THE GREAT KIWI WRITE OFF 2025
The GREAT KIWI WRITE OFF 2025 starts now!
See the details of how to enter below.
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LET’S GET WRITING!
Round 3 Is Now Open – Entries Close 2 September
How to enter

Entry Fee & Payment Instructions
➤ $6 for students (under 18) and $12 for adults (18 and over).
➤ Payment is accepted via PayPal only.
➤ Click the button below to make your payment.
➤ Be sure to include your name and email address as the payment reference.
Visual Prompts

- You have a good friend. But that friend betrays you. How?
- You are an undercover spy. But someone betrays you. What happens?
- For centuries eels have been able to travel down rivers and out to sea to breed. Now their way is blocked by hydroelectric dams. Have we betrayed the eels?
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 5-6 (350-400 words)
- You are going into space and are on the countdown when it stops and the police from the dark side arrest you. Who has betrayed you? Why?
- You and your friends are environmental crusaders but a rival gang betrays you by undoing all your good work. How?
- Have we betrayed the earth with the way we’ve abused it? (non fiction)
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 7-8 (500-600 words)
- You believe you are the first to discover a special code that changes the world. But you tell a friend and that friend has let the secret out. What was the code? How did you react to this?
- You are betrayed by a friend who promised to keep a secret you told them but did not.
- Have we betrayed the earth by not caring for it?
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 9-13 (700-1000 words)
- Your friend betrays you in a way that changes your life. How?
- You found your dream [insert what that is] and a friend stole it from you.
- Discuss a famous historical betrayal.
- Topic of your choice.
Judges

Craig Smith
Judge for Year 4
Craig Smith is a New Zealand singer-songwriter, author, and performer best known for the hit children’s book and song The Wonky Donkey. Based in Christchurch, he tours widely, entertaining kids and families with his fun, musical storytelling. Craig also writes easy-listening music for adults.
Website: https://www.craigsmith.co.nz

Michèle A’Court ONZM
Judge for Year 5-6
Michèle A’Court ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand comedian, writer, and speaker. Known for her sharp wit and regular TV appearances, she’s also a bestselling author and columnist. In 2023, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contributions to entertainment.
Website: https://www.micheleacourt.com/about

Tessa Duder, CNZM OBE
Judge for Year 7-8
Tessa Duder CNZM OBE is a celebrated New Zealand author best known for her Alex series. A former Commonwealth Games swimmer and journalist, she has written over 45 books and is a strong advocate for children’s literature in Aotearoa.

Bronwyn Elsmore
Judge for Year 9-10
Bronwyn Elsmore is an award-winning New Zealand author, playwright, and former academic. With work spanning fiction, non-fiction, and theatre, she’s known for exploring Aotearoa’s culture and history through powerful storytelling. She also runs Flaxroots, a platform supporting Kiwi writers and literature.
Website: https://www.flaxroots.com

Stephanie Hammond
Judge for Year 11-13
Stephanie Hammond is a New Zealand author of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as a blogger, businesswoman, and mentor. Her writing explores themes of hope, resilience, and second chances, with works ranging from memoir to novels and children’s stories.
Stylefit Upcoming Competition Rounds
This year’s Stylefit writing competition features multiple entry rounds, each with its own exciting theme — choose the one that inspires you most, or have a go at entering more than one!
Here’s a quick peek at what’s coming up:
Round 1: Daylight Savings (Closed)
Round 2: Discovered / Lost / Found (Closed)
Round 3: Betrayed (Open 29 July – Close 2 September)
Round 4: What if… (Open 9 September – Close 14 October)
Round 5: Now, That’s a Surprise! (Open 21 October – Close 27 November)
Prizes


Competition 2024
to see details of this year’s competition.
THE RESULTS ARE OUT!
Thank you to all the schools and individuals that supported THE GREAT KIWI WRITE OFF.?
We received nearly 400 entries. These came from schools around the country and also from independent individuals.
While almost all competitions talk about the challenge judges face in deciding placegetters we can sincerely say that every judge commented on the difficulty they had to make their final selection and that there was little separating each entrant.
Thank you everyone for entering. Without you there would be no competition and we wish everyone writing success.
We will post the judges reports over the next few weeks along with the winning stories.
Congratulations to everyone and thank you for supporting THE GREAT KIWI WRITE OFF!
to see the results.
Teachers Share Their Thoughts on The Great Kiwi Write Off
to check the latest update
Previous Student Writing Competitions
to see the previous student writing competitons