This is New Zealand’s richest short story prize. Only New Zealand citizens or permanent residents can enter. There are two categories, Open (for those 18 and over, send a story up to 5,000 words), and High School (high school students ages 16-18, send a story up to 3,000 words); those in the latter category also win a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato, and mentoring.
Value: $15,000, $1,000, $500 for the Open category; $2,000, $1,000, $500, and residency for the High School category (NZ dollars)
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Open for: New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
Details here (see the various tabs on this page)

Deadline: June 30th, 2026