Congratulations to the successful recipients of the 2024 Contestable Fund Grants, with a total of $75,000 granted.
We are excited to announce the successful recipients in the 2024 round of Contestable Fund Grants, with a total of $75,000 granted. This year we received 92 applications, the highest ever number of applications for a Cultural Fund award.
Applications were invited for projects that had clearly defined and measurable outcomes that align with the CLNZ Cultural Fund's objectives. The diverse range and high standard of applications this year demonstrates the work the sector is doing to upskill authors, writers, and publishers.
The Contestable Fund is part of CLNZ’s Cultural Fund, which derives revenue from CLNZ’s licensing activity in New Zealand. The Cultural Fund supports people and projects that encourage the development of current and future writers, publishers, and educators.
This year funding contributions were made towards the following 13 projects. Congratulations to the following recipients:
- Minarets Journal edited by Nirvana Haldar
Publishing project: Special Issue on Poetry in Aotearoa and South Asia – granted $4000
The 15th issue of Minarets brings together writers from Aotearoa and South Asia in a print publication featuring poems, hybrid texts, and critical reflections on writing in former colonial states, in relation to South Asian heritage and immigration in Aotearoa, and the connections that can be made across regions through poetry, literature, and publishing. This special issue is edited by emerging writer and artist Nirvana Haldar, and builds on two previous special issues connecting poetry from Aotearoa with Australia and Singapore.
- SpecFicNZ
Awards project: Juried Award for Aotearoa Speculative Fiction – granted $5000
The creation of a new juried award, associated annual celebration and award website to lift the profile of New Zealand and Pasifika speculative fiction in Aotearoa and beyond.
- The Coalition for Books
Strategy project: Aotearoa Book Sector Plan 2030 – granted $5000
This project is to develop and finalise an ambitious five-year strategic plan for Aotearoa's book sector. This whole-of-sector plan, created in collaboration and conversation with the book sector, will be used as an advocacy tool and as a roadmap for sector growth and success. Funding received from the CLNZ Contestable Fund is towards the writing and design of this plan.
- Kotahi Rau Pukapuka Trust
Editing project: Wānanga Whakapakari Kanohi Hōmiromiro – granted $7040
This project proposes a two-day wānanga to support editors to further develop the specialist craft of editing te reo Māori literary and educational texts, in line with accepted publishing industry standards. The sustainability of high-quality te reo Māori book production is dependent on growing the proficiency of both translators and editors. This wānanga intends to provide participants with the practical skills and knowledge to achieve this. A further objective of the training is to provide feedback to our publishing partners on improvements to editorial and proofing guidelines. -
Āporo Press
Publishing project: Māori Made Difficult x Hinting at Decolonisation – granted $3500
This project is to consolidate, redesign and print two poetry chapbooks, Māori Maid Difficult and Hinting at Decolonization, by Nicola Andrews (Ngāti Paoa, Pākehā), originally published in the United States of America. The resulting collection will feature existing work from these chapbooks and some new work all repackaged for release in Aotearoa. -
Laura Shallcrass
Writing project: Petal and the Luckish (working title) – granted $5000
Petal and the Luckish is a graphic novel for children 6-12 years. It is an exploration of connection and loss, our kaitiaki and those we care for in return. To be published in 2025 by Beatnik Publishing. -
Oratia Books
Publishing project: Moana Oceania: Niue – granted $5300
Moana Oceania: Niue is aimed at supporting Pasifika languages and cultural knowledge for children and general readers who are interested in learning about our Oceania magafaoa (family). Serving communities in Aotearoa, Niue and beyond, this bilingual publication in English and Vagahau Niue extends the Moana Oceania series by authors from island communities writing about daily life, culture, history, government, arts, celebrations and sports. -
Mila's Books
Writing and publishing project: Mila’s Books Tusitala Mentoring Programme 2025 – granted $7500
Ni Alowhaaga o by Selina Alefosio presents an authentic Tokelau diaspora narrative that celebrates cultural heritage through Tokelauan dance, 90s R&B, and themes of self-discovery. This funding will support the publication of Ni Alowhaaga o in an all-Pasifika publishing environment where diverse voices are valued and celebrated. -
Georgina Tuari Stewart (NZ Committee of ANZCCART)
Publishing project: Ngā Kararehe o Aotearoa - he Mātauranga, he Matatika – granted $8220
With funding from MPI’s SF (Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures) fund and support and project management from ANZCCART, my collaborator, Dr Sally Birdsall (University of Auckland), and I researched and developed classroom resources on the topics of Māori knowledge of animals and Māori concepts for animal ethics. We also interviewed six Māori experts working with animals in several domains relevant to animal ethics – agribusiness, biomedical research, veterinary education and others. CLNZ funding will contribute toward printing and publishing costs. -
Saraid de Silva
Writing project: Untitled second novel – granted $7500
Saraid is currently working on her second novel, as yet untitled, which is the story of two women and a stolen car. Her first book, Amma, came out this year in Aotearoa, Australia, and the UK. -
Nelson Festivals Trust
Literary festival project: 2024 Nelson Arts Festival Pukapuka Talks Podcasts – granted $3400
This year's Pukapuka Talks programme features 22 beloved authors and exciting new voices, including five world premieres (authors discussing their books for the first time). With this grant, we will be able to consolidate, augment, update, and promote our Pukapuka Talks Podcast series, which, when complete, will comprise 87 episodes. -
Objectspace
Writing and publishing project: Oceanic Routes: Mike Austin and Pacific Architecture – granted $8000
Oceanic Routes: Mike Austin and Pacific Architecture (working title) is a publication on Pacific architecture and the life and work of Aotearoa architect and academic Dr Mike Austin. Developed in partnership between Objectspace and Vā Moana Research Cluster at AUT, the publication stems from a 2022 exhibition presenting Austin’s extensive archive of Oceanic architecture imagery and the ongoing digitisation of this archive. Oceanic Routes includes writing from Albert L. Refiti, Sarah Treadwell, Lynda Simmons and Rau Hoskins, is designed by Shaun Naufahu, and is edited by Albert L. Refiti, Victoria McAdam and Emily Parr. -
Michael King Writers Centre
Writing project: Stipend for writer's residency: Dominic Hoey – granted $5000
Dominic Hoey was selected as the writer from Aotearoa to spend four weeks on a residency at Varuna, Australia’s National Writers’ House in Katoomba, New South Wales as part of the MKWC international residency exchange with Australia. This grant enables Dominic to receive a stipend whilst on his residency. Dominic worked on his fourth novel, Port (working title), which is part paranormal thriller, part character study wrapped up in poetic prose, set against the eerie beauty of the Otago town of Port Chalmers.
Special thanks to our selection panel of Abby Aitcheson, Craig Gamble and Kim Maryann Harris, who made the following comments about this year’s diverse range of applications:
“I found this year’s panel to be the most challenging to date, owing to the impressive range of applications from across the publishing sector. The decision-making process was made easier with the insights provided by Kim and Craig, whose presence on the panel was hugely valuable. I would also like to extend my thanks to the CLNZ team for the behind-the-scenes mahi over the years. I wish all the applicants the best of luck as they pursue their projects.” – Abby Aitcheson
“Almost as soon as applications opened, we had a sense it was going to be a special year. There was a huge diversity of different projects of all shapes and sizes, often very different aspirations, and in record numbers – but it soon became very clear that almost all were of a very high standard. It was uplifting to see so much important mahi taking place in our publishing sector in Aotearoa, and a privilege to be able to help some of them towards realising their aspirations.” – Craig Gamble
“Tuatahi, me mihi ka tika ki a koutou itukui ō koutou tono ki tēneipunapūtea-tautoko o CLNZ, tēnārā koutou katoa. Everyone's application was done to such a high standard, and it made the panel judge process incredibly challenging. Ka rua - congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Contestable Fund Grants, I look forward to seeing the fruits of your mahi in 2025 and beyond.” – Kim Maryann Harris
Images supplied courtesy of the successful recipients of the 2024 Contestable Fund Grants. Top row, left to right: The Coalition for Books; The Michael King Writers Centre, Dominic Hoey; Kotahi Rau Pukapuka; Georgina Tuari Stewart. Second row left to right: Nelson Arts Festival; Āporo Press; Laura Shallcrass; SpecFicNZ. Third row left to right: Oratia Books; Objectspace, Installation view of Oceanic Architectural Routes: The photographic archive of Mike Austin, 2022–2023 at Objectspace, photograph by Sam Hartnett; Mila’s Books; Minarets Journal. Fourth row left to right: Saraid de Silva.