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Entries open for Sargeson Prize in New Zealand

Deadline: 30-Jun-2026

The University of Waikato is inviting emerging and established writers to submit original, unpublished short stories in English for the Sargeson Prize. The competition offers major recognition and cash prizes, including $15,000 for first place in the Open Division, and is open to eligible New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, with separate Open and Secondary Schools divisions.

What is the University of Waikato Sargeson Prize?

The University of Waikato Sargeson Prize is a prestigious creative writing competition for original, unpublished short stories written in English.

It is open to both:

  • Emerging writers
  • Established writers

The competition is divided into two categories:

  • Open Division
  • Secondary Schools Division

The prize aims to support literary talent in New Zealand by offering cash awards, recognition, and in some cases, a writing residency opportunity.

What Kind of Writing is Eligible?

The competition accepts:

  • Original
  • Unpublished
  • Short stories
  • Written in English

This means entries must not have been published previously and must be the entrant’s own original work.

Competition Divisions

Open Division

The Open Division is intended for adult writers.

Open Division Entry Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be a New Zealand citizen living anywhere in the world, or
  • Be a New Zealand permanent resident currently living in New Zealand

Word Limit

  • Maximum 5,000 words

Who Can Apply?

Both of the following are eligible:

  • Published writers
  • Unpublished writers

As long as the story is:

  • Original
  • Unpublished

Secondary Schools Division

The Secondary Schools Division is intended for younger writers currently in school.

Secondary Schools Division Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be aged 16 to 18
  • Be enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school, or
  • Be home-schooled with appropriate certification

Prize Money and Benefits

Open Division Prizes

The Open Division offers:

  • First Prize: $15,000
  • Second Prize: $1,000
  • Third Prize: $500

Additional Benefit for the Winner

The Open Division winner is also offered a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato.

What the Residency Includes

The residency includes:

  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • A dedicated writing space
  • Mentorship from postgraduate students or academic staff

Important Note

If the winner is under 18, the residency is subject to parental consent.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible overall, entrants must be:

  • New Zealand citizens residing anywhere in the world, or
  • New Zealand permanent residents currently living in New Zealand

Applicants may be asked to provide proof of:

Division-Specific Eligibility

Open Division

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must meet nationality/residency requirements

Secondary Schools Division

  • Must be 16–18 years old
  • Must be enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school or be home-schooled with proper certification
  • Must also meet nationality/residency requirements

Who is Not Eligible?

The following individuals are excluded from entering:

  • Members of the competition screening panel
  • Official judges
  • Permanent staff of the English and Writing Studies programmes at the University of Waikato
  • The Sargeson Prize Assistant
  • The editor of ReadingRoom

Why This Competition Matters

The Sargeson Prize is a valuable opportunity because it offers:

  • Significant cash funding
  • National literary recognition
  • Support for both new and established writers
  • A chance to build a writing profile through a respected New Zealand competition
  • A unique summer residency for the Open Division winner

For emerging writers, it can be a strong credibility boost.

For established writers, it offers both recognition and substantial prize support for unpublished work.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare and submit an eligible short story according to the division rules.

Suggested Application Steps

  1. Choose your division
    • Open Division
    • Secondary Schools Division
  2. Check your eligibility
    • Confirm age
    • Confirm New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency status
    • Confirm school enrollment if applying to the Secondary Schools Division
  3. Write an original short story
    • The story must be:
      • Original
      • Unpublished
      • Written in English
  4. Follow the word limit
    • Open Division: up to 5,000 words
    • Check the official rules for the Secondary Schools Division word limit if separately specified
  5. Prepare proof documents if needed
    • Citizenship or residency proof
    • School enrollment or home-school certification for secondary applicants
  6. Submit according to official competition instructions
    • Follow the University of Waikato’s official submission process and deadline details

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a story that has been published before
  • Exceeding the word limit
  • Entering the wrong division
  • Not meeting age requirements
  • Failing to provide proof of citizenship/residency
  • Secondary school entrants not showing valid school or home-school status
  • Ignoring exclusion rules for ineligible individuals

Quick Facts

  • Organizer: University of Waikato
  • Competition Name: Sargeson Prize
  • Type: Short story competition
  • Eligible Work: Original, unpublished short stories in English
  • Divisions: Open Division and Secondary Schools Division
  • Open Division Word Limit: Up to 5,000 words
  • Open Division First Prize: $15,000
  • Open Division Second Prize: $1,000
  • Open Division Third Prize: $500
  • Extra Benefit: One-week summer residency for Open Division winner
  • Eligible Applicants: New Zealand citizens worldwide, or permanent residents living in New Zealand

FAQs

1. What is the University of Waikato Sargeson Prize?

It is a short story competition run by the University of Waikato for original, unpublished fiction in English, open to eligible New Zealand writers.

2. Who can apply for the Open Division?

The Open Division is for applicants who are:

  • 18 years or older
  • New Zealand citizens living anywhere in the world, or
  • New Zealand permanent residents currently living in New Zealand

3. What is the maximum word count for the Open Division?

The maximum word limit for the Open Division is 5,000 words.

4. Can published writers apply?

Yes. Both published and unpublished writers may apply, as long as the submitted story is original and previously unpublished.

5. What prizes are available in the Open Division?

The Open Division offers:

  • First Prize: $15,000
  • Second Prize: $1,000
  • Third Prize: $500

6. What is the residency offered to the winner?

The Open Division winner is offered a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato, including:

  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Writing space
  • Mentorship

7. Who cannot enter the competition?

Judges, screening panel members, certain University of Waikato English and Writing Studies staff, the Sargeson Prize Assistant, and the editor of ReadingRoom are not eligible.

Conclusion

The University of Waikato Sargeson Prize is an excellent opportunity for New Zealand writers to gain major recognition, compete for significant cash prizes, and potentially receive a summer writing residency. Writers with strong, original, unpublished short stories should consider applying in the appropriate division.

For more information, visit The University of Waikato.