Writing Awards

We offer four prestigious Writing Awards every year, each with cash prizes: the JF Northey Memorial Book Award, the Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award, the Unpublished Undergraduate Student Paper Award and the Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award.

The Writing Awards open every November and close March the following year. The winners are announced at our AGM the following year.

JF Northey Memorial Book Award

This is awarded to the best book published in 2025 by a New Zealand-based author (or authors of any number). The prize is $2,000. The 2025 award is now open.

JF Northey Memorial Book Award

Please fill out the information below. For any queries, please get in touch with Julia Clancy at julia@legalresearch.org.nz.

Please send your book to Legal Research at either of the following addresses: University of Auckland, 9 Eden Crescent, Auckland 1010, or P.O. Box 741, Shortland Street, Auckland.

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Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award

This is awarded to the best article, essay or discrete book chapter published by a New Zealand-based author in 2025. The prize is $1,500. The 2025 award is now open.

Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award

Please fill out the information below. For any queries, please get in touch with Julia Clancy at julia@legalresearch.org.nz.

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Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award

This is awarded to unpublished postgraduate student papers with a minimum of 8,000 and a maximum of 18,000 words. The paper must have been written for course credit at a New Zealand university. The writing of the paper must have been completed by the end of 2025, however a paper completed during the summer period over 2025–2026 is also eligible provided the paper is submitted by the closing date. The prize is $1,000. The 2025 award is now open.

Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award

Please fill out the information below. For any queries, please get in touch with Julia Clancy at julia@legalresearch.org.nz.

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Unpublished Undergraduate Student Paper Award

This is awarded unpublished undergraduate student papers with a minimum of 10,000 words, and a maximum of 18,000 words. The paper must have been written for course credit at a New Zealand university. The writing of the paper must have been completed by the end of 2025, however a paper completed during the summer period over 2025–2026 is also eligible provided the paper is submitted by the closing date. The prize is $1,000. The 2025 award is now open.

Unpublished Undergraduate Student Paper Award

Entries must be submitted through your university. Only five entries from each university will be accepted.

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Previous Winners