Haelyn King (Yr 13)

Tuesday, 13th October 2026 at 11:20am

Haelyn King (Yr 13) Wins First Place in the Nationwide Sargeson Short Story Competition (Secondary Schools' Division).

“I sigh, but it is sort of urgent. It’s under my skin now, the way I can see it in the weight of his eyelids, the weight of his shoulders. How everything seems heavy.”

This prestigious award is New Zealand’s largest short story competition sponsored by the University of Waikato, established to recognise and nurture outstanding literary talent.

Haelyn's short story, 'When the Pōhutukawa Blooms', explores the issues of youth mental health and the complexity of close teenage relationships over time.

Haelyn will receive $2,000 and a one-week writing residency at the University of Waikato. The judge this year was Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha), whose breakout novel Auē has received significant critical recognition and numerous accolades in literary awards.

This award tops off a very successful few years of authorship. Haelyn has been published in The Art Lens, Auckland Libraries’ Taiohi Writing Competition Anthology Surface: Emerging Voices of Tāmaki Makaurau, and won second place in the Sargeson Prize Secondary Schools Division in 2025.

Haelyn explores the world around her through her writing. She especially enjoys focusing on the little things that people tend to miss and the stories found in everyday life.

Next year, Haelyn is looking forward to attending university and studying a degree focusing on animal sciences and conservation. In the future, she would love to work in wildlife management and conservation.

Ka mau te wehi, Haelyn! We are so pleased for you and are excited to see where your writing will take you in the future.