Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence

Applications are now open for the 2025 appointment, with a closing date of 31 May 2025.

The Residency will run in the second half of the year.

About the residency

The Emerging Pasifika Writer's Residency was established in 2019 by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, with the support of Creative New Zealand. It is open to writers at an early stage of their careers, with a growing body of work in any genre. It includes a writing room, mentorship, and a stipend of $15,000.

The Residency is unique in offering the chance to work within an established community of writers at the University's International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML), with a mentor from the Pasifika arts community.

Applications are invited from Pasifika writers in all areas of literary activity, including drama, fiction and poetry (page and performance), devised performance, creative non-fiction and graphic novels. Please note: film and television scriptwriting projects are not eligible.

Applicants should be writers at an early stage of their career, with a growing body of work, and must be either New Zealand citizens or hold permanent residency. Applicants should not be full-time employees of Creative New Zealand or the University, nor have been employed on a full-time basis by the University in the twelve months prior to the closing date. Current tertiary students are also ineligible.

The 2024 Resident was Emele Ugavule. (See below)

See the full role description and application form on the Current Vacancies page of the University's website. Enquiries can be directed to modernletters@vuw.ac.nz.

We also offer the three-month Emerging Māori Writer's Residency, and the full-year Victoria University of Wellington/Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence on an annual basis.

2024 Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence—Emele Ugavule

Born in Takapuna and raised on Bindjareb Boodja, Emele is the founder of the Indigenous-led arts collective Studio Kiin which was established between Bindjareb Boodja, Whadjuk Boodja and Aotearoa. She is now based in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai. Emele is a published poet and her plays have been performed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Arts House Melbourne. She runs the podcasts Unravel and Solwata Kin. Emele is also a senior tutor in Craft and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

During the residency, Emele worked on her play 'Ancestor Incarnate', which she describes as "an intercultural Melafuturist work that unpacks the relationship between native cases against the British Crown, food sovereignty, and climate change in Oceania."

Previous Emerging Pasifika Writers in Residence

All photos by Robert Cross.

2021  Simone Kaho

2020 Tavita Nielsen-Mamea

Due to COVID restrictions, no portraits were taken of these residents. Although awarded for 2020, Tavita's residency was held in 2021, again due to COVID restrictions.