Paul, who is the author of Tragedy at Aramoana and Lost Gold, says the book he will work on during his time at the Stout Research Centre will detail the backroom conflict behind the country’s big campaigns to save key eco-systems.
Saved! Battling for Paradise—the untold tale is a history of New Zealand’s conservation movement—from the ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign of 1950s, 60s and 70s to today.
The 2015 Research Grant judging panellists—Rae McGregor, Paddy Richardson and Graeme Lay—were excited to see “such a broad range of topics tackled in such confident writing”.
Last year’s Stout Research Grant winner was Hannah August, whose book No Country for Old Maids? was recently published. The book, which she wrote during her residency at the Stout Research Centre, focuses on New Zealand’s ‘man drought’.
Three $5,000 open research grants of were also awarded to Heather McQuillan, Paul Moon and Philippa Werry.
The judging panel say strong research is crucial to convincing writing and the recipients of this year’s research grants cover four diverse and compelling writing projects.