Sargeson Prize Explained

Awarded For:Short stories of no more than 5000 words
Location:New Zealand
Eligibility:New Zealand citizens and permanent residents aged 16 and over
Sponsor:The University of Waikato
Sargeson Prize
Firstawarded:2019
Lastawarded:ongoing

The Sargeson Prize is New Zealand's highest-endowed short-story prize.[1] It is awarded for unpublished stories of 5000 words or less submitted by New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.[2]  

The prize honours the legacy of Frank Sargeson, one of New Zealand's most prolific and notable short-story writers.[3] Along with publishing over forty short stories, plays and novels, Sargeson is noted for his support of emerging New Zealand authors.[4] The prize continues to aid writers by offering its winner prize money and publication. The value of the first prize has gradually increased from $5,000 in its first year to $10,000 in the 2022 competition. The first prize for the secondary schools division includes a week-long writing residency at the University of Waikato.[5] [6]

There are two divisions to the prize. The open division is for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents over the age of 16. The secondary schools division is specifically open to New Zealand secondary school students between 16 and 18 years of age.

Founding and sponsorship

Catherine Chidgey, author and senior lecturer in writing studies at the University of Waikato, founded the Sargeson Prize in 2019 in recognition of Frank Sargeson's influence on New Zealand literature.[7] [8]

Sargeson took up a role as mentor to many authors who later became leading figures in New Zealand's literary scene, including the likes of Janet Frame, Maurice Duggan and John Reece Cole.[9] Within his own stories, Sargeson was celebrated for capturing a constrained, working-class voice of New Zealand culture that had not been heard in short fiction up to that point.[10]

The University of Waikato sponsors the Sargeson Prize, offering first, second and third prizes in open and secondary schools divisions, along with highly commended stories.[11]

Open division

The open division takes submissions from New Zealand citizens (including those who may be based abroad) and permanent residents aged 16 and over. Entries must be single, unpublished short stories written in English. Stories should be no more than 5000 words. All three winning stories are now published in Newsroom's literary section, ReadingRoom.[12]

Secondary schools division

The secondary schools division is open to students who are enrolled at a secondary school or homeschooling in New Zealand. They must be aged between 16 and 18 years old on the date that competition entries close. Entries must be single, unpublished stories of no more than 3000 words.[13]

The winning story is published by Newsroom in its ReadingRoom section. The winner also receives a one-week writing residency at the University of Waikato. This opportunity secures mentoring in the School of Arts, with meals and accommodation in the halls of residence. Recipients under 18 years of age require parental approval to attend.

Winners and judges

YearPrizeAuthorTitleJudgePrize
2019[14] First prize, open divisionSam Keenan"Better Graces"Catherine Chidgey[15] $5000Published in Landfall and Mayhem
Second prize, open divisionElizabeth Morton"Elephant"$1000Published in Mayhem
Third prize, open divisionHamish Ansley"Vicious Traditions"$500Published in Mayhem
First equal prize, secondary schools divisionElijah Neilson-EdwardsXiaole Zhan"Stray Dog""Woman, sitting in a garden"$500Published in Mayhem
Second prize, secondary schools divisionAriana Happy"Through Glass Eels"$200
Third prize, secondary schools divisionAmberlea Gordon"The White Dress"$100
2020[16] First Prize, Open DivisionAngela Pope"Lies"Owen Marshall[17] $5000Published in Landfall and Mayhem
Second prize, open divisionSally Franicevich"The Consolidation Phase"$1000Published in Mayhem
Third prize, open divisionDavid Coventry"Apologies, Please"$500Published in Mayhem
First prize, secondary schools divisionAmelia Isac"Nic"$500Published inMayhem
Second prize, secondary schools divisionKezia Rogers"Twelve for a Wicked Curse"$200
Third prize, secondary schools divisionDarcy Monteath"3 levels of mandatory obedience & sapien rebellion"$100
2021[18] First prize, open divisionLara Markstein"Good Men" Patricia Grace$6000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, open divisionMikee Sto Domingo"The Duwende"$1000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Third prize, open divisionJordan Hamel"Unexpected item in the bagging area"$500Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
First prize, secondary schools divisionShima Jack"Muscle Memory"$500Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, secondary schools divisionJade Wilson"What Makes a Forest"$200
Third prize, secondary schools divisionStella Weston"Ghosts"$100
2022[19] First prize, open divisionLeeanne O'Brien"Crawl Space"Fiona Kidman$10000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, open divisionEmily Perkins"The Warning"$1000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Third prize, open divisionStephen Coates"Brendon Varney Opens the Door"$500Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
First prize, secondary schools divisionShima Jack"Fourth Wall"$500Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, secondary schools divisionMaggie Yang"Breaking Up, Breaking Down"$200
Third prize, secondary schools divisionReema Arsilan"A Half-Truth is a Lie"$100
2023[20] First prize, open divisionAnna Woods "Pig Hunting"Vincent O'Sullivan$10000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, open divisionJake Arthur"On Beauty"$1000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Third prize, open divisionClaire Gray"Apple Wine"$500Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
First prize, secondary schools divisionTunmise Adebowale"The Catastrophe of Swimming"$2000Published by Newsroom in ReadingRoom
Second prize, secondary schools divisionLeo Reid"triptych"$200
Third prize, secondary schools divisionJade Wilson"Archeological"$100

The Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture

Winners of the Sargeson Prize are announced annually at the Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture, organised by Dr Sarah Shieff and hosted jointly by the University of Waikato and the Friends of Hamilton Public Library. Prominent New Zealand authors deliver the lecture, and winners of the competition are announced at the end of the proceedings. During the coronavirus lockdown restrictions of 2020 and 2021, the announcements were held online.[21] [22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Zealand's richest short story prize launches with acclaimed writer Patricia Grace as Chief Judge for 2021 New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa . 13 May 2022 . en-US.
  2. Web site: Sargeson Prize entries opened on 1 April – Randell Cottage Writers Trust . 13 May 2022 . en.
  3. Book: Robinson Wattie, Roger Nelson . The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature . Oxford University Press . 1998 . 9780195583489 . Oxford.
  4. Web site: Frank Sargeson NZHistory, New Zealand history online . 13 May 2022 . nzhistory.govt.nz.
  5. Web site: Sargeson Prize – Arts and Social Sciences: University of Waikato . 13 May 2022 . www.waikato.ac.nz.
  6. Web site: Getting published: Writing competitions for teens . 22 May 2022 . my.christchurchcitylibraries.com . en-NZ.
  7. Web site: 1 October 2014 . Sargeson Lecture to Feature Award-Winning Novelist . 13 May 2022 . cms.its.waikato.ac.nz . en-NZ.
  8. Web site: Chidgey . Catherine . 1 April 2019 . Frank and me: The judge of a new literary prize on Sargeson's life-changing largesse . 13 May 2022 . The Spinoff.
  9. McClure . Margaret . 5 July 2016 . Across the Street, Across the World: A History of the Red Cross in New Zealand, 1915 – 2015 . The Journal of New Zealand Studies . 22 . 10.26686/jnzs.v0i22.3954 . 2324-3740. free .
  10. Jones . Lawrence . 2008 . Frank Sargeson [Norris Frank Davey], 1903 – 1982 . Kōtare . 7 . 2 . 157–211 . 10.26686/knznq.v7i2.672 . Victoria. free .
  11. Web site: 16 March 2022 . Sargeson Prize 2022 . 13 May 2022 . Creative Writing NZ . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 6 April 2021 . Newsroom to partner NZ's richest story prize . 13 May 2022 . Newsroom . en-AU.
  13. Web site: Sargeson Prize for Secondary Schools . 22 May 2022 . duotrope.com . en.
  14. Web site: Winners – Arts and Social Sciences: University of Waikato . 5 November 2023 . www.waikato.ac.nz.
  15. Web site: Green . Paula . 3 March 2019 . Poetry Shelf noticeboard: Sargeson Prize . 13 May 2022 . NZ Poetry Shelf . en.
  16. Web site: Lewis . John . 1 October 2020 . City writer's 'Lies' wins Sargeson Prize . 22 May 2022 . Otago Daily Times Online News . en.
  17. Web site: NZBC Stories Details Read NZ . 13 May 2022 . www.read-nz.org.
  18. 13 October 2021 . University of Waikato . Sargeson Prize 2021 Winners Focus On Relationships And Families . 22 May 2022 . www.scoop.co.nz.
  19. Web site: Anderson . Vicki . 29 April 2022 . How to win New Zealand's richest short story competition . 13 May 2022 . Stuff . en.
  20. Web site: Sargeson short story top prize taken home by compelling ‘Pig Hunting’ tale . www.waikato.ac.nz . 5 November 2023 . en-NZ . 29 October 2023.
  21. Web site: Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture – Arts and Social Sciences: University of Waikato . 13 May 2022 . www.waikato.ac.nz.
  22. Web site: Sargeson Prize 2020 : Events Calendar . 13 May 2022 . events.waikato.ac.nz.