New Zealand Writers Guild - Puni Taatuhi o Aotearoa

New Zealand Writers Guild - Puni Taatuhi o Aotearoa 1976 - 2026 Celebrating 50 years of Empowering Screenwriters. By writers, for writers since 1976. 1976 - 2026 Celebrating 50 Years of Empowering Screenwriters.

The New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) is a professional association of script writers and is a registered trade union. The Guild represents the interests of writers in the fields of film, television, theatre, and radio. We seek to keep writers informed by publishing information and advice, and provide opportunities for skill development by organising events, networks, and legal advice. The Guild:
• lobbies government to improve conditions for writers
• represents the interests of writers when dealing with funding bodies and other industry organisations
• publishes and provides information and advice to writers
• arbitrates on script credits
• provides opportunities for writers
• Provides members with fortnightly copies of the Guild’s e-news publication The Write Stuff
• Provides members with access to the NZWG Library, which includes many film and television scripts, books on screen writing, and industry publications from around the globe
• Provides script registration services available at http://www.nzwritersguild.org.nz/services/library.html
• Provides advisory services for contracts with producers available at http://www.nzwritersguild.org.nz/contracts

The Guild was founded in 1975, Unionised in 1976. It was initially established to set minimum rates and conditions for writers working in television, but has since expanded to encompass all script writing fields. Today, the Guild has more than 400 members and includes most of the professional script writers working in New Zealand. The NZWG is affiliated with three major union organisations: the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) and Union Network International (UNI).

We can't wait to see you all at our 50th anniversary party this evening at 5:30pm at the Morningside Tavern! If you have...
07/10/2026

We can't wait to see you all at our 50th anniversary party this evening at 5:30pm at the Morningside Tavern! If you haven't got your ticket yet, there's still time! Check out tickets and more information here: https://events.humanitix.com/nzwg-party-in-the-pub ✨🎉

"In 2015 I walked through the door of the old, uneven floored Ponsonby villa, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Agent. 11 y...
06/10/2026

"In 2015 I walked through the door of the old, uneven floored Ponsonby villa, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Agent. 11 years later in 2026 I’m walking out the door a battle-hardened advocate, unreciprocated lover of Writers, and a gold star connoisseur of acronyms."

Act Eight of The History of NZWG is live. The final act! 2015–2026. Our current Executive Director Alice Shearman takes us on a rollicking ride through recent times. Read the full story on the history page on our website✨

Only 10 seats left! Writers Without Borders: A Global Guild Gathering is almost sold out. Join writers from guilds aroun...
01/10/2026

Only 10 seats left!
Writers Without Borders: A Global Guild Gathering is almost sold out. Join writers from guilds around the world for live panels and drinks as we celebrate 50 years of NZWG.
Wed 7 Oct, 1.30pm–8pm
QT Hotel, Tāmaki Makaurau
Proudly sponsored by Australian Writers' Guild ACSAA

Grab yours before they're gone: https://events.humanitix.com/writers-without-borders/tickets

NZWG is 50. And we are celebrating with two events across two nights. We'd love you at both. 🥂Wednesday is for the ideas...
22/09/2026

NZWG is 50. And we are celebrating with two events across two nights. We'd love you at both. 🥂

Wednesday is for the ideas and the international kōrero, Thursday is for the community and the party. Both are part of our 50th, and both are better with you there!

NIGHT ONE: Writers Without Borders: A Global Guild Gathering
Wednesday 7 October | 1.30pm–8pm | QT Hotel Auckland, Viaduct Harbour

Executive Directors and Presidents from the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland join us in Tāmaki Makaurau. Across two panels, we'll trace how the profession has been shaped over half a century, and ask what lies ahead for storytelling in a rapidly changing world.

🕜 1.30–4pm | Top 10 Writers' Fights: Lessons in Building Power
Alice Shearman in conversation with Ellen Stutzman (WGA West), Victoria Shen (Writers Guild of Canada) and Claire Pullen (Australian Writers' Guild).

🍸 4–6pm | Drinks and nibbles between sessions - Sponsored by ACSAA

🕕 6–8pm | Can Stories Save Us? Storytelling in a Changing World
Kathryn Burnett leads a conversation with Peter Mattessi Australian Writers' Guild, Michele Mulroney , Bruce Smith , Jennifer Davidson Writers Guild of Ireland and Michael Rauch on why writers matter more, not less, in the years ahead.

RSVPs are essential.
Book your seat: https://events.humanitix.com/writers-without-borders/tickets

NIGHT TWO: NZWG 50th: Party in the Pub
Thursday 8 October | 5.30–9.30pm | The Morningside Tavern, Sandringham

An informal, writer-first night with a drink on arrival and food to share. We'd love you to join us in celebration.
Book your ticket: https://events.humanitix.com/nzwg-party-in-the-pub/tickets

Come for both, the kōrero on Wednesday, the celebration on Thursday. Because no story, and no guild, gets built in isolation.

Members of NZWG, PISA - Pacific Islands Screen Artists WIFT NZ get special members-only prices.

🌏 WRITERS WITHOUT BORDERS: A Global Guild GatheringFor one exclusive afternoon and evening only, the leadership of the w...
16/09/2026

🌏 WRITERS WITHOUT BORDERS: A Global Guild Gathering

For one exclusive afternoon and evening only, the leadership of the world's screenwriting guilds land in Tāmaki Makaurau, and you're invited!

In NZWG's 50th year, we're honoured to host the Executive Directors and Presidents of our sister guilds from the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland for two panels built around one question: how do writers build and hold power?

Wednesday 7 October 2026 | QT Hotel, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

PANEL ONE | 2–4pm — Top 10 Writers' Fights: Lessons in Building Power
Alice Shearman (NZWG) is joined by:

Ellen Stutzman Writers Guild of America West — chief negotiator in the 2023 strike that reshaped the industry, at the head of the table on the current merger talks.
Claire Pullen Australian Writers' Guild — union organiser turned Guild ED, now steering ACSAA & AWG through the murky waters of AI and Copyright.
Victoria Shen Writers Guild of Canada — labour and human-rights lawyer, and the first person of colour to lead the WGC. Heading the conversation on copyright and artibution.

🥂 From 4pm — ACSAA Drinks & Nibbles, included with every ticket. The perfect chance to mix and mingle with our international guests.

PANEL TWO | 6–8pm — Can Stories Save Us? Storytelling in a Changing World
Kathryn Burnett leads a craft kōrero with:

Peter Mattessi (AWG) — co-creator of Return to Paradise
Michele Mulroney (WGA West) — screenwriter of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Bruce Smith (Writers Guild of Canada) — creator of Street Legal
Jennifer Davidson (Writers Guild of Ireland) — 100+ TV drama credits
Tom Fontana (Writers Guild of America, East) — Emmy-winning writer of Oz and Homicide: Life on the Street

🎟 Member tickets just $10 a panel, or $20 for both (drinks & nibbles included). Come for one session or make an afternoon and evening of it.

Proudly sponsored by ACSAA, AWG and IAWG.

👉 More info & tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/writers-without-borders

NZWG Member price available to members of: Ngā Aho Whakaari - Māori in Screen Industries PISA - Pacific Islands Screen Artists Pan-Asian Screen Collective WIFT NZ

Join us on 7th October 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau for a jam packed afternoon/evening of two live panels with exciting inter...
10/09/2026

Join us on 7th October 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau for a jam packed afternoon/evening of two live panels with exciting international guests, with drinks and nibbles in between! ✨

More info and tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/writers-without-borders

Thanks heaps to our sponsors for this event: ACSAA (Authorship Collecting Society Australia Aotearoa), AWG (Australian Writers' Guild), and IAWG (International Affiliation of Writers Guilds).

Seed Round One 2026 is now closed! Thank you to all of you incredible writers who took the time to apply to Seed and See...
04/09/2026

Seed Round One 2026 is now closed! Thank you to all of you incredible writers who took the time to apply to Seed and Seed Advanced 🌱

Now the judges start their work assessing all of the applications ✍

Keep up to date on our Seed page: https://www.nzwg.org.nz/grants/seed-grants

Seed and Seed Advanced grants are writer-only feature film script development grants, proudly funded by NZ Film Commission

Address

8/14 Henderson Valley Road
Auckland
0612

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+64 9 360 1408

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