Dukes awarded 2025 Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) has announced Breton Dukes as the recipient of the NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2025, worth NZ$10,000.

Dukes is the author of three collections of short stories. His fourth book, a novel called Party Boy, is planned for publication by Te Herenga Waka University Press in 2026. He was awarded the fellowship to work on a collection of connected short stories.

Judges Laurence Fearnley and Paddy Richardson said, “All of the samples from the shortlisted authors stood out for their originality, voice – which ranged from the challenging to the playful – and craft. After much thought, Breton Dukes was announced winner with Janis Freegard as runner-up.”

Also shortlisted for this year’s fellowship were Majella Cullinane, Wes Lee, Ruth Paul, Carl Shuker and Louise Wallace.

The NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship is an annual award open to any NZSA member working on a new fiction, nonfiction, poetry or drama project. Last year’s recipient was Jaqueline Leckie for her book with the working title Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance, telling the life story of poet Meg Campbell.

Author photo: Liam Hoffman

Category: Awards Local news