Historian's World

Anyone who is going to make anything out of history will, sooner or later, have to do most of the work himself.

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• Grants
• New Zealand Residencies
• Research Resources
• Review Organs and Historical Journals
• Related Organizations
• Radio and Blog

Grants

It can be a struggle to earn a living and write a book at the same time. The organisations listed below offer grants and residencies relevant to writers of history.

Creative New Zealand offers annual grants in all areas of the arts: click here

Copyright Licensing Ltd offers two awards of $35,000 each year for non-fiction projects. Closing date 2012: 26 June click here. The CLL/NZSA Research Grants are also being offered again. One of the grants, for either fiction or non-fiction, will be for a fellowship at the Stout Centre in Wellington. This grant will offer a study at the Stout Research Centre for up to three months, access to VUW facilities (Internet, printers, library, secretarial services, photocopying and the kitchen), as well as the $3,500 award. The other research grant, also for $3,500 and for either fiction or non-fiction, is open. It will be awarded to a project-based application where the applicant specifies where the research is to take place.Closing date 15th July. For application forms email

Pictured opposite are (L-R), Kathy Sheat (CEO), Martin Edmond, Jenny Robin Jones (Selection Panel chair) and Jeffrey Paparoa Holman at CLL Writers Awards Night 2007. Martin Edmond's award was used to write Zone of the Marvellous: In Search of the Antipodes, published by AUP 2009. Jeffrey Paparoa Holman's award resulted in Best of Both Worlds: the story of Elsdon Best and Tutakangahau, Penguin Books, 2010.

New Zealand History Research Trust Fund Awards in History
In 2012 the trust may grant one major award of $60,000 and a number of smaller awards of up to $12,000 each. This assistance can be used to fund research costs (such as photocopying, travel, or equipment) and/or living costs while researching and/or writing. The Fund does not provide assistance for the publication or reprinting of works, nor does it normally fund research and writing within tertiary institutions. Closing date 15 October : click here. An online application form is available.

Lottery Environment and Heritage grants include funding for projects promoting New Zealand's cultural heritage, such as:
• historical publications
• museums, whare taonga and art galleries
• conservation of historic buildings, structures, rolling stock, archaeological sites and waahi tapu sites.
The Lottery Environment and Heritage Distribution Committee meets nationally four times a year and closing dates for applications are three months before each meeting. Closing dates for applications to the Environment and Heritage Committee for 2012 are: 21 March and 18 July. For details and other closing dates click here

Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer’s Fellowship
This annual fellowship of $100,000 is awarded for a project in any literary genre including history that will take two years or more to complete. Applicants must have a strong reputation as a writer; been shortlisted for one or more literary awards; and probably will have achieved at least one other significant literary award or fellowship. Application closing date varies but is early in the year. click here

National Library Research Fellowship
Annual, $45,000, tenable for one year. The fellowship aims to encourage the scholarly use of the National Library's collections, which include the Children's Literature collections and the specialist collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, and the production of publications based on them. The research undertaken is to lead to public presentation through publications, in scholarly or popular form, in any medium which will promote the objectives of the fellowship. click here
Not available between 2009 and 2012 while the library building in Wellington is being redeveloped.

J.M. Sherrard Award for Local & Regional History This biennial award is administered by the Canterbury Historical Association, and currently has a value of $1,000, which may be divided if there is more than one major award. No application is required. For more information contact: The Secretary, Canterbury Historical Association, History Department, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch.

University of Waikato Writer-in-Residence
This residency allows writers to work fulltime on a piece of writing during the academic year and carries a stipend of $45,000. Closing date for applications is the end of September. Contact: The Director, Human Resource Management Division, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105 Hamilton.

Victoria University Writer-in-Residence
This residency allows writers to work fulltime on a piece of writing during the academic year, carrying a stipend of $43,000. Applications close September each year. Contact: For further information or application packs: HR Assistant, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Victoria University, P.O. Box 600, Wellington.

Robert Burns Fellowship (Otago University)
Offered by Otago University writers of imaginative literature, including poetry, drama, fiction, autobiography, biography, essays or literary criticism. Annual, 12 months, $69,124. Applications close on 1 June each year. Contact: Nicola Richmond, Division of Humanities, University of Otago, ph: 03 479 5793.

Auckland Museum Library Research Grant
In association with the NZ Society of Authors (NZSA), this new grant opened for applications on 3rd October 2011. A national grant offers a stipend of $3500 and is open to any current NZSA member. The research must take place at the museum library which will offer work space and copying facilities as well as guided access to its manuscripts and other collections. Two local grants for $1500 each are open to Auckland Regional members of NZSA and members of the Auckland Museum Institute/Friends of the Museum. Closing date 30th November. Details of the grants will be made available at click here Enquiries: or phone 09 379 4801.

Lillian Ida Smith
Awarded every two years to a writer over 35 years of age at the beginning of their career. Next award opens in August 2011, deadline 30 October 2011. $3,000. Applicants must be members of the NZ Society of Authors. For entry forms and rules contact the NZSA national office,

Canterbury annual history grant
The Canterbury History Foundation is continuing, with the help of the Canterbury Community Trust, to offer its annual grant of $13,000 to enable the research and completion of a work of interest and benefit to people in Canterbury. However, the work is not limited to Canterbury or local history and is not confined to book publication. No restriction is put on the occupation of an applicant, but awards are not made to full-time university academic staff. Contact the secretary, Binney Lock, for information: phone 03 351 6579.

Local government and local history societies can also be fruitful sources of funding.

For further possibilities and for more information on many of the above funding aids, go to the New Zealand Society of Authors website which has a comprehensive list of funding sources for writers : click here

New Zealand Residencies

University of Auckland Residency at the Michael King Writers Centre
The Residency offers a writer a full-time opportunity to work in an academic environment together with residence and studio space at the Michael King Writers' Centre in Devonport, Auckland. The position is available for six months and carries a stipend of $30,000. Applications should be accompanied by a comprehensive CV and a two-page description of the project to be undertaken during the Residency. The Michael King Writers Centre is New Zealand's first dedicated writer's centre. click here

Randell Cottage Writer's Residency, Wellington. In partnership with the Embassy of France, New Zealand-France Friendship Fund and Creative New Zealand, the Randell Cottage Writers Trust provides a six-month residency each year and $15,000 to a French and NZ writer respectively: click here

Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship, Auckland. Offers a live-in fellowship in central Auckland with stipend of $40,000. The fellowship is often split between two writers. Closing date is the first Friday in November each year. For more information contact: Pam Smith, Marketing Co-ordinator, Telephone 09 363 0650 or email

Robert Lord Writer's Cottage, Dunedin. Robert Lord (1945 -1992) was one of New Zealand's pioneer playwrights (Joyful and Triumphant, Bert and Maisy, Well Hung). Before he died Robert put in place a plan that his cottage in Titan St would become a home for writers to come to Dunedin to write. The cottage is available as a rent-free writer's residence for up to six months. Closing date 1st June 2011: click here

Tau mai e Kapiti Maori Writer's Residency, Offers a grant and residence on Kapiti Island in the Kapiti Nature Lodge. The closing date for 2011 applications to be announced. The selection panel's decision is normally announced early August, with the residency commencing late August. Phone 06 362 6606 or email .

New Pacific Studio, Mount Bruce.Set on a 5 acre property close to native bush in the northern Wairarapa and 20 minutes drive north of Masterton. Aims to foster cross-fertilization among contemporary creative communities around the Pacific. Offers artists, writers and environmentalists in New Zealand and elsewhere low-cost accommodation and opportunities to interact with the local arts community. click here

Research Resources

Alexander Turnbull Library: Collects, preserves and makes accessible words, pictures and sounds relating to the history and cultures of the people of New Zealand and the Pacific. click here

Archives New Zealand: Holds the archives of New Zealand government, including many national treasures. click here

Colonial CD Books: Offers old and rare books on compact disk for sale to genealogists and historians, at an affordable price. Includes the history of New Zealand churches, military history, biographical, and local histories. click here

Dictionary of NZ Biography click here

Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966: click here

Genealogy Resources: too many to list but here are a few: www.ancestry.com; www.myheritage.com; www.Genforum.genealogy.com; www.Genealogy.com

The History Guide: In essence, an online textbook in western civilization, with special reference to the western intellectual tradition. The list of Resources for Historians is especially useful. Contains the complete content of three undergraduate courses in European history and ninety lectures in European history from ancient Sumer to the fall of Soviet-style communism in 1989. click here

History News Network: Puts news in historical context by publishing articles written by historians on current events topics.click here

Hocken Collections: the Hocken collects widely in relation to the history and culture of New Zealand, the Pacific and Antarctica, with a special emphasis on the Otago and Southland regions of New Zealand.click here

The Literary Encyclopedia:
online reference work written by university teachers around the world. Designed to integrate current knowledge of literature and culture and facilitate understanding of historical contexts and connections. click here

New Zealand colonial history newly online: the British Parliamentary Papers - Colonies: New Zealand are now available in digital form. These despatches from downunder include reports, statutes, letters and other documents sent between the colony and the British Colonial Office in London spanning 40 years between 1830 and 1870. The new website joins digital versions of the Index of Maori Names, and New Zealand content from the Illustrated London News, and the CDrom version of the Ancient History of the Maori and an online New Zealand Short Story Index. To access the website click here

New Zealand Electronic Text Centre: part of Victoria University Library. Provides a Digital Library offering open access to New Zealand & Pacific Island documentary heritage. You can search and browse the collection, which includes sections on NZ History and Literary Criticism and History. click here

NZ Historic Places Trust: New Zealand’s leading national historic heritage agency and guardian of Aotearoa New Zealand’s national heritage. Its work includes identifying our heritage places, seeking to ensure they survive for current and future generations, and fostering appreciation by recording and sharing their stories.
The NZHPT works with private owners, developers, councils, iwi and other community, local and national organisations. click here

NZ History Online: features information and resources from within the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Three broad categories showcase themes in New Zealand history: Culture and society, Politics and government and War and society.
A Hands-on History section links to guides, external websites and other material for those who are 'doing' and teaching history. New features and the Calendar of New Zealand history events are regularly added. click here

New Zealand History Resources : includes a good section on genealogy. click here

National Library : enriches historical knowledge by collecting, preserving, and protecting documents, particularly those relating to New Zealand and makes them accessible for all the people of New Zealand. click here

National museum - Te Papa : click here

NZ Museums online: click here

NZ Navy Museum: click here

NZ Statistics: Includes list of statistical publications 1840-2000. click here

Ourstuff: A wonderful online resource giving many emigrant passenger lists, jury lists, electoral rolls, school rolls etc. click here

Papers Past: Contains more than one million pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers and periodicals. The collection covers the years 1839 to 1932 and includes 52 publications from all regions of New Zealand. click here

Te Ara Encycopedia of New Zealand: Ara comprehensive guide to New Zealand’s peoples, history, natural environment, culture, economy and society click here

Te Puna web directory: Te Puna Web Directory is the National Library’s listing of New Zealand and Pacific Island websites. Can be searched by subject. click here

The Year's Work in English Studies : qualitative narrative bibliographical review of scholarly work on English language and literatures written in English. It is the largest and most comprehensive work of its kind and the oldest evaluative work of literary criticism. In addition to annotated or enumerated bibliography entries, it provides expert, critical commentary supplied for every book covered. click here

Timeframes: online database of heritage images from the Alexander Turnbull Library. The picture collections cover the social and natural history of New Zealand, the Pacific and Antarctica from the earliest European contact to the present. Currently over 80,000 images from the Library’s collections are accessible. click here

Local libraries and museums can be of great assistance
You may find further resources at the Michael King Centre's website: click here

Review Organs and Historical Journals

Review Organs

New Zealand Books: the only journal dedicated to in depth reviews of New Zealand books. click here
Landfall Review Online: in depth reviews of New Zealand books, including those on history: click here
The Listener carries weekly reviews, sometimes on works of historyclick here
NZ newspapers do carry reviews but most are shallow and some just flip.

NZ radio programs which review works of history: Lynn Freeman on Arts on Sunday, Nine to Noon with Katherine Ryan.

Historical journals

New Zealand Journal of History: leading historical journal published in New Zealand. Carries articles and reviews from historians around the world. The NZJH is co-edited by Associate Professor Caroline Daley and Dr. Deborah Montgomerie and is published twice yearly, in April and October, by The University of Auckland. click here

New Zealand Memories: The website includes content summaries of back issues click here

Inside History: promotes Australia and New Zealand's diverse history. It also provides a platform for historical organisations, societies, bookshops and anyone involved in history to showcase their work, collections and events. click here

Canterbury Heritage: online information about heritage issues in Canterbury click here

Related Organizations

Museum and Heritage Studies: click here

Wellington Historical and Early Settlers Association Inc: Founded 1912. P.O.Box 239, Wellington. Publishes Heritage Link six times a year. Welcomes original work on history of Wellington. Researchers may apply to Victoria University Foundation for information on the James E Worsfold Scholarship fund.

The New Zealand Founders Society: established at Wellington in 1939 to remember the immigrants and settlers who helped develop the provinces and nation of New Zealand. It seeks membership from people whose ancestors arrived before 1865. The Society contributed to the introduction and passing of the Historic Places Act 1954 and the Waitangi Day Act 1960. A fund has been established for a Research Award and secretarial assistance is provided to the New Zealand Federation of Historical Societies.. More information at click here

NZ Society of Genealogists : assists members with their family history and genealogical research. Society members meet regularly in the many NZSG branches throughout New Zealand. Activities include exchange of information, specialist speakers, visits to local repositories, research days and transcribing projects. In areas where there is no branch, NZSG often has a Local Area Contact. In all, there are approximately 100 branches and local area contacts throughout the country. More details at click here

Victorian Heritage Celebrations: the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust aims to preserve and develop the town's historic buildings into a living ‘Victorian Town at Work', where citizens and visitors can learn about and experience what life was like in Victorian New Zealand. Held annually in Oamaru. click here

New Zealand Society of Authors: helps writers with problems and provides many useful resources for writers.click here

Radio and Blog

For history lovers looking for a weekly fix listen to Sounds Historical on a Sunday evening, 8-10 pm, where Jim Sullivan covers a wide range of material relating to New Zealand's well-lived past. Broadcasts can be accessed online for several weeks after going to air click here

Other radio programs with a history component: Kim Hill on Saturday, Sunday with Chris Laidlaw, Nine to Noon with Katherine Ryan.

Blogs
Peter Wells is writing a biography of William Colenso and blogs most interestingly about both Colenso and the process of bringing him to life. As a fiction writer he brings rare vividness and depth to this non-fictional project and it's exciting to share in the joys and agonies of his progress. click here

Lisa Truttman bills her attractively presented Timespanner blog as a journey through Avondale, Auckland and New Zealand history. I found her blog when I googled St Bride's Church for information on a photo I took a few years ago and wanted to use on this site. click here

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