Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards 2023
The Lysaght-Watt Trust Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards were held on the evening of Thursday 26 October, in Hāwera.
This year’s judges, Emma Hislop, Mikaela Nyman and Matt Rilkoff shared their thoughts on the overall calibre of entries, along with comments about each winning piece of work. The judges noted the works were very grounded in the South Taranaki landscape and, in some instances, brought Morrieson right back into the room.
The winners for this year are:
Short Story
Secondary School Section
First Place:“F***” – Catherine Hurly - Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls
Second Place:“Grass Stains and Giggles” – Shaneya Patel – Te Paepae o Aotea
Third Place:“Ready to Go” – Lauren Kalin – Te Paepae o Aotea
Open Section
First Place: “Run!” – Pip Harrison - Hāwera
Second Place:“The Rabbit” – Bruce Finer - Hāwera
Third Place:“Looking for Work” – James O’Sullivan – New Plymouth
Poetry
Open Section
First Place: “You beauty” Maria Taylor - Stratford
Second Place:“Sound” – Maria Taylor - Stratford
Third Place:‘Tioka and tīhi / Chalk and cheese’ – For my Wairua - Pātea
Commended:
“Haere ra Little One” – Christine Cameron - Hāwera
“Night Musings” – Maakere Edwards - Hāwera
“Tui In Pōhutukawa On Pūkaka Pa” – Graeme Woller – New Plymouth
“Alone For The Last Stage Of Her Journey” – Dave Lee - Hāwera
“Halloween Bash” – Willow Noir - Hāwera
Secondary School Section
First Place: “Olden Youth” – Zoe Kruse – Ōpunakē High School
Second Place:“One Question” – Aria Brophy – Ōpunakē High School
Third Place: “Saturday Morning” – Bethany Gyde – Te Paepae o Aotea
Commended:
“Vodka” – Aria Brophy – Ōpunakē High School
“Tāwhirimātea” – Shaneya Patel – Te Paepae o Aotea
Research Article
First Place:“Banana Cup” – Stacey Lodge – Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls
Second Place: “Homecoming” – Ella Butterworth – Sacred Heart Girls College
Third Place: “Past Imperfect” – Oliver Marsh – New Plymouth Boys High
A copy of the finalist’s winning entries can be found in the 2022 Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards Finalist Book. You can order a copy from any South Taranaki LibraryPlus for $5.
Additional information:
The Awards, sponsored by the Lysaght Watt Trust, honour the work of one of New Zealand’s most preeminent authors, Ronald Hugh Morrieson (1922 – 1972). Morrieson wrote four novels: a coming-of-age tale The Scarecrow (1963), Came a Hot Friday (1964), Predicament (published in 1975) and his only contemporary novel Pallet on the Floor (1976). All have been adapted for the cinema, the only New Zealand writer to have acquired this achievement. Two short stories were published posthumously, in 1974; Cross My Heart and Cut My Throat and The Chimney.
Further information about the Judges can be found here: http://www.rhmorriesonawards.com/the-judges.html
