Welcome to the Whitireia Writing Programme

The Writing Programme at Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua, was established in 1993. In that year it offered one full-year full-time course, by 2005 it offered three full-time diplomas and now, in 2006 the Writing Programme will offer the first Bachelor in Applied Arts (Creative Writing).

This Degree offers four arts majors – Creative Writing, Music, Performing arts and Visual Arts. It offers students the opportunity to collaborate with artists from another discipline and has a focus on exploring social, political, economic and cultural issues in contemporary arts. Students will also be armed with the skills to become creative entrepreneurs through compulsory study in Creative Enterprise.

The Writing Programme will continue to place emphasis on originality and excellence in the craft of writing, and the practical business knowledge of being a writer. The programme will also continue to offer its well-known diplomas which give experienced writers the opportunity to spend a year focusing on their novel, script or non-fiction work with the assistance of a mentor.

We are very proud of our graduates who appear in almost every aspect of New Zealand writing life: as organisers of performance poetry, as screen and stage scriptwriters, in the Writers in Schools programme, as organisers of writers’ groups, in jobs as editors, journalists and writers, as well as featuring in traditional and new literary and general magazines, in awards, and in book publication.

The work of over 25 students from this programme has been published. These successful authors include:

                          Tusiata Avia                            Anne Powell
                          Vince Ford                               Maajte Quivooy
                          Mandy Hager                          Maggie Rainey Smith
                          Wendy Jones                          Alison Robertson
                          Louise Lawrence                   Jo Thorpe
                          Joan MacLean                        Karen Wilton
                          Karen McMillan                       Donna Wright 

In 2003 the Diploma in Creative Writing went online so students could study from home. The online option has been very popular and the first groups of students graduated in December 2005.

Writers from throughout New Zealand make a huge contribution to this programme as tutors, mentors, guest speakers and assessors. Below is a list of people who have contributed in 2006.

                         Tutors                                          Mentors
                         Norman Bilbrough                     Fleur Beale
                         Pip Byrne                                     James Brown
                         Lynn Davidson                           Rachel Davies 
                         Adrienne Jansen                       Catherine Fitzgerald 
                         Renee                                          Mandy Hager
                                                                               Fiona Kidman 
                         Assessors                                 Phillip Mann
                         Caroline Armstrong                  Julia Millen
                         Fergus Barrowman                  Anna Rogers
                         Norman Bilbrough                    Elizabeth Smither
                         Beth Braddock                           Paul Thomas
                         Daphne De Jong
                         Barbara Else
                        Jonathan King
                        Sue McCauley
                        Julian Novitz
                        Chris Orsman

We hope you enjoy this selection of work written by our past students and welcome your inquiries. Contact us