NZWG 50th Anniversary 1976 - 2026
NZWG Turns 50!
Fifty years of stories. Millions of words. One blank page at a time.
In 2026, the New Zealand Writers Guild turns 50.
That’s half a century of screenwriters staring down the terror and promise of a blank page.
Fifty years of ideas scribbled on buses, rewritten at kitchen tables, argued over in writers’ rooms, and finally transformed into the films and television shows that have helped Aotearoa see itself.
To mark this milestone, NZWG is presenting a year-long programme of live events, online masterclasses, and international conversations that celebrate screenwriting as both craft and cultural force. This is a birthday year with substance: reflective, curious, occasionally irreverent, and deeply proud of the writers who got us here.
Why This Matters
Every screen story starts quietly. One writer. One idea. One page.
And then something remarkable happens.
Crews are hired. Actors perform. Communities host productions. Economies move. Audiences laugh, argue, cry, recognise themselves, and sometimes see the country anew.
Screenwriting sits at the start of that chain. It is both invisible and foundational, precarious and powerful. The 50th anniversary programme asks big questions about that paradox, while also making space for practical support, professional learning, and a bit of collective joy.
The 2026 Programme
From February through October, NZWG will host monthly events, alternating between live panels around the country and online masterclasses accessible nationwide.
You can book tickets for all these events through our website HERE or through our Humanitix collection HERE
February
Online Masterclass
Winning SEED Applications
With Fiona Samuel
March
Live Panel | Wellington
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
Practitioners, critics and academics ask: what have our screen stories said about us, and what are they saying now?
April
Online Masterclass
What You Need to Create a TV Series
With Rachel Lang
May
Live Panel | Christchurch
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
The conversation heads south.
June
Live Panel | Auckland
So You Think You’re Funny
Is there a New Zealand sense of humour? And can we reliably get it onto the screen?
July
Online Panel
The Kids Are Alright
New Zealand’s track record in children’s film and television, at home and internationally.
August
Live Panel | Auckland
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
History, present, and future collide.
September
Online International Panel
What the f#k is a Showrunner?
Why the role matters globally, and why it still struggles to land here.
October
International Affiliation of Writers Guilds Conference | Auckland
Global writers’ unions gather to compare notes, share hard-won lessons, and help NZWG celebrate fifty years.
(Invited delegates only.)
7 October
Two Live Panels with IAWG
1. Top 10 Writers’ Fights: Industrial war stories and lessons learned
2. Can Stories Save Us? Craft, culture and the future of screenwriting
The 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Thursday 8 October 2026 | Auckland
This is the night where the whole year comes together.
Pre-dinner drinks at The Morningside Tavern, followed by a three-course dinner and official celebrations at The Glasshouse, Morningside.
Hosted by MC Michèle A’Court, and Alice Shearman, the Gala brings together:
- NZWG members past and present
- Emerging writers and industry veterans
- Broadcasters, funders, allies, collaborators and friends
On the screens:
- A showreel celebrating fifty years of New Zealand screenwriting
- And, for the first time ever, a rolling credit reel naming every writer who has earned a screen credit from 1976 to 2026. Yes, including all of them.
It will be celebratory, reflective, a little emotional, and unapologetically writer-centric.
We look forward to hosting you all!
Already an NZWG member? Sign in here
NZWG Turns 50!
Fifty years of stories. Millions of words. One blank page at a time.
In 2026, the New Zealand Writers Guild turns 50.
That’s half a century of screenwriters staring down the terror and promise of a blank page.
Fifty years of ideas scribbled on buses, rewritten at kitchen tables, argued over in writers’ rooms, and finally transformed into the films and television shows that have helped Aotearoa see itself.
To mark this milestone, NZWG is presenting a year-long programme of live events, online masterclasses, and international conversations that celebrate screenwriting as both craft and cultural force. This is a birthday year with substance: reflective, curious, occasionally irreverent, and deeply proud of the writers who got us here.
Why This Matters
Every screen story starts quietly. One writer. One idea. One page.
And then something remarkable happens.
Crews are hired. Actors perform. Communities host productions. Economies move. Audiences laugh, argue, cry, recognise themselves, and sometimes see the country anew.
Screenwriting sits at the start of that chain. It is both invisible and foundational, precarious and powerful. The 50th anniversary programme asks big questions about that paradox, while also making space for practical support, professional learning, and a bit of collective joy.
The 2026 Programme
From February through October, NZWG will host monthly events, alternating between live panels around the country and online masterclasses accessible nationwide.
You can book tickets for all these events through our website HERE or through our Humanitix collection HERE
February
Online Masterclass
Winning SEED Applications
With Fiona Samuel
March
Live Panel | Wellington
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
Practitioners, critics and academics ask: what have our screen stories said about us, and what are they saying now?
April
Online Masterclass
What You Need to Create a TV Series
With Rachel Lang
May
Live Panel | Christchurch
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
The conversation heads south.
June
Live Panel | Auckland
So You Think You’re Funny
Is there a New Zealand sense of humour? And can we reliably get it onto the screen?
July
Online Panel
The Kids Are Alright
New Zealand’s track record in children’s film and television, at home and internationally.
August
Live Panel | Auckland
Where We Come From: The Writer’s Journey
History, present, and future collide.
September
Online International Panel
What the f#k is a Showrunner?
Why the role matters globally, and why it still struggles to land here.
October
International Affiliation of Writers Guilds Conference | Auckland
Global writers’ unions gather to compare notes, share hard-won lessons, and help NZWG celebrate fifty years.
(Invited delegates only.)
7 October
Two Live Panels with IAWG
1. Top 10 Writers’ Fights: Industrial war stories and lessons learned
2. Can Stories Save Us? Craft, culture and the future of screenwriting
The 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Thursday 8 October 2026 | Auckland
This is the night where the whole year comes together.
Pre-dinner drinks at The Morningside Tavern, followed by a three-course dinner and official celebrations at The Glasshouse, Morningside.
Hosted by MC Michèle A’Court, and Alice Shearman, the Gala brings together:
- NZWG members past and present
- Emerging writers and industry veterans
- Broadcasters, funders, allies, collaborators and friends
On the screens:
- A showreel celebrating fifty years of New Zealand screenwriting
- And, for the first time ever, a rolling credit reel naming every writer who has earned a screen credit from 1976 to 2026. Yes, including all of them.
It will be celebratory, reflective, a little emotional, and unapologetically writer-centric.
We look forward to hosting you all!
Guides & Resources:
Guides & Resources:
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