PRIME MINISTERS AWARDS FOR LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTThree of New Zealand's most celebrated writers, W. H. (Bill) Oliver, Lloyd Jones (left) and Elizabeth Smither, were honoured last night with the 2008 Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement.
Each writer receives $60,000 in recognition of his or her significant contribution to New Zealand literature. The awards are administered by Creative New Zealand.
Smither was recognised for her poetry, Jones for his fiction and Oliver for his non-fiction.Prime Minister Helen Clark said the trio had all added something special to New Zealand's cultural landscape through their work.
"These awards were created to recognise those who have made an enduring contribution to literature in New Zealand.
"Their work reflects the nuances and subtleties of what it is to be a New Zealand writer."
"These awards were created to recognise those who have made an enduring contribution to literature in New Zealand.
"Their work reflects the nuances and subtleties of what it is to be a New Zealand writer."
Writer Dame Fiona Kidman was awarded the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship this year.
The awards, with the Creative NZ Michael King Writers' Fellowship, were established in 2003.
- NZPA
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Worth $60,000 each, the annual Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement recognise writers who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand literature. Previous recipients are Janet Frame 2003, Maurice Gee 2004 (fiction); Hone Tuwhare 2003, Kevin Ireland 2004 (poetry); and Michael King 2003, Anne Salmond 2004 (non-fiction), Vincent O'Sullivan 2006 (poetry); Patricia Grace 2006 (fiction); and Judith Binney 2006 (non fiction).
Although literary organisations tend to make a collective nomination, Creative New Zealand is keen to encourage individual nominations.
The nominated writers should have written a body of work that has received national acclaim and/or international recognition. They may also be working in other genres. The fiction category includes novels, short stories, plays, children’s fiction and scriptwriting.
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