what a boost to get a phone call in the middle of a quiet Wednesday - I was napping on the couch! A phone call about winning the Peter Beatson Fellowship - real money to do more writing. Recognition for the work I have put in up to this point. And faith in what will come next. And real money - did I mention that? Thanks to the NZSA and thanks to Peter Beatson - good on you, Peter! Thanks for the faith."

The judging panel of Laurence Fearnley and Paddy Richardson commented: "The standard of applications was particularly high this year with many well-established writers applying for the fund. The range of projects was varied: from historical nonfiction, through to creative nonfiction, essays and memoir, fiction, poetry, and junior literature. As many of the projects were of very high quality, with support from publishers, the selection rested heavily on the writing samples. All of the samples from the shortlisted authors stood out for their originality, voice — which ranged from the challenging to the playful —and craft. After much thought, Breton Dukes was announced winner with Janis Freegard as runner-up."

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates winner Breton Dukes, along with runner-up Janis Freegard and shortlisted writers:- Majella Cullinane, Wes Lee, Ruth Paul, Carl Shuker, and Louise Wallace.

In 2024 the fellowship was awarded to Dr Jacqueline Leckie to work on a biography with the working title Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance. In previous years, recipients have included: Laurence Fearnley, Whiti Hereaka, Siobhan Harvey, Frankie McMillan, Sue Wooton, Paddy Richardson, Tina Makereti, Tim Jones, Emma Neale, Mandy Hager, Carl Nixon, Glenn Colquhoun, Sue McCauley and Marilyn Duckworth.

The NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship is an annual award open to any NZSA member working on a new fiction, non-fiction, poetry or drama project.