January 2026 Bulletin
As 2026 begins, screenwriters are navigating a familiar mix of momentum and uncertainty. Development opportunities remain active, funding conversations continue to evolve, and questions of sustainability, credit, and creative agency remain front of mind.
Through it all, you, our writers, continue to do what you’ve always done: develop projects, sharpen your craft, and play the long game. So, we’ve opened the year with opportunities and events designed specifically for you!
Let’s pause for a moment, we want to acknowledge a few recent successes.
Congratulations to past Seed recipients Nat Boltt (Holy Days, Seed 2016) and Thunderlips (Mum: I’m Alien Pregnant, Seed 2019), and to the writers behind an exceptionally strong year of New Zealand film releases, including Fiona Samuel (Pike River), Miki Magasiva (Tinā), Finnus Tippett (The Weed Eaters) and Tim Worrall (Ka Whawhai Tonu).
At the end of 2025, NZWG and AWGACS were proud to celebrate screenwriters recognised at the New Zealand Screen Awards:
AWGACS Best Script: Series Winner – Tim Balme, The Brokenwood Mysteries
NZWG Best Script: Feature Winners – Eli Kent and James Ashcroft, The Rule of Jenny Pen
As the year unfolds, NZWG remains focused on supporting writers not just to work, but to be seen, credited, and fairly treated for the work they do. We’re glad to be in this with you, our members.
Ngā mihi nui,
Alice Shearman, Executive Director
New Zealand Writers Guild Puni Taatuhi o Aotearoa
Vale Aroha Awarau
With profound sadness we acknowledge the passing of Aroha Awarau (1976–2026), a cherished colleague, storyteller, and champion of Aotearoa’s creative voice. Aroha served as a board member of the New Zealand Writers Guild from 2020 to 2022, bringing clarity, courage, humour, and a fierce commitment to Māori storytelling into every conversation he joined.
Aroha was a funny, feisty, and ambitious presence in the literary and media worlds: an award-winning journalist, playwright, screenwriter, mentor, and advocate. Across decades of writing for print, television, theatre, and film, Aroha’s work carried both wit and weight, inviting us all to see our stories through braver, richer eyes.
Aroha passed on 14 January 2026, after a short battle with cancer, surrounded by care and love. In his passing, we mourn not only a bold storyteller, but a friend whose presence, and laugh, shaped and strengthened our Guild and our wider community.
He lived fully. He loved deeply. His voice endures in every word he championed and in every story he helped bring into being.
Moe mai rā, Aroha.
Events & Activities
Online Masterclass
Seed draft ready? Application… less so?
Winning SEED Applications with Fiona Samuel.
Fiona shares what strengthens an application, and what quietly weakens it.
Friday 27 February 2026 | 7–8.30pm | Online
TICKETS:
NZWG, Ngā Aho Whakaari, PISA & PASC $5
General Admission $10
It’s all about YOU!
Fifty years of writers. One big year ahead.
From anniversary events to legacy projects, 2026 is shaping up to be something special.
Read more through the link below to see what’s planned and how you’re invited to be part of it all: because it’s all about you, dear writer.
Opportunities & Activities
The Approach
Apply by 16 Feb 2026. The Approach is led by Rob Sarkies, focuses on practical tools for writers, directors & producers moving to feature.
NZFC Filmmaker Morning Teas
Morning and tea, what more could you want! NZFC is hosting events in Auckland 19 Feb and Wellington 24 Feb, with the Funding Team.
Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab
The Co-Lab (MICL) is a Māori-led advanced development programme designed to accelerate Indigenous feature film projects.
Proud Voices: Feature Writers Incubator
Four queer writers with a feature film script will be selected to take part in an eight-month development programme
PASC Short Cuts Deadline Extension
Deadline extended to 2 February! Short Cuts is a series of workshops to nurture and strengthen Pan-Asian projects and/or teams.
Volunteer Film Festival Programmers Wanted
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is a six-month professional development programme for writers, directors and producers.
Writers Credit Survey
Make sure your work is counted. Check and update your credits in the Writers’ Credit Survey.
Take a moment now to be part of history!
Congratulations writers!
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is a six-month professional development programme for writers, directors and producers.
Save the Dates!
WIFT Awards 2026
12 March 2026
St Matthews-in-the-City
Hobson Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Big Screen Symposium
3rd – 4th July 2026
The Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland
NZWG 50th Anniversary Gala
8 October 2026
The Glasshouse
McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland
Election 2026
Reclaim Our Democracy - Register to Vote
Enrol to vote or check and update your enrolment details. Get ready to have your say in Aotearoa New Zealand's general election.
Check, Update, or Enrol to Vote Here
General Election 7 November 2026
Vote for the people and parties who represent us in Parliament and form a government. You need to be enrolled by midnight, 25 October.
Info about the General Election
As 2026 begins, screenwriters are navigating a familiar mix of momentum and uncertainty. Through it all, you, our writers, continue to do what you’ve always done: develop projects, sharpen your craft, and play the long game.
Already an NZWG member? Sign in here
As 2026 begins, screenwriters are navigating a familiar mix of momentum and uncertainty. Development opportunities remain active, funding conversations continue to evolve, and questions of sustainability, credit, and creative agency remain front of mind.
Through it all, you, our writers, continue to do what you’ve always done: develop projects, sharpen your craft, and play the long game. So, we’ve opened the year with opportunities and events designed specifically for you!
Let’s pause for a moment, we want to acknowledge a few recent successes.
Congratulations to past Seed recipients Nat Boltt (Holy Days, Seed 2016) and Thunderlips (Mum: I’m Alien Pregnant, Seed 2019), and to the writers behind an exceptionally strong year of New Zealand film releases, including Fiona Samuel (Pike River), Miki Magasiva (Tinā), Finnus Tippett (The Weed Eaters) and Tim Worrall (Ka Whawhai Tonu).
At the end of 2025, NZWG and AWGACS were proud to celebrate screenwriters recognised at the New Zealand Screen Awards:
AWGACS Best Script: Series Winner – Tim Balme, The Brokenwood Mysteries
NZWG Best Script: Feature Winners – Eli Kent and James Ashcroft, The Rule of Jenny Pen
As the year unfolds, NZWG remains focused on supporting writers not just to work, but to be seen, credited, and fairly treated for the work they do. We’re glad to be in this with you, our members.
Ngā mihi nui,
Alice Shearman, Executive Director
New Zealand Writers Guild Puni Taatuhi o Aotearoa
Vale Aroha Awarau
With profound sadness we acknowledge the passing of Aroha Awarau (1976–2026), a cherished colleague, storyteller, and champion of Aotearoa’s creative voice. Aroha served as a board member of the New Zealand Writers Guild from 2020 to 2022, bringing clarity, courage, humour, and a fierce commitment to Māori storytelling into every conversation he joined.
Aroha was a funny, feisty, and ambitious presence in the literary and media worlds: an award-winning journalist, playwright, screenwriter, mentor, and advocate. Across decades of writing for print, television, theatre, and film, Aroha’s work carried both wit and weight, inviting us all to see our stories through braver, richer eyes.
Aroha passed on 14 January 2026, after a short battle with cancer, surrounded by care and love. In his passing, we mourn not only a bold storyteller, but a friend whose presence, and laugh, shaped and strengthened our Guild and our wider community.
He lived fully. He loved deeply. His voice endures in every word he championed and in every story he helped bring into being.
Moe mai rā, Aroha.
Events & Activities
Online Masterclass
Seed draft ready? Application… less so?
Winning SEED Applications with Fiona Samuel.
Fiona shares what strengthens an application, and what quietly weakens it.
Friday 27 February 2026 | 7–8.30pm | Online
TICKETS:
NZWG, Ngā Aho Whakaari, PISA & PASC $5
General Admission $10
It’s all about YOU!
Fifty years of writers. One big year ahead.
From anniversary events to legacy projects, 2026 is shaping up to be something special.
Read more through the link below to see what’s planned and how you’re invited to be part of it all: because it’s all about you, dear writer.
Opportunities & Activities
The Approach
Apply by 16 Feb 2026. The Approach is led by Rob Sarkies, focuses on practical tools for writers, directors & producers moving to feature.
NZFC Filmmaker Morning Teas
Morning and tea, what more could you want! NZFC is hosting events in Auckland 19 Feb and Wellington 24 Feb, with the Funding Team.
Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab
The Co-Lab (MICL) is a Māori-led advanced development programme designed to accelerate Indigenous feature film projects.
Proud Voices: Feature Writers Incubator
Four queer writers with a feature film script will be selected to take part in an eight-month development programme
PASC Short Cuts Deadline Extension
Deadline extended to 2 February! Short Cuts is a series of workshops to nurture and strengthen Pan-Asian projects and/or teams.
Volunteer Film Festival Programmers Wanted
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is a six-month professional development programme for writers, directors and producers.
Writers Credit Survey
Make sure your work is counted. Check and update your credits in the Writers’ Credit Survey.
Take a moment now to be part of history!
Congratulations writers!
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is a six-month professional development programme for writers, directors and producers.
Save the Dates!
WIFT Awards 2026
12 March 2026
St Matthews-in-the-City
Hobson Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Big Screen Symposium
3rd – 4th July 2026
The Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland
NZWG 50th Anniversary Gala
8 October 2026
The Glasshouse
McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland
Election 2026
Reclaim Our Democracy - Register to Vote
Enrol to vote or check and update your enrolment details. Get ready to have your say in Aotearoa New Zealand's general election.
Check, Update, or Enrol to Vote Here
General Election 7 November 2026
Vote for the people and parties who represent us in Parliament and form a government. You need to be enrolled by midnight, 25 October.
Info about the General Election
Join the New Zealand Writers Guild
Become a member and access exclusive benefits and resources.
