Whitireia Creative Writing Programme Celebrates 20 year Anniversary

The Whitireia Creative Writing Programme was established in 1993. It was the first full-year full-time creative writing programme in New Zealand, and broke new ground in many ways. Until then, any substantial writing programme had been in a university, and was generally  associated with one writer as tutor.

The discussion around establishing the Whitireia programme was about, what would happen if you put a writing programme into a polytechnic, with its responsibility to the ‘real world’? The Whitireia programme was distinctive from the start because of its commitment, not only to teach the craft of writing, but also the business of writing. Graduating students would know a lot about the writing world, and how to find their place on it.

The programme was also distinctive in having a range of tutors, so that students were exposed to a range of writing styles and approaches. This was important, because from the beginning the writing programme was committed to encouraging diversity.

The writing and publishing programmes at Whitireia began in the same year.

The writing programme began with one full-year course, covering a range of genres. It was a hands-on practical course, with a strong emphasis on learning the craft. Gradually other courses were added. The development of the programme was always driven by, what do people who want to write, want to learn?

Now there are full-year courses in writing a novel, script-writing, and a mixed genre course, as well as the original comprehensive course. Students can complete a one or two year diploma, or graduate with a degree. There is also a programme of seven on-line courses.

Graduates from the Whitireia Writing Programme appear in almost every aspect of New Zealand writing life. Graduates have published over sixty books, and a great many shorter works, in both literary and general magazines, on radio, on stage and on the screen.

They are active as performers, events organisers, participants in the Writers in Schools programme, and as organisers of writers' groups. A number of graduates have gone onto MA programmes in Creative Writing.

Graduates include writers as diverse as

·         Tusiata Avia, highly-acclaimed Samoan/New Zealand performance poet and children's writer

·         Multi award-winning young adult writer Mandy Hager

• prolific and award-winning children's writer Vince Ford
• Alison Wong, award-winner for her novel As the Earth Turns Silver
• Karen McMillan (Unbreakable Spirit, Love in Aoteaora)
• Nathan Hoturoa Gray (First Pass Under Heaven)
• LeilaniUnasa(His Mother's Son - stage play)
• Dean Hewison (Maintain - digital feature film)