Creative Writing & Publishing
Study Creative Writing & Publishing
Script Writing (Micro-credential)
Love films? If you want to write for the screen, this micro-credential is a great place to start. It provides an introduction to the craft of visual writing and the process of developing a screenplay. You’ll create your own script outline, and write a short film script – a good starting point into writing for the film industry
- Level 5
- 8 weeks
Writing for Children (Micro-credential)
Have you always wanted to write for children? Teaching material from renowned children’s author, Joy Cowley, forms the core of this module, which guides you through the requirements of writing for young people and introduces you to the landscape of Aotearoa children’s authors. The course’s main focus is on writing chapter books and short stories for children, but you’ll also have the opportunity to explore myth, folktales and fairy stories, children’s non-fiction, and writing a picture book text.
- Level 5
- 8 weeks
Writing Poetry (Micro-credential)
Are you interested in poetry? This course will take you through varied forms of writing poetry and introduce you to the Aotearoa poetry community. By the end of the course, you'll have explored different ways of seeing, created a portfolio of your own work, and gained a good understanding of what makes poetry work and how to critique it.
- Level 5
- 8 weeks, part-time
Writing Short Fiction (Micro-credential)
Are you interested in writing original short stories? This course will take you through the many varied forms of applying techniques for writing original short stories and developing critiquing skills in this genre.
- Level 5
- 8 weeks, part-time
Graduate Diploma in Publishing (Applied)
Learn the publishing process by working on real books with real publishing clients. Work as a publishing team as you gain skills in editing, project management,
typesetting and publicity for print and digital media. Benefit from regular industry speakers and complete two work placements in publishing companies.
- Level 7
- 1 year
New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries
Learn the craft of writing through exercises, workshops, course reading, regular feedback, but most of all through writing itself. Develop skills in genres including short fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting and poetry. This online programme offers flexibility through eight-week blocks of teaching, which means you can study around other commitments.
- Level 5
- 1 year, full-time, part-time (study options)
Grammar and Punctuation (Micro-credential)
Delve into the world of grammar and punctuation with this micro-credential. Expand your knowledge of how language is structured. Study flexibly by allowing this course to fit around your other commitments.
- Level 5
- 10 weeks
Copy-Editing 1 (Micro-credential)
Get copy-editing skills that are highly valuable in print-based and digital workplaces. Study flexibly by allowing this course to fit around your other commitments.
- Level 6
- 10 weeks
There are no programmes available for your selection. Please try selecting another campus location.
Give yourself credit
Use the knowledge and skills you already have to fast-track your qualification with minimum cost. Workplace-learning, volunteering, professional development, other provider qualifications and online courses or units can be recognised as prior learning and put towards your future diploma or degree.
Publishing
The highly regarded Whitireia Publishing Programme is New Zealand’s top training course for publishing. It teaches the whole publishing process, from manuscript to bookstore. Developed and run in partnership with publishers, the course is modelled on an apprenticeship. At its heart are practical experience, mentoring and industry contacts.
Our graduates populate the book trade and publishing sector in New Zealand. They have roles in all the major trade publishing houses as publishers, marketing managers, content developers, book editors, publicists and much more. They work for educators, promoters, policymakers and arts organisations. Many run their own businesses.
Perhaps above all, the publishing programme becomes a touchstone for graduates, a challenging and rewarding year during which they make friends for life.
Celebrating 30 years of Publishing
To celebrate 30 years of Publishing education at Whitireia, tutors Odessa Owens and Theresa Crewdson called for contributions from the industry for a one-of-a-kind release: Everything I Know About Books: An insider look at publishing in Aotearoa. 75 writers, many of whom are graduates, contributed to the publication, sharing their wisdom, their tips and typos, and their successes, ambitions and predictions. The book is available to purchase from bookstores across the country, and from the Whitireia and WelTec website from Tuesday 12 October. There are also public author events being held across the motu.
Learn more about Everything I Know About Books
Hear from our graduates and industry publishers
Student Projects
The heart of the publishing programme is the apprenticeship experience.
Students on the Diploma in Publishing (Applied) are mentored through a range of publications while they study, putting together books and digital publications with industry partners.
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Scholarships and Support
The publishing programme is involved in various initiatives that support students to undertake the course and help them continue to develop their skills after graduation.
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News
Whitireia and WelTec (Te Pūkenga) launch first micro-credentials for the publishing industry
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Pacific educator and author Lisa Fuemana-Foa'i awarded 2022 Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship
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Whitireia student wins inaugural Māori and Pacific scholarship from publisher Penguin Random House NZ
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Newsletters
November 2023: Launches and panels and parties, oh my!
July 2023: Everything We Know...
November 2022: Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua | Look back and reflect so you can move forward
August 2022: Fab jobs, fan moments and fantastic grads
May 2022: Book yarns and publishing qualms
November 2021: Parties, publications and pukapuka reviews
August 2021: Oh, the publishing houses you’ll go (to)
May 2021: Meet the new faces of publishing
December 2020: Celebrating te ao pukapuka
September 2020: Back in class – Good Books and bad landlords…
June 2020: Studying publishing in the time of Covid-19
November 2019: The style issue – partying in style and some serious stylish books
August 2019: Students in the wild and stories from the wild in NZBC lecture
May 2019: Presidential Q&A, students and a stormtrooper
Meet the Publishing team
All staff of the publishing programme come directly from industry, where they honed their skills and knowledge. Most are still working for publishers alongside their teaching.
The programme also draws on the expertise of numerous specialist tutors and industry speakers. Many publishing professionals take classes through the year – whether to teach a core part of the curriculum or take a specialist lesson or simply as a visiting speaker.
Publishing Advisory Committee
The publishing programme operates under the guidance of an advisory committee, made up of representatives from industry, the community and the polytechnic, including a student representative.
The committee ensures that the programme is teaching the skills and knowledge that employers see as useful and relevant to the needs of their businesses.
Current members
Alex Collins, Chief Executive, Lift Education
Sarah Rennie, Marketing Manager, Gecko Press
Chris Murray, Head of Content Management, LexisNexis NZ Limited
Craig Gamble, Publishing Manager, Te Herenga Waka University Press
Melanie Laville-Moore, Managing Director, Allen & Unwin New Zealand
Pania Tahau-Hodges, Publishing Manager, Huia Publishers
Chris Tse, Editor and Communications Advisor, Office of the Auditor-General (and winner of the Best First Book Award for Poetry at the 2016 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards)
Graduate Success Stories
Claudia's story
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Cadence’s story: Publishing graduate at Massey University Press
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Follow Whitireia Publishing
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Creative Writing
Meet the Creative Writing team
Latest stories
‘Anything can happen in fantasy’: Infinite possibilities a reality for young Wellington author
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Sarah-Kate's story: Creative Writing graduate
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Whitireia and WelTec are part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Learn more
Learn with purpose
