writer in residence 2023
Expressions of interest are open now and will close on 31 March 2023.
writer in residence 2021

The Dan Davin Literary Foundation's Writer in Residence program was initiated in 2019. A bi-annual program, it invites writers from around New Zealand to apply to stay in Southland while working on their current work-in-progress. During their stay, these writers conduct workshops with students and adults and share their valuable skills of writing and in particular, writing short stories.
The residency program has been made possible through a bequest the Foundation received several years ago from Laurie King.
The trustees are proud to introduce this year's writer,
This year, 2021, the Dan Davin Literary Foundation welcomes Colleen Maria Lenihan, a writer of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Irish descent, and based in Auckland.
In 2019, Colleen won the Michael King Writers’ Centre Residency for emerging Maori writers and Steve Braunias' Newsroom/Surrey Hotel Writers Residency. This year her short story book Girl is being published by Huia Publishers. Colleen has had articles published by the NZ Herald including the 2020 article Whanganui Cafe wouldn’t let my Maori Mum use the toilet" which reflected on New Zealand during the height of the Black Lives Matter campaign, following the death of George Floyd.
This year’s residency, beginning on the 11th of August to the 5th of September, is kindly supported by SIT through the use of Yule house for Colleen’s stay. This is her first trip to Southland and we are pleased to include a trip to Stewart Island and Milford as part of the experience for her. As a photographer as well as a writer we know Southland will provide Colleen with a memorable experience and the inspiration for future written works.
On Wednesday, 1st of September, as part of the Dan Davin Award, Colleen will deliver the annual Dan Davin Lecture.
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation residency has been made possible through a bequest the Foundation received several years ago from Laurie King.
For further information about the residency or upcoming workshops conducted by Colleen, please contact dandavin@xtra.co.nz or look for information on our Facebook Page.
Media enquiries
Colleen is happy to speak to media about her trip and the Residency. Please contact Becs Amundsen, chair of the Dan Davin Literary Foundation, by emailing dandavin@xtra.co.nz
The residency program has been made possible through a bequest the Foundation received several years ago from Laurie King.
The trustees are proud to introduce this year's writer,
This year, 2021, the Dan Davin Literary Foundation welcomes Colleen Maria Lenihan, a writer of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi and Irish descent, and based in Auckland.
In 2019, Colleen won the Michael King Writers’ Centre Residency for emerging Maori writers and Steve Braunias' Newsroom/Surrey Hotel Writers Residency. This year her short story book Girl is being published by Huia Publishers. Colleen has had articles published by the NZ Herald including the 2020 article Whanganui Cafe wouldn’t let my Maori Mum use the toilet" which reflected on New Zealand during the height of the Black Lives Matter campaign, following the death of George Floyd.
This year’s residency, beginning on the 11th of August to the 5th of September, is kindly supported by SIT through the use of Yule house for Colleen’s stay. This is her first trip to Southland and we are pleased to include a trip to Stewart Island and Milford as part of the experience for her. As a photographer as well as a writer we know Southland will provide Colleen with a memorable experience and the inspiration for future written works.
On Wednesday, 1st of September, as part of the Dan Davin Award, Colleen will deliver the annual Dan Davin Lecture.
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation residency has been made possible through a bequest the Foundation received several years ago from Laurie King.
For further information about the residency or upcoming workshops conducted by Colleen, please contact dandavin@xtra.co.nz or look for information on our Facebook Page.
Media enquiries
Colleen is happy to speak to media about her trip and the Residency. Please contact Becs Amundsen, chair of the Dan Davin Literary Foundation, by emailing dandavin@xtra.co.nz
Writers in Residence 2019
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation is excited to announce that in 2019 they will be hosting the first Dan Davin Literary Foundation Writer in Residence. This Residency has been made possible through a generous bequest from Laurie King and the help of the Southern Institute of Technology.
Since the mid 1990s the Foundation has supported creative writers in Southland through writing workshops, competitions and presentations, the Residency marks a new phase in the Foundation’s work.
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation is very pleased to announce that we will be hosting the inaugural Dan Davin Literary Foundation Writer in Residence this year. The Foundation is pleased with the calibre of applications we received for the residency and we are very pleased to announce that for this residency we have offered a joint opportunity to Dunedin based writers Majella Cullinane and Maxine Alterio.
They will be staying in Invercargill for 6 weeks from 29 August and during that time will not only attend to their own work but will host a variety of writing workshops throughout the region. We have also ensured that they have some Southland experiences while here and the residency includes a trip to Stewart Island for Majella and for Maxine a trip to Milford Sound.
The workshops will be for both adults and youth so if you are interested in finding out more about these please contact us through our Facebook page or by email dandavin@xtra.co.nz
Since the mid 1990s the Foundation has supported creative writers in Southland through writing workshops, competitions and presentations, the Residency marks a new phase in the Foundation’s work.
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation is very pleased to announce that we will be hosting the inaugural Dan Davin Literary Foundation Writer in Residence this year. The Foundation is pleased with the calibre of applications we received for the residency and we are very pleased to announce that for this residency we have offered a joint opportunity to Dunedin based writers Majella Cullinane and Maxine Alterio.
They will be staying in Invercargill for 6 weeks from 29 August and during that time will not only attend to their own work but will host a variety of writing workshops throughout the region. We have also ensured that they have some Southland experiences while here and the residency includes a trip to Stewart Island for Majella and for Maxine a trip to Milford Sound.
The workshops will be for both adults and youth so if you are interested in finding out more about these please contact us through our Facebook page or by email dandavin@xtra.co.nz