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every year, each with cash prizes: the JF Northey Memorial Book Award, the Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award, the Unpublished Undergraduate Student Paper Award and the Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award.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 Northley Memorial Book Award

This is awarded to the best book published in 2024 by a New Zealand-based author (or authors of any number). The prize is $2,000.
Ned Fletcher

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 2024. The prize is $1,500.
Lrf Writing Awards Sir Ian Barker

Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award

This is awarded to unpublished postgraduate student papers with a minimum of 8,000 and a maximum of 18,000 words.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 2024, however a paper completed during the summer period over 2024–2025 is also eligible provided the paper is submitted by the closing date. The prize is $1,000.
Writing Awards 3

Unpublished Undergraduate Student Paper Award

This is awarded unpublished undergraduate student papers with a minimum of 10,000 words, and a maximum of 18,000 words.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 2024, however a paper completed during the summer period over 2024–2025 is also eligible provided the paper is submitted by the closing date. The prize is $1,000.
Writing Awards Undergraduate Winner