2026 Literary Award Winners
Open Poetry (Written): Wendy Clarke
OPEN POETRY (recited): John KELK
SENIOR STUDENT CREATIVE WRITING: ​Aknara Premathilaka
JUNIOR STUDENT CREATIVE WRITING: ​Ellim KIM

Congratulations to winners, runners up, commended writers, and all entrants in another competitive year.

Read the winning entries here.

Full list of placegetters:

Junior Student Creative Writing

• First Place: Ellim Kim, James Hargest College, The Orbit Between Him And Her
  
• Second Place: Summer Johnson, Southland Girls’ High School, A Kingdom of Painted Laughter
  
• Third Place: Shia Kim, James Hargest College, The End of Time
  
• Commended: Kate Sim, James Hargest College, Saving Sullivan
  
• Commended: Athena Garcia, Verdon College, Perfect Pink Vivid Shoes

Senior Student Creative Writing

• First Place: Aknara Premathilaka, Southland Girls’ High School, A Quiet Understanding That We Shared
  
• Second Place: Ruby Thornburgh, Wakatipu High School, Acts of Defiance
  
• Third Place: Liam Kerslake, Southland Boys’ High School, The Wall of Names
  
• Highly Commended: Jessie Atley, Verdon College, The Love of Day and Night
  
• Commended: Madison Michelle Heta, Aparima College, Children of Becoming

Open Poetry Written

• First Place: Wendy Clarke, Defences
  
• Second Place: Andrea Quinlan, A Sonnet in Winter
  
• Third Place: Oshadha Perera, Talking to Shadows
  
• Highly Commended: John Kelk, Identity
  
• Highly Commended: Peter Scott, Pounamu Necklace
  
• Commended: Edna Weedon, Bob
  
• Commended: Sandra Lock, The Light We Live By
  
• Commended: Robyn Welsh, The Nature Table
  
• Commended: Sigourney Holiday, WaVeS

Open Poetry Recited

• First Place: John Kelk, Burt’s Beach

Dan Davin Literary Foundation | PO Box 29 | Invercargill 9840
Email: [email protected]
​