40th anniversary for Aotearoa’s biggest short story competition

AUCKLAND, Today: The Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards celebrates its 40th anniversary, giving New Zealand writers the chance to compete for a record-breaking $ 20,000 prize pool.

Sunday Star-Times Editor c remarked, “The awards give short stories a platform to stand tall. Past winners include some of New Zealand’s most loved authors, including Carl Nixon, Eleanor Catton, Kirsten McDougall, and Dominic Hoey.”

“Each year I am amazed at the calibre of writing the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards attracts,” she added. “I’m sure the bar will be raised even further this year.”

This year’s competition offers three categories:

• Open award (up to 3000 words) – $ 15,000 prize.
• Emerging Māori or Pasifika writer award (up to 3000 words) – $ 2,500 prize
• Milford Foundation secondary school writer award (up to 2000 words) – $ 2,500 prize

“Each year I am amazed at the calibre of writing the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards attracts. I’m sure the bar will be raised even further this year.” – Tracy Watkins

Milford Foundation CEO Bryce Marsden expressed pride in sponsoring the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards. “We are passionate about making New Zealand an incredible place to live for future generations,” he said.

Marsden also highlighted the theme for the secondary school category: “40 years.” Students can explore ideas like a 40-year promise, where Aotearoa will be in 40 years, or stories unfolding over 40 years.

The 2024 Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards will be judged by novelist Eileen Merriman in the open category, The Space Between author Lauren Keenan in the emerging Māori and Pasifika category, and poet Jane Arthur in the secondary school category.

Entries are judged anonymously, and the winning open story will be published in the Sunday Star-Times and on thepost.co.nz. The awards are also supported by Heft Communications and the Wellington Writers Studio.

Submissions are open until 11:45pm on 7 October. Entry details are available at thepost.co.nz/storyawards.