Writing to his own beat: David Coventry to take up residence at University of Waikato
Dr David Coventry will spend 2026 at Waikato writing short stories set during the 1981 Springbok Tour, exploring the psychology of a divided nation.
Each year the University of Waikato invites applications for the position of Writer in Residence, tenable for twelve months from early January.
The position is jointly funded by the University of Waikato and Creative New Zealand.
Who can apply
- Applications are open to poets, novelists, short story writers, dramatists, and writers of serious non-fiction.
- Applicants should be New Zealand residents or New Zealand citizens temporarily living overseas.
- The appointment is made on the basis of a record of publications of high quality, and the strength of the residency proposal.
There are no teaching or lecturing duties attached to the award, the sole purpose of which is to give the Writer the freedom to write. It is expected the Writer will participate in the cultural life of the University.
Application form
The position is advertised around the end of August each year. At that time applications forms will be available on the University of Waikato Careers website.
For more information, please contact:
- Catherine Chidgey via email catherine.chidgey@waikato.ac.nz
History of our name
The late Ngāti Wairere elder Meto Hopa spoke of an ancient whare wānanga of Ngāti Wairere called Te Tiwhaopareiriwhare that stood on the ridge now known as Hillcrest Road, Hamilton East. According to Meto, the surrounding forest and swamp was called Kaipukahu for its abundance of foods – kai meaning food, and pukahu meaning abundant.
Equally significant was the food for the soul, the food for the mind and the food for the heart spread and gathered at the whare wānanga Te Tiwhaopareiriwhare. The Kaipukahu University of Waikato residency for writers acknowledges the symbolism and mana of Kaipukahu, and the fact that the University of Waikato stands on the site of Te Tiwhaopareiriwhare.
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Waikato’s Writer in Residence to explore failed love and the world beyond
The University welcomes its new Writer in Residence for 2025, Joan Fleming.
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2024 Writer in Residence reconnects with heritage at Waikato
Dedicating the year to writing his first novel isn’t the only positive thing about being named the Kaipukahu University of Waikato Writer in Residence for 2024.
Past writers in residence
2026 David Coventry
2025 Joan Fleming
2024 Ben Brown
2023 Anthony Byrt
2022 Diana Clarke
2021 Michalia Arathimos
2020 Richard von Sturmer
2019 Rosetta Allan
2018 Therese Lloyd
2017 Bob Orr
2016 Steven Toussaint
2015 Mandy Hager
2014 Dr John Newton
2013 Professor Andrew Sharp
2012 Michael Morrissey
2011 Jeffrey Holman
2010 Albert Belz
2009 Catherine Chidgey
2008 Christopher Bourke
2007 Ken Catran
2006 Peter Wells
2005 Tina Shaw
2004 No appointment
2003 Mitch Thomas
2002 Kate Camp
2001 Anna Jackson
2000 John Dickson
1999 Beryl Fletcher
1998 Elspeth Sandys
1997 John Cranna
1996 John Pule
1995 Renee
1994 Michael King
1993 Mona Williams
1992 Maurice Shadbolt
1991 Tessa Duder