Creative Writing & Publishing
Study Creative Writing & Publishing
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.
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
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 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
Claire Murdoch, Head of Publishing, Penguin Random House New Zealand
Chris Murray, Head of Content Management, LexisNexis NZ Limited
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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Creative Writing
Meet the Creative Writing team
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