2024 Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture & Sargeson Prize

Photo credit: Robin Morrison, (1975), [Frank Sargeson]. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira. PH-1992-5-RM-N3-F1-15

Mark your calendars for the evening of Saturday 19 October, when the University of Waikato will host the 21st annual Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture. This popular event is open to the public and honours the life, legacy and Hamilton birth of the short story writer and novelist Frank Sargeson.
This year we are delighted to welcome esteemed poet and academic Selina Tusitala Marsh as our guest speaker. She will present a lecture entitled “I Really Dig Frank: A Pasifika Poet-Scholar’s Led-By-Line Praxis of Connection”, which will explore how her indigenous practice as both a poet and educator fosters connections with the land and the memories of those who have passed.
Sargeson Prize

The winners of the 2024 Sargeson Prize short story competition, one of New Zealand’s most lucrative short story awards, will also be revealed. This year’s Chief Judge is Harriet Allan, a distinguished editor with nearly 35 years of experience at Penguin Random House, where she published numerous award-winning novels and literary nonfiction titles. She now works as a freelance editor, mentor, and manuscript assessor.
The Sargeson Lecture presents a unique opportunity for the Waikato writing community to engage with a leading literary figure, enjoy light refreshments, and network with fellow writers, industry professionals, and academics.

Light refreshments are served from 5pm.

Watch the livestream here

Photo credit: Lauren Donald

Host or Publisher The University of Waikato