Finalists announced for Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards 2023

The wait is over! Finalists for the Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards have been announced.

181 entries have kept this year’s judges busy since the competition closed in August.

There are five categories in the Awards: Poetry (Open and Secondary School), Short Story (Open and Secondary School) and the True Story – Research Article (Secondary School only).

Poetry judge Mikaela Nyman commented on the number of the entries she received for this year’s competition.

“With 119 of [the entries] being poems, and the poetry workshops fully subscribed, it is fair to say that poetry is alive and well in Taranaki,” she says.

Research article judge Matt Rilkoff commented on this year’s entries being well above any other year.

“Entries in the 2023 True Story section were uniformly assured, imaginative and expertly structured. Great entries this year. Technically well above any other year.”

Short Story judge Emma Hislop says entries this year were highly entertaining.

“The stories in both categories were highly entertaining and covered a range of topics,” she said.

Everyone is invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at the TSB Hub, Hāwera on Thursday 26 October, where the judges will comment on their respective categories and highlight the works that won them over. The doors will open at 6.45pm and the awards will begin at 7pm.

RSVP before Tuesday 17 October with numbers attending to entries@stdc.govt.nz.

Finalists (all categories)

Aria Brophy

Bethany Gyde

Bruce Finer

Catherine Hurley

Christine Cameron

Dave Lee

Ella Butterworth

For my Wairua

Graeme Woller

James O’Sullivan

Lauren Kalin

Maakare Edwards

Maria Taylor

Oliver Marsh

Pip Harrison

Shaneya Patel

Stacey Lodge

Willow Noir

Zoe Kruse