The Michael King Writers Centre is pleased to announce that next year’s programme of residencies at the historic Signalman’s House on Takarunga Mt Victoria in Devonport, Auckland, is now open for applications. Writers awarded a residency can look forward to peaceful accommodation, the use of a writing studio, a supporting stipend and the opportunity to focus on a specific writing project.

The 2026 programme offers 16 residencies to emerging and established writers for periods of two to four weeks. Awarded residencies will include up to four specifically for Māori or Pasifika writers.

Applications close on Monday 01 September and the selections are expected to be announced in November.

Click here for the Schedule of Residencies, Application Form and more details.

Over one hundred and eighty New Zealand writers have held residencies at the centre since 2005. These include Whiti Hereaka, winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2022 NZ Book Awards, David Eggleton (Poet Laureate for New Zealand 2019-2022), along with Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton. This year's Ockham NZ Book awards saw 43 books long-listed from 175 entries. Six of those long-listed were MKWC alumni. These included: Shilo Kino (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto), Laurence Fearnley, Tina Makereti (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore, Pākehā), Megan Dunn, Jason Gurney (Ngāpuhi) and Emma Neale. Emma went on to win The Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry.

For further inquiries please contact Administrator Tania Stewart administrator@writerscentre.org.nz