Sargeson Prize: Short Story Competition (New Zealand)

Prize Divisions

• Open Division
  • The Open Division is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents aged 16 and over who are writing in English. Published and unpublished writers are welcome to enter. Entries must be single stories of no more than 5000 words. They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.
• Secondary Schools Division
  • The Secondary Schools Division is open to students enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school, or home-schooled students, who are aged between 16 and 18 years on the date that competition entries close. Entries must be single stories of no more than 3000 words. They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.
  • The winner of the Secondary Schools Division will also be offered a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato, to be taken up in January or February of the following year. The residency will include accommodation and meals at one of the University of Waikato Halls of Residence, a writing space in the School of Arts, and mentoring from postgraduate students and/or academic staff in the Writing Studies programme. If the winner is under 18 years of age, parental consent will be required.

Funding Information

• Open Division
  • First Prize: $10,000
  • Second Prize: $1,000
  • Third Prize: $500
• Secondary Schools Division
  • First Prize: $2,000
  • Second Prize: $1,000
  • Third Prize: $500

Who can enter?

• Entry to the Competition is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents living in New Zealand. Proof of citizenship or residency may be required.
• Entrants in the Open Division of the Competition must be at least 16 years of age on the date that Competition entries close. There is no upper age limit.
• Entrants in the Secondary Schools Division of the Competition must be enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school and aged between 16 and 18 years of age on the date that Competition entries close. Home-schooled students who have a Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School from the Ministry of Education may also enter, providing that schooling is their primary occupation.
• The individuals excluded from entry into the Competition are:
  • members of the Competition screening panel;
  • official judge(s) of the Competition;
  • permanent staff members of the English and Writing Studies programmes at the University of Waikato;
  • the Sargeson Prize Assistant;
  • the editor of ReadingRoom.

For more information, visit University of Waikato.