The BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards are one of New
Zealand’s longest running creative writing awards. The Awards commemorate
New Zealand’s best-known writers and help New Zealand writers achieve
recognition in their own country.
In 1957 Katherine Mansfield’s manuscripts were to be auctioned
at Sotheby’s, in London. Friends of Alexander Turnbull Library,
afraid that the manuscripts would be lost to New Zealand, launched a public
appeal to persuade the government to underwrite the purchase.
The New Zealand Women Writers’ Society (NZWWS) provided generous
support of the purchase, which led to a successful outcome, with most
of the manuscripts purchased and made available at the Alexander Turnbull
Library.
The NZWWS led the initiative to launch a biennial short story award
in Katherine Mansfield’s name. The award would serve to provide
new opportunities for New Zealand writers, whose lack of recognition and
limited chances for publication in their own country was of concern.
Sponsorship was essential for the awards; BNZ was an obvious choice
as Sir Harold Beauchamp, Katherine Mansfield’s father, was the first
Chairman of Directors.
An administering committee was established. It comprised a representative
from the Bank, the president and secretary of NZWWS and two independent
literary advisors - the chief librarian from the Alexander Turnbull Library
and the Director of Broadcasting.
The BNZ Katherine Mansfield Award was announced in June 1959. Two sections
were offered, for a published short story and for an article or essay
of literary quality.
The awards have continued to evolve since 1959. In 2003, key changes were
introduced with the introduction of a Young Writers’ category,
on-line entry capability and the BNZ announcing their future commitment
to the Awards by making it an annual event and increasing the prize value.
Another unique aspect is the publishing opportunities for talented entrants.
In 1999, the 40th anniversary of the awards was commemorated
through the publishing of a collection of winning stories from the BNZ
Katherine Mansfield Awards from 1959-1999. In 2001 and 2003 the
top entires from the Young Writer's category were published, providing
a useful tool to creative writing teachers throughout New Zealand.
The list of past winners is a who’s who of prominent New Zealand
authors. Notable winners of the Premier Award include Maurice Shadbolt
(1963, 1967 and 1995), C K Stead (1961), Frank Sargeson (1965),
Keri Hulme (1975), Vincent O’Sullivan (1979), Daphne de Jong (1981)
and Maurice Shadbolt (1995).