Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Essay Prize
In 2021, Headland, in partnership with Zealandia urban ecosanctuary and Massey University School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication, were thrilled to announce a major new prize for creative nonfiction, to be awarded in October 2021.
Submissions were welcomed on the topic of Radical Connections and were to align with Zealandia’s vision of connecting people with nature and restoring and protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s native taonga (but does not need to mention Zealandia specifically). Submissions could speak to such issues as conservation, biodiversity, and kaitiakitanga; community, hauora, and living with nature; ecology, art, and imagination; or mātauranga, scientific knowledge, and personal experience. Entries were limited to creative nonfiction of 3,000 words or less.
The judging panel of Thom Conroy (Chair), Gini Letham, and Pete Monk awarded the following prizes:
1st prize: NZ$750, a 12-month Zealandia membership, and publication of essay to the Headland website:
Susan Wardell, 'Red Zone Pie'
2nd prize: NZ$250, a 12-month Zealandia membership, and publication of essay to the Headland website.
David Vass, 'How blue is your river?'
3rd prize: a 12-month Zealandia membership, and publication of essay to the Headland website.
Feana Tu‘akoi, 'Ko Au Te Whenua, Ko Te Whenua, Ko Au: From Camping to Colonisation with Rita Angus'
Highly commended:
Maia Ingoe, 'Whakarongo Ki Te Taiao'
