University of Otago College of Education / Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence

This residency was first offered in 1992 when it was run by the Dunedin College of Education, with Ruth Corrin being the first recipient. It is the only such residency offered to a children's writer by any tertiary institution in New Zealand,^[2] and is awarded for a six-month period between February and August each year. The award includes a stipend of $28,000 (funded by the University of Otago and Creative New Zealand) and the use of an office within the College of Education.^[1][2]

In 2017, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature won a bid for a free stand at the Bologna Children's Book Fair,^[3] and writers who had held the University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children's Writing Residency were highlighted and celebrated in the display.^[4]

In 2025 it was announced that Creative New Zealand had declined further funding, putting the future of the residency in doubt."^[5] The university self-funded the 2025 residency, as it had already been awarded to Samantha Montgomerie when the funding decision was notified.^[5] No fellowship was offered in 2026, and the university instead launched a fundraising drive to build an endowment fund to support the fellowship, intending to offer it again from 2027.^[6]

The recipient of the residency has the option, if wanted, of rent-free accommodation in the Robert Lord Cottage.^[7][8] This hundred-year-old brick cottage at 3 Titan Street, Dunedin North,^[9] was once owned by New Zealand playwright Robert Lord.^[10] Before his death in 1992, Lord set up the ‘Writers Cottage Trust’ with the aim of allowing the cottage to be used in the future as a rent-free home for writers-in-residence.^[9][11]

During her residency, Diana Noonan wrote for the School Journal, later becoming its editor, and Leonie Agnew was inspired to set her 2021 novel The Memory Thief in Dunedin's Botanic Garden. Swapna Haddow wrote three picture books, a junior novel and a middle grade novel during her fellowship. Ella West used her residency to write Night Vision, which won the Children's Choice (Young Adult) award in 2015.^[5]

• 
  Fleur Beale
• 
  Jennifer Beck
• 
  Barbara Else
• 
  David Hill
• 
  Ruth Paul
• 
  Tania Roxborogh

The writers who have been the Otago College of Education / Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence are as follows:^[12]

• Robert Burns Fellowship