Caselberg Trust

07/10/2026

Donald S Murray - Scottish Writer Donalds S Murray reflects on his time in Dunedin for the 2026 Scottish Fellowship with the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies, in conjunction with the Caselberg Trust. Broadcast on Otago Access Radio www.oar.org.nz

03/10/2026

Dearest Majella, we are so so sad you have gone far too soon. Such a good and wonderful friend to our Caselberg whānau.

Our poetry prize winner in 2017 with your poem 'Road to Murdering Beach' , our poetry judge in 2021, welcome resident at the Caselberg house on many occasions; but forever our friend and supporter.

Go well MC and all our love to Andrew, Robbie, and whanau in Aotearoa and Ireland ###x

https://www.caselbergtrust.org/news/international-poetry-prize-2017-judges-report-and-winning-poetry-winner-majella-cullinane

01/10/2026

Welcome Siobhan!

🎉Our 2026 Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Resident, Siobhan Harvey, arrives in Ōtepoti for her six-week residency TODAY!
We’re delighted and looking forward to welcoming Siobhan to our beautiful city and community.

23/09/2026

Our judge Emma Neale has read through all 192 poems that were entered from poets across the world (New Zealand, Australia, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, UK, USA, and Venezuela) and selected the winners for our 2026 Caselberg Trust International Poetry Prize. The competition is in its 16th year, and this year’s winner is Linda Collins from Oamaru with her poem 'Rambling'.

Linda says 'I am thrilled to win the Caselberg Trust International Poetry Prize 2026. It is wonderful to have my work recognised at home, after being placed in contests in the UK and the US.”

For her winning poem Linda wins $600, a week in the Caselberg house in 2027, and her poem will be published in the Landfall Tauraka Spring 2026 edition in November 2026. Our two runner up poems received $300 each. All of the winning poems and Dr Neale’s judge’s report will be posted onto our website later in November

For a list of all of the winners please see our website: https://www.caselbergtrust.org/news/caselberg-trust-international-poetry-prize-2026-winners-announced-ctzkt

Thank you to everyone who entered from across the globe. Thank you to our generous sponsors UBS and Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature. Thank you to Landfall Tauraka. Thank you to our dedicated judge Emma Neale.

Image: Malcolm Mcleod

08/09/2026

We're all very sad to hear about artist Barry Cleavin's death this last week. He was a true friend of the Caselberg Trust and was on our committee for many years. We first met him when he and his partner artist Dee Copland came to live in the Caselberg house some years ago as our IN PRINT residency.

We will miss you and thank you for all you have done for us. Love love and more love to Dee and Barry's whanau ###xx

11/08/2026

We're very sad to hear that Riemke Ensing has died. Riemke was a great friend and supporter of the Caselberg Trust. We will miss her greatly and send our love to her whanau ###

06/08/2026

The Caselberg Trust marks its 20th year. It may be hard to believe, but it’s true. The Anna and John Caselberg Charitable Trust was founded in 2006 by a small group of friends and neighbours who came together to buy the former home of Anna and John Caselberg at Whaka Oho Rahi, Broad Bay, on the Otago Peninsula. Their aim was to restore the house and create an arts residency programme that would honour Anna and John’s artistic and literary contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand—Anna as a painter and John as a writer.

The house had stood empty for two years, so the Trust’s first years were focused on renovation. Supported by local tradespeople who generously volunteered their time, Trust members worked many weekends to bring the house and garden back to life, restoring it into the warm, character-filled harbourside cottage it is today.

Over the next few years, the Trust held numerous fundraising events, built relationships with philanthropic partners, and applied for grants, all while developing the residency programme. It was an intense period. In 2016–17, we successfully raised funds to build the Charles Brasch Studio in the grounds of Caselberg House, and in 2019 we completed our first full year of residencies. Another major milestone followed in 2020, when the Caselberg Trust became mortgage-free. We are especially grateful to the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic for their support, particularly in those early years.

Since then, the Caselberg Trust has continued to grow, shaping its own distinctive kaupapa and manaakitaka—one that welcomes, connects, and supports artists, writers, musicians, and other creative practitioners through a wide range of residencies across the arts. While its primary focus is Aotearoa New Zealand, the Trust also includes international residencies. In addition, it runs an annual International Poetry Prize and the Trust's very own Caselberg Press has so far published four books of poetry.

Twenty years on, the Caselberg Trust is firmly woven into the arts and cultural life of Aotearoa New Zealand, and we look forward to continuing this mahi in the decades ahead.

Dr Janet Downs, Caselberg Trust Chairperson

We will be sharing some memories of previous residents and projects throughout the next year as we celebrate this milestone.

28/07/2026

Donald S Murray is an award-winning novelist, poet, dramatist and non-fiction writer from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. His debut novel, As the

23/07/2026

Some dates for your diary to hear Donald whilst he's here in Ōtepoti

Western Isles writer Donald S Murray is heading to New Zealand after being awarded the prestigious Scottish Writing Fellowship at the University of Otago, where he will explore Gaelic and Māori cultural connections through literature and storytelling.

01/07/2026

Elizabeth Heritage reviews What We Remember, What We Forget: A memoir in memory by Siobhan Harvey,