Morreison Literary Awards entries open now

Ronald Hugh Morrieson (far right) playing guitar with friends in the 1960s in Hawera.

The annual Ronald Hugh Morrieson (January 29, 1922-December 26, 1972) literary awards are under way in South Taranaki.

When a novelist and short story writer in Hawera, Morrieson wrote four novels -
a coming of age tale The Scarecrow (1963), Came A Hot Friday (1964), Predicament (published in 1975) and his only contemporary novel Pallet on the Floor (1976), which may have been unfinished upon his death.

He had two short stories published posthumously, in 1974; Cross My Heart and Cut My Throat and The Chimney.

According to New Zealand Film 1912-1996, Morrison's novels contain his "trademark preoccupations - sex, death, mateship, voyeurism, violence, booze and mayhem in bleak small town New Zealand - along with his irreverent black humour

The awards include five categories across Secondary School, Open and Research.

The Secondary School Section has two categories - Poetry and Short Story.

These are open to all secondary school students whose parents/caregivers are residents or ratepayers of the South Taranaki District. Entries are limited to five per person.

The Open Section includes two categories; Poetry and Short Story.

All residents or ratepayers in the wider Taranaki region who are over the age of 13 and are not eligible for the Secondary School section can enter. Entries are limited to five per person.

The Research section is open to all secondary students whose parents/caregivers are residents or ratepayers in the Taranaki region. can enter and entries are limited to one per person.

The winner of the research article also receives a subscription to the Taranaki Daily News.

The awards close on Wednesday, August 15.