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 2 Is Now Open – Entries Close 21 July
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
Year 4 (300 words)
- You have a special pet which goes missing or you find a special pet.
- You lose something valuable, or you find something valuable.
- You are on an adventurous voyage of discovery. Can be outer space, a country, city/forest, or a made-up place.
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 5-6 (350-400 words)
- You are a famous explorer (space or in this world). Write a story about what you discover.
- You are playing hide and seek and when you finish counting you open your eyes and nothing is the same as it was when you started counting.
- You lose something that’s important to you or you discover something important.
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 7-8 (500-600 words)
- You go to sleep and when you wake up you discover all that was familiar has changed.
- You discover a creature (good or bad) and this makes you famous.
- You discover a medicine that can save the world/ an historical figure who discovered a cure for a disease.
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 9-10 (700-800 words)
- You find a way to save the world from an ecological disaster or write about a famous environmentalist.
- Your most precious possession is lost. What is it and do you find it or find a way to live without it?
- There is a fierce storm and when it passes you discover something amazing.
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 11-13 (900-1000 words)
- If you could invent/discover something that changed the world what would that be?
- You wake up and discover all that you believed to be true is not true at all.
- You find something spectacular. What?
- Any 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 (Open 10 June – Close 21 July)
Round 3: Betrayed (Open 22 July – Close 8 August)
Round 4: What if… (Open 10 September – Close 26 September)
Round 5: Now, That’s a Surprise! (Open 25 September – Close 10 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