Writer in Residence

Ursula Bethell Residency in Creative Writing 2025
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• 6 month fixed-term opportunity
• Competitive salary of $82,000 (for 12 months, pro-rated for 6 months)

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
This fixed term Residency has been created to foster New Zealand writing by providing a full-time opportunity for a writer to work on an approved writing project in an academic environment. The position is jointly funded by the University of Canterbury and Creative New Zealand. While there are no formal duties attached to the position, it is expected that that you hold a regular on-site office hour for students, and take part in the cultural life of the University.

This Residency runs from 27 January - 25 July 2025. A second residency, covering the latter half of 2025, will be advertised in early 2025, subject to funding outcomes.

Mōu | Who You Are
You will be a published writer in one or more of the genres of fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, and creative non-fiction. You will also have work published or produced by a reputable publisher or producer. Applicants should be authors of proven merit normally resident in New Zealand, or New Zealanders temporarily resident overseas. Appointment will be made on the merit of the proposed writing project or projects, so applicants should provide a detailed proposal.

Please note, this residency does not cover writing for film or television.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
You will work with staff in the English Department including specialists in Literary Studies, Cultural Studies, and Creative Writing. For more information, please visit us here  To learn more about the Ursula Bethell Writer Residency visit us here. 

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 29 September 2024 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note applications will be reviewed after the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include the following: a cover letter; a resume, including details of published / produced writing, any relevant qualifications and awards you have received; and a proposal for the project(s) to be undertaken during the residency. Applicants should not send manuscripts or other works.

Please note that the following are not eligible to apply: employees of Creative New Zealand; members of the Arts Council of NZ Toi Aotearoa, the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee; students of Tertiary institutions working towards completion of a tertiary qualification, unless that qualification will have been completed by the start of the residency; staff of the University of Canterbury or any persons who have been employed by the University in the 12 months prior to the closing date for residency applications.

We do not accept applications by email; however, we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process. Please forward these to [email protected]. Queries about the residency itself can be directed to Dr Erin Harrington, Department of English ([email protected])

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role. If you hold a valid work visa and are physically present in New Zealand then you may also be considered.