The University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence 2018
The University of Otago is the only tertiary institute in New Zealand which offers a residency for a children's writer. Started by the Dunedin College of Education in 1992, it allows writers to work full time while working in a compatible environment among colleagues who are concerned with the teaching of reading and literature to children. Remuneration of $28,000 is jointly funded by the University and Creative New Zealand.
The residency is open to established children's writers who are normally resident in New Zealand. The annual residency is for a six month period between February and August and includes an office within the College.
The residency is offered in association with the Robert Lord Trust which provides rent-free accommodation to writers in the historic Titan Street cottage bequeathed by the late playwright Robert Lord.
Writers appointed to date
1992 Ruth Corrin * 1993 Diana Noonan 1994 Paula Boock 1995 Jack Lasenby 1996 Ken Catran 1997 Dame Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira 1998 Janice Marriott and William Taylor (joint residency) 1999 Fleur Beale 2000 David Elliot 2001 Penelope Todd 2002 Sandy McKay 2003 Pauline Cartwright * and David Hill *(joint residency) 2004 Brigid Lowry * 2005 Margaret Beames and Shirley Corlett *(joint residency) 2006 Tania-Maree Roxborogh * 2007 Vincent Ford * 2008 Bill O’Brien 2009 Joanna Orwin * 2010 Karen Trebilcock (Ella West) 2011 Kyle Mewburn * 2012 James Norcliffe * 2013 Leonie Agnew * 2014 Melinda Szymanik * 2015 Jennifer Beck* and Robyn Belton (joint residency) 2016 Barbara Else* 2017 Mere Whaanga
* indicates use of Robert Lord Writers Cottage
Robert Lord Cottage - 3 Titan Street, Dunedin
THE WRITERS’ COTTAGE TRUST
The Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage at 3 Titan Street, Dunedin, is a small one-bedroom worker’s cottage near the University gifted by playwright Robert Lord as a residency for writers who come to Dunedin to undertake writing projects. It was built in 1909 and has been recently comprehensively renovated.
The Writers’ Cottage Trust has been operating the cottage as a writers’ residence since 2003. Over 30 writers have lived in the cottage since the programme began. It is long and narrow with a sitting room and bedroom both off the hallway, and at the back is the small kitchen/living room and the bathroom. It has a tiny garden courtyard. It is fully furnished and the Trust provides broadband and a landline.
Partnership with the University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence
The Trust has a partnership with the University of Otago. The cottage is offered for six months of the year to each incoming children’s writer at the time of the offer of residency. Recent residents have included Barbara Else, Jennifer Beck, Melinda Szymanik, Leonie Agnew, James Norcliffe, Kyle Mewburn and Vince Ford.