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 4 is now open! Submissions close on 14 October
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)
- Your friend became a zombie and you did not know?
- Everything you touched turned into something incredible!
- You won a prize to go to Mars or some other planet in the next Rocket Launch?
- Your pet could talk?
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 5-6 (350-400 words)
- You arrived home and your parents had disappeared?
- The world ran out of an important food like eggs, milk (or something else)?
- You closed your eyes and when you opened them you were some other creature…a mouse, a horse, a dinosaur? Something else?
- You discovered a way to bring extinct animals to life?
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 7-8 (500-600 words)
- You closed your eyes and when you opened them, you were famous?
- A helicopter or plane crashed in front of you?
- All the colours in the world turned grey?
- You discovered you live in a parallel universe?
- Any topic of your choice.
Year 9-13 (700-1000 words)
- You became a famous writer or musician?
- A favourite movie/novel had a different end?
- You could save the world from environmental pollution?
- You lead a crusade for a great cause?
- Any topic of your choice.
Judges
Craig Smith
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
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
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
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
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.
Vicky Adin
Vicky Adin is an award-winning New Zealand author whose novels weave together family, history, and language to bring the past alive. With a background in genealogical research and a passion for storytelling, her works have been compared to Catherine Cookson’s and have earned multiple international accolades.
Find Her Books Here: https://www.ketebooks.co.nz/en/author/vicky-adin-100
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 (Closed)
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