The 2025 Barfoot and Thompson Young Authors Challenge is open for submissions.

Submission Guidelines

• Open to young writers in NZ.
• This year’s theme is “My Time Machine”.
• Tell your story in any way you like.
• Competition categories

  Primary: up to 250 words
  Intermediate: up to 500 words
  Secondary: up to 750 words

Judges: Barfoot & Thompson Directors, Peter Thompson & Stephen Barfoot.

Entry fee: Free to enter

Prizes: Each category winner will receive $500 cash prize and $250 book voucher each. Each category winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and $1,000 worth of books for their school.

Deadline: Friday, 1 August 2025.

All details, all submissions via their website.