MEDIA RELEASE
To: Arts Reporters/Literary Editors
Date: 16 April 2003
No of pages: 2
2003 Prime Minister’s Awards
for Literary Achievement
Creative New Zealand calls for nominations
Readers, writers, other individuals and organisations are invited to nominate their choice of an outstanding New Zealand
writer in the genres of poetry, fiction and non-fiction for the inaugural 2003 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary
Achievement.
Aimed at New Zealand writers who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand literature, the Prime Minister’s
Awards for Literary Achievement offer three awards - poetry, fiction, non-fiction - worth $60,000 each.
Fiction includes the categories of novel, short story, play, children’s fiction and scriptwriting. For non-fiction,
there is no restriction in the subject matter and the quality of work is the main determinant.
The annual Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement, the result of additional funding to the literary sector
announced by the Government in May 2002, are administered by Creative New Zealand.
Peter Biggs, Chair of Creative New Zealand, says that New Zealanders are renowned for their love of books and reading.
“These awards are a chance for people to put forward the names of outstanding New Zealand poets, fiction writers and
non-fiction writers whose words and works have touched their lives,” he says. “For the recipients, the awards will
provide recognition of their tremendous contribution to New Zealand’s literary canon.”
The nominated writers must be New Zealanders by birth or registration and should have written a body of work that has
received nationwide acclaim. Nominations, which close at 5pm, Friday 23 May 2003, will be assessed by an expert literary
panel and its recommendations will be forwarded to the Council of Creative New Zealand for approval.
The 2003 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement will be announced at a special ceremony in late 2003.
Nomination forms are available from any of Creative New Zealand’s offices (Auckland Tel: 09-373 3066; Christchurch Tel:
03-366 2072 Wellington Tel: 04-473 0880). From Thursday 17 April, you can also download the nomination forms from the
Resources section of Creative New Zealand’s website (www.creativenz.govt.nz). Alternatively, you can contact Danielle
Tolson at Creative New Zealand (Tel: 04-473 0184 Email: daniellet@creativenz.govt.nz) for more information.
ends
For more information please contact:
Undine Marshfield
Media and Communications Adviser
Creative New Zealand
Tel: 04-498 0725
Iona McNaughton
Writer/Editor
Creative New Zealand
Tel: 04-498 0715