The 2021 Kiwi young writer program looks toward 2021 with some anticipation as a New Zealand young writer “Entity” is in the future.
This has been discussed at great length but then Covid 19 stepped in and it all came to a massive “pause”.
But, with 20201 around the corner and a Kiwi young writer conference being planned for the Autumn in Auckland, on the agenda will be a NZ “Entity”.
This means that all the Kiwi young writers functionary roles stay as they are – but that the legal ownership and policy decision making will be that of New Zealand and not Australia.
Kiwi functionary roles
Coordinator Weeks 1 and 2 – Matthew Thornton
Late comers chaser - Rebecca Howan
Editor - Esther Koh
Coordinator – Week 3 - Jessical Knell
Link to Christian Today - Tim Newman
Mathew Thornton is from Auckland, Rebecca Howan and Esther Koh from Wellington, Jessica Knell from Auckland and Tim Newman Nelson.
Tim Newman’s role for New Zealand replaces the Australian link to Christian Today, another step towards a completely independent NZ young writer entity.
Tim was a young writer 2014-16, earned a Masters at Canterbury Uni (Christchurch) and a journalism internship with Fairfax followed by journalist jobs in the Fairfax Group (Stuff NZ) in Invercargil (Southern Times) and now with the Nelson Times.
As this new year gets underway so too it is good to look back as to whence the Kiwi program had come.
Other roles
There are other critical roles that Kiwis have in the functioning of the Kiwi young writer program
Kiwi Facebook page - shared month about by Kevin Park and Ariana Pereira
NZ Christina media – month about by Manuele Teofilo and Blake Gardiner
NZ senior writer coordinator - Mussita Ng
Background
The Kiwi young writers were initiated in 2012 with NZ conferences in Auckland and Christchurch 2013, and then Wellington in 2014.
What we’re looking for now are the current Kiwi young writers to step up. A Patron for the Kiwi young writers Major Christina Tyson was established early in 2020 as one further step towards a NZ young writer Entity.
We’re looking for additional Kiwi young people to step forward as young writers – contact Esther Koh - koh_esther22@yahoo.com Auckland’s Amos Sale has returned to the Kiwi young writers.
This video was from the 2014 Wellington ‘Kiwi young writer’ conference .