The Whitireia Creative Writing Programme was established in
1993. It was the first full-year full-time creative writing programme in New
Zealand, and broke new ground in many ways. Until then, any substantial writing
programme had been in a university, and was generally associated with one writer as tutor.
The discussion around establishing the Whitireia programme
was about, what would happen if you put a writing programme into a polytechnic,
with its responsibility to the ‘real world’? The Whitireia programme was distinctive
from the start because of its commitment, not only to teach the craft of
writing, but also the business of writing. Graduating students would know a lot
about the writing world, and how to find their place on it.
The programme was also distinctive in having a range of
tutors, so that students were exposed to a range of writing styles and
approaches. This was important, because from the beginning the writing
programme was committed to encouraging diversity.
The writing and publishing programmes at Whitireia began in
the same year.
The writing programme began with one full-year course,
covering a range of genres. It was a hands-on practical course, with a strong
emphasis on learning the craft. Gradually other courses were added. The
development of the programme was always driven by, what do people who want to
write, want to learn?
Now there are full-year courses in writing a novel,
script-writing, and a mixed genre course, as well as the original comprehensive
course. Students can complete a one or two year diploma, or graduate with a
degree. There is also a programme of seven on-line courses.
Graduates from the Whitireia Writing Programme appear in almost every
aspect of New Zealand writing life. Graduates have published over sixty books,
and a great many shorter works, in both literary and general magazines, on
radio, on stage and on the screen.
They are active as performers, events organisers, participants in the
Writers in Schools programme, and as organisers of writers' groups. A number of
graduates have gone onto MA programmes in Creative Writing.
Graduates include writers as diverse as
·
Tusiata Avia, highly-acclaimed Samoan/New Zealand performance poet and children's
writer
·
Multi award-winning
young adult writer Mandy Hager
- prolific
and award-winning children's writer Vince Ford
- Alison
Wong, award-winner for her novel As
the Earth Turns Silver
- Karen McMillan (Unbreakable Spirit, Love in Aoteaora)
- Nathan Hoturoa Gray (First Pass Under Heaven)
- LeilaniUnasa(His Mother's Son - stage play)
- Dean
Hewison (Maintain - digital feature film)
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