Michael King Writers Centre Explained

Michael King Writers Centre
Coordinates:	-36.8276°N 174.7989°W
Named After:	Michael King
Status:	Charitable trust
Purpose:	Writers' centre
Location City:	Takarunga / Mount Victoria, Auckland
Location Country:	New Zealand

The Michael King Writers Centre is a writing centre on the slope of Takarunga / Mount Victoria in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, which offers residencies to early career and experienced writers. It was established in 2005 in honour of New Zealand historian Michael King.

About the centre

The centre is based at the Signalman's House, a historic house built in 1898, on Takarunga / Mount Victoria in Devonport, Auckland.^{[1] [2]}

the centre had hosted around 140 writers-in-residence. Residencies are of short length to encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds. residencies are offered for between two and three weeks,^[3] although in the past they have been offered for as long as six months.^[4] The centre also offers short-term accommodation for visiting writers on a paying basis.^{[5] [6]}

History

At the memorial service for historian and writer Michael King in 2004, Gordon McLauchlan suggested that a writers' centre in King's name should be set up.^[7] The centre was established through a charitable trust; together with McLauchlan, founding trustees included Christine Cole Catley,^[8] Witi Ihimaera and Geoff Chapple.^[9]

The centre officially opened in July 2005.^{[2] [10]} The first writer-in-residence was Geoff Chapple.^[11]

Between 2007 and 2020, University of Auckland residencies were offered at the centre, supported by Creative New Zealand, which required the writer to spend time at the university's English department.^{[12] [13]} In 2010 the centre began offering Māori writers' residencies, developed with the assistance of Witi Ihimaera.^[14] In July 2011 the centre offered a free week's residency for four writers affected by the Christchurch earthquake.^[15]

In 2014, in partnership with several organisations including the Shanghai Writers' Association, the centre began running an exchange whereby Chinese writers could undertake a residency at the centre and New Zealand writers could undertake a residency in Shanghai.^[11] In 2021 the centre announced a new exchange programme with Varuna, The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains, Sydney.^{[16] [17]}

From 2008 to 2019 the centre offered a programme of workshops for young writers, and since 2012 has published a literary journal of students' work titled Signals.^{[18] [19]} The programme was put on hold in 2020, and the centre has instead run the Signals Awards for writers aged 16 to 21.^{[19] [20] [21]}

Notable residents

Notable recipients of Michael King Writers Centre residencies have included:

• Rachel Barrowman (worked on biography of Maurice Gee, 2010)^[22]
• Ann Beaglehole (2009)^[23]
• Eleanor Catton (wrote the final draft of The Luminaries, 2012)^[24]
• Geoff Chapple (first resident, 2005)^[11]
• Gina Cole (established Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2021)^[25]
• Dick Corballis (worked on biography of Bruce Mason, 2008)^[26]
• Bill Direen (University of Auckland residency, 2010)^[27]
• David Eggleton (wrote Time of the Icebergs poetry collection, 2009)^[28]
• Chris Else (2012)^[29]
• Tracy Farr (2009, 2018, 2021)^{[30] [31]}
• Karyn Hay (2018)^[32]
• Whiti Hereaka (worked on play Rewena, 2012; finished draft of novel Kurangaituku, 2017)^{[33] [34]}
• Roger Horrocks (2015)^[35]
• Anna Jackson (2017)^[36]
• Jade Kake (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, 2019)^[37]
• Anne Kennedy (University of Auckland residency, 2014)^[38]
• Sarah Laing (worked on graphic novel about Katherine Mansfield, 2013; also 2008)^[39]
• Colleen Maria Lenihan (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, worked on short story collection Kōhine, 2019)^[40]
• Kirsten McDougall (2019)^[41]
• Fiona McGregor (through New Zealand-Australia writers' residency exchange, 2023)^[17]
• Frankie McMillan (University of Auckland residency, 2017)^[42]
• Arthur Meek (wrote play about Mary Martin, 2011)^[43]
• Kyle Mewburn (2021)^[44]
• Kelly Ana Morey (Māori writer-in-residence, completed novel Daylight Second, 2014)^[45]
• Vincent O'Sullivan (worked on biography of Ralph Hotere, 2009)^[46]
• Lawrence Patchett (emerging writer-in-residence, 2018)^[47]
• Joan Rosier-Jones (2008, 2010)^[48]
• Maria Samuela (emerging Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2020)^[49]
• Elspeth Sandys (2016)^[50]
• Ian Wedde (wrote novel The Catastrophe, 2009)^[51]
• Philippa Werry (2019)^[52]
• Mere Whaanga (Māori writer-in-residence, 2015)^[53]

Notes and References

1. News: Once upon a time... . 12 May 2024 . The New Zealand Herald . 10 August 2013 . D6.
2. News: The week ahead . 12 May 2024 . Sunday Star-Times . 17 July 2005 . A11.
3. Web site: About Our Residency Programme . Michael King Writers Centre . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ.
4. Web site: Michael King Writer's Centre – Residency Deadline . New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa . 12 May 2024 . 6 October 2017.
5. Web site: Writers Accommodation Bookings . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ.
6. Web site: NZ's national writer-residency organisation continues with an extended number of residencies in 2019 . Creative New Zealand . 13 May 2024 . en . 12 August 2018.
7. News: Writers' centre proposed to honour King . 12 May 2024 . The New Zealand Herald . 19 April 2004 . en-NZ.
8. News: Robinson . Michelle . Bright star of Kiwi writing battles wait . 12 May 2024 . Sunday Star-Times . 7 August 2011 . A9.
9. Web site: The Michael King Writers Centre Trust . Michael King Writers Centre . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ.
10. News: Chumko . André . The crucial luxury of the artist's residency . 12 May 2024 . Stuff . 26 November 2022.
11. News: Chanwai-Earle . Lynda . Kiwi writer returns to the Shanghai rain . 12 May 2024 . Radio New Zealand . 17 October 2016 . en-nz.
12. Web site: Writers in residence . The University of Auckland . 13 May 2024.
13. Web site: The University of Auckland/Creative New Zealand Writer-in-Residence at the Michael King Writers' Centre 2011 . Creative New Zealand . 13 May 2024 . en . 30 November 2010.
14. News: First Maori writer's residency at Michael King Writers' Centre . 13 May 2024 . The Big Idea . 17 December 2009.
15. News: Gates . Charlie . Treat offered to writers suffering 'quake brain' . 12 May 2024 . The Press . 21 July 2011 . A6.
16. Web site: Michael King Writers Centre announces new international residency exchange opportunity with Varuna . Kete Books . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ . 2021.
17. News: Magrin . Federico . Kiwi writer in shock after being selected for international residency . 12 May 2024 . Taranaki Daily News . 8 May 2023.
18. Web site: Pollock . Kerryn . Michael King Young Writers Programme, 2009 . Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 13 May 2024 . 22 October 2014.
19. Web site: History of the MKWC Young Writers Programme . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ.
20. Web site: Signals Young Writers Awards 2021 . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ.
21. Web site: Signals Young Writers Awards 2023 . Michael King Writers Centre . en-NZ.
22. Web site: Rachel Barrowman: 2010 Summer Writers Residency . Michael King Writers Centre. 2 August 2018 . 13 May 2024.
23. Web site: Ann Beaglehole (2009) . Michael King Writers Centre . 7 August 2009 . 20 September 2022.
24. News: Booker winner's North Shore link . 12 May 2024 . North Shore Times . 22 October 2013.
25. News: Gina Cole: 2021 Established Pasifika Writers Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 23 March 2021 . 1 August 2022. Tania .
26. News: Massey prof gets residency . 12 May 2024 . Manawatū Standard . 13 August 2008 . 3.
27. Web site: 2010 Writer-in-Residence selected . University of Auckland . 13 May 2024 . 8 April 2010.
28. News: Better or verse . 12 May 2024 . Sunday Star-Times . 17 April 2011 . F10.
29. Web site: Chris Else . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . 12 May 2024 . en.
30. Web site: Tracy Farr . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . 13 May 2024 . en.
31. Web site: Tracy Farr: 2021 Late Winter Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ . 27 July 2021.
32. News: Dann . Jennifer . 12 Questions: Author and media personality Karyn Hay . 12 May 2024 . The New Zealand Herald . 20 November 2018 . en-NZ.
33. Web site: Visiting Author: Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa) . Publishers Association of New Zealand Inc . 12 May 2024 . 20 November 2014.
34. Web site: Michael King Writers' Centre 2017 Residency Recipients Announced . Creative New Zealand . 12 May 2024 . en . 21 November 2016.
35. Web site: Roger Horrocks: 2015 Autumn Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 31 July 2015 . 13 May 2024.
36. Web site: Anna Jackson . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . 13 May 2024.
37. News: $25,000 Writers' Award for 2021 has been awarded to writer, architectural designer, and housing advocate, Jade Kake . 12 May 2024 . The Big Idea . 1 September 2021.
38. Web site: Anne Kennedy . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . 12 May 2024 . en.
39. News: Author writes home about Palmy . 12 May 2024 . Manawatū Standard . 18 October 2018 . 11.
40. Web site: Colleen Maria Lenihan: 2019 Emerging Māori Writers Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ . 12 February 2019.
41. Web site: Kirsten McDougall . Academy of New Zealand Literature . 13 May 2023.
42. Web site: Frankie McMillan: 2017 University of Auckland Residency. 18 July 2017. Michael King Writers Centre. 7 January 2020.
43. News: Climbing life's ladders . 12 May 2024 . The New Zealand Herald . 2 July 2011 . B14.
44. Web site: The Michael King Writers Centre announces its Residencies for 2021 . 12 May 2024 . New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa . 11 November 2021.
45. Web site: Kelly Ana Morey . Academy of New Zealand Literature . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ.
46. Web site: Vincent O'Sullivan: 2009 . Michael King Writers Centre . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ . 2 August 2018.
47. Web site: Lawrence Patchett: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 12 May 2024 . en-NZ . 11 July 2018.
48. News: Majurey . Erin . Esteemed author will host writing workshop . 12 May 2024 . The Daily Post . 24 July 2015 . A7.
49. Web site: Maria Samuela: 2020 Emerging Pasifika Writers Residency . Michael King Writers Centre . 13 May 2024 . en-NZ . 10 November 2020.
50. Web site: Elspeth Sandys. Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. 13 May 2024.
51. News: Recipe for disaster . 12 May 2024 . The New Zealand Herald . 13 August 2011 . B14.
52. Web site: Philippa Werry . 12 May 2024 . Read NZ Te Pou Muramura . en.
53. Web site: Mere Whaanga: 2015 Māori Writer's Residency. 31 July 2015. Michael King Writers Centre. 13 May 2024.