ABOUT US

The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) has been in operation since 1934, promoting the interests of writers nationwide. 


The Top of the South Branch, which is devoted to the interests of writers in the top of the south region of the South Island, was established in 2005 and is managed by a small group of dedicated writers.

CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Lucy Hodgson
Lucy Hodgson became Chair in May 2019. Her resumé reads like fiction, with jobs including marine research assistant, scientific editor, ski instructor, press officer, walk guide and unpublished best-seller writer. Now settled in Riwaka, commercial copywriting pays the bills. Brochures, press releases, tourism websites and short story competitions are practise for writing her best-seller. 
​Jean Gorman
Branch secretary Jean lives in an olive grove at Brightwater. She writes historical​ novels set in the time of Richard the Lionheart.
Trish Palmer
Trish Palmer became branch treasurer in May 2019. She writes to cause a smile, or provoke thought, through her plays and short-stories. She divides her time between farming, friends, family and writing, in a quiet valley south of Nelson. She completed a Diploma in Creative Writing in 2018.
​
Chrissie Ward
C​hrissie is a founding member of NZSA
Top of the South branch and was Chair
between July 2013 and May 2015.
She  is now  Branch Editor. Chrissie lives in
​Nelson City and writes mostly short stories.
​Paul Maunder 
Paul Maunder has had a lengthy career in film and theatre. Both writer and director of his films, his work has won international awards. In theatre he has worked mainly in group theatre and community theatre. He lives in Blackball on the West Coast, where he is active in theatre and in community and
political issues.
 

Dana Wensley
Dana has a PhD from King’s College (London), an LLB (Hons),
​ and a postgraduate diploma in creative writing from Humber College (Toronto). Her main focus is on academic/non-fiction writing. She was the PEN (NZ) representative for freedom of speech in New Zealand until March 2020.

Robyn Prokop
Robyn is a full time writer these days, having given up her career as a teacher and high school principal. As well as writing copy for a local design company, she writes children's storybooks and epic fantasy. She is currently working on the third book of her award-winning series for Young Adults. Robyn believes that our Top of the South Branch plays an important role in supporting local writers.

Kerry Sunderland
Kerry Sunderland is coordinator of the Nelson Arts Festival’s literary programme, Pukapuka Talks, and works as a freelance writer and editor. She also runs residential retreats and short courses in creative nonfiction.  She has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Victoria University of Wellington. 

 
Naomi Arnold
Naomi Arnold is a journalist, copywriter, and author of several non-fiction books including Southern Nights, a story of New Zealand astronomy (HarperCollins, 2019). She has a BA (Hons) in English literature and a graduate diploma in journalism. She lives in
Teal Valley. 
Our Strategic Plan 2020-23