Tutor 2019
Katharine Derrick has been writing for over twenty years and is currently focussing on short-fiction for adults and children. She teaches writing and is a key organiser for the NorthWrite workshop series.
Tutor 2021/2022/2023/2024/2025/2026
Justine Baddeley has been writing since 2010 when she fell over the NorthTec Creative Writing Diplomas, and hasn’t looked back.
She is a children’s picture book writer, and is currently focusing on YA fantasy fiction.
Students Semester 2 2019
Marino-Moana Begman is a short story writer living in Northland, New Zealand. Her short story, Botched, is published in Huia Short Stories 13, (Huia, 2019). Botched was also selected as the short story of the week in November 2019 in the reading room of newsroom.co.nz. Her play Jump, written for tweens, is published on US teacher resource website, DramaNotebook. Marino loves reading, writing and travelling but most of all enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She often pines after the bright lights of a big city, but for now, she writes from her home, on a remote, coastal peninsula in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Kate Clark has been shortlisted for the Storylines Joy Cowley Award for an original picture book text. Recently her memoir article Glen Mist and Christmas Cake featured in the Waimakariri Libraries Memoir Writing celebrations. When not working on building sites, Kate can be found at her oceanside home chatting to her cat while writing about anything that fascinates her. She has a Diploma in Art (English) from Massey University. Her first book, Rhythm, a syncopation of three short stories, is available in ebook soon.
Students Semester 1 2019
Carol Tate writes New Zealand Romantic Suspense. She has completed a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Writing through NorthTec, New Zealand. Her first release Heartbeat is a prequel to her three planned Kiwi Falls trilogies. The first trilogy starts with – Take Down, which is being professionally edited, while Flight and Fight, is on the last draft before editing and Stolen by Night, is in its first draft. Carol aims to release Take Down late 2019 and the second two not long after. Carol lives in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island, in a house ruled by her four cats along with her three children and a faithful miniature fox terrier. When she is not writing, she can be found reading and growing her library, chauffeuring children to St John and Scout activities, spending time with family exploring her country, and volunteering. A rare disease sufferer, she is inspired by everyone who gets up even when the going gets tough.
www.caroltate.co.nz
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Emma Masson-Oakden lives in Whanganui with her wife and three of their four children, and their three crazy cats – Athena, Zeus, and Persephone aka Itty Bitty. She loves cooking for her family and has a keen interest in Greek Mythology, she also confesses to having a slight addiction to true crime documentaries on Netflix. She completed a Bachelor of Communication at Massey University in 2015 and is currently studying toward a Diploma in Creative Writing at Northland Polytechnic. Writing contemporary romance as E.J. Masden, Emma has self-published one novel called Undoing the Damage, and has a story in the Hot Summer Nights short story anthology. She will soon be publishing another novel, Spoiled for Choice, which is the first book in a three book series about rugby league players.
Growing up in suburban New Zealand, Natalia Shoemark soon learned to recognise the power of the written word. She uses a mix of art, fiction and poetry as she finds her way in a world of love, heartache and joy. Writing has become a way of life, and after achieving her Diploma in Applied Writing Level 5 Natalia is more determined than ever to dig deeper and write fiction that not only reflects this world but faces the harder subjects that we all know and face today.
N Lockwood is a New Zealand writer and artist. Her passion for researching supernatural phenomenon, combined with her creativity, brings an authenticity to her writing. Having studied applied writing at various tertiary institutions in New Zealand, she is focused on seducing readers with her writing, and has started with a small collection of poetry published on Wattpad. When she is not in her writing sanctuary in the Central North Island or visualising her next idea, Lockwood can be found getting her hands dirty, creating sculptures, paintings and masks.
Magan Szentesi loves writing stories, she is fascinated with the unknown and likes making the impossible possible. With her incredible imagination she is able to transport readers into her made-up worlds. When Magan isn’t focusing on writing she enjoys watching horror movies and cooking.
Phoenix Szentesi, born and raised in New Zealand, is a writer with a love of crafting stories and poems. Being creative in her work is one of her many specialities, including drawing and paper quilling. She has studied Applied Writing, which has helped bring out the best in her skills. When she isn’t busy working on her projects you’ll find her hanging out with her large number of pets or sitting down in a cosy corner reading a book.
Students 2020
Giselle Simoes is just a big kid. She likes to play games with her friends, read books and comics, and watch silly TV shows with a bucket of popcorn on her lap. But what she likes the most is to play with words and create universes anybody can visit. Want to join her? Buckle up and check out her debut post A Day in the Mind of Giselle Simoes, or I Should Be Writing.
Storm Thomasson is a 21-year-old NorthTec Creative Writing student, living in Whangarei, New Zealand. Her stories are sure to capture the minds of Young Adult readers seeking a twist of mystery. She can usually be found with a book in her hand and a story in her head.
Wellington-based author Gerard O’Brien has worked as a professional DJ, IT consultant, photography assistant, business owner and personal trainer. He’s now turned his enthusiasms to writing, and brings his sense of humour and varied life experiences to his short stories, poetry and blog posts.
Ayden Dugmore is a 34-year old father of one from Whangarei, New Zealand, and an Applied Writing student at NorthTec. He is a writer of fiction, with a leaning towards the fantasy and sci-fi genres. When not writing, he can be found watching (too many) movies, playing video games or making unnecessary trips to the fridge.
Nina de Beurs can usually be found writing or reading a juicy drama. When not doing that, Nina likes to bake, dance, binge-watch Netflix TV shows, and spend abundant time on her laptop or phone. She lives on Great Barrier Island with her dog, Taylor Swift.
M. A. Phoenix lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with two children and several precocious cats. Phoenix is usually found creating and participating in home-schooling activities, exploring different artistic outlets, and being photobombed by mischievous felines. Blameless is Phoenix’s debut story.
Students 2021
Syreeta Hewson is a full-time student and part-time decadent-yet-healthy dessert maker for a local cafe. A lifetime of interesting experiences and a deep appreciation of the natural world flavour her writing.
Krystal Sara describes herself as a part-time student and a part-time mother. Born and bred in Wellington, this North Islander has turned South and can be found strolling through the many nature walks that her new home-town, Christchurch, has to offer. She is very fond of poetry and often attends the Catalyst Open Mic Night held at Space Academy. It is here that she tests her writing styles out, and gains an audience for her creative output.
Ashleigh Cattermole-Crump is an author, mother, toy librarian and tattoo enthusiast from Christchurch New Zealand. She has written short stories for Black Hare Press, Iron Fairy Publishing, Black Ink Fiction and Breaking Rules Europe. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Monsters of Bleakburn, is due out in 2022. She can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ashcattermolecrump
Jenni Edwards grew up in Australia with a fascination for the sea, spending most of her free time either in or on the water. She has been a scientist, educator and was world famous for her fudge in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, where she is now living on board her yacht with her husband while planning her next adventure on the high seas. After spending years helping schools to make writing fun for kids, she is writing her first novel, The Bay—a mystery romance set in tropical Queensland.
Students 2022
Monique Duncan is an aspiring writer, hobbyist artist, and historical reenactor of the Viking Age period. Previously she has been a farmer in the King Country, a beekeeper in Northland, and more recently turned to the Creative Arts industry in Auckland – then on to writing to see where that would lead. Her main interests are in horticulture, science, history, mythology, and fantasy literature.
Leah Watson is an Irish/Maori mother of two who loves to share a story and is currently studying her level 6 diploma in creative writing through NorthTec. She has a love for volunteering, and for artistic creativity in all forms, especially involving the written word. Her hobbies include quality family time, growing her indoor pot plant collection, watching films and reading, plus exploring art and spirituality. The budding writer dips her pen in poetry, fiction, non-fiction and short stories, hoping to connect with her audience through thought-provoking and emotional pieces.
Ashley is a Māori author from Waitakere City. This is her first blog post, which shares rare and vital memories from her youth. One of the mottos she lives by is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This post is a huge step in that direction.
Outisde of the writing world, you will find her either at the gym or her local library. A natural homebody, Ashley finds that many people lack confidence to share their thoughts. This is her way to give back to the community she values so much—through her writing, through her stories, using her words to get the unspoken, spoken out aloud.
Stacey Liu is a freelance translator, essay tutor, and writer. In her free time Stacey can be found between the pages of her new favourite book, playing her piano, or drawing in her sketchbook.
Roseann Hipper is a mother of three children, an established acountant, and a freelance writer. She enjoys writing fantasy and has a love of poetry. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Charlaine Harris and L.J. Smith.
KJ Pedersen currently lives with four cats who will sometimes share the bed. KJ, enjoys writing fantasy and horror and occasionally romance. Their favourite authors include Stephen King and Tamora Pierce. Their favourite quotes are: “Oi, with the poodles already!” Gilmore Girls, and “Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He’s very dreamy, but he’s not the sun. You are!” Cristina Yang.
Students 2023
Karla Martin is a New-Zealand-born Kiwi who lives on an off-grid property at the foothills of Te Urewera Rainforest, situated in the North Island’s beautiful Eastern Bay of Plenty. She has a Level Five Diploma in Applied Writing for Creative Industries and is currently studying at NorthTec Te Pūkenga for her Level Six diploma.
Being a long-time fan of fantasy led Karla to become a fiction writer. Through her studies she’s expanding her genre horizons and this is her first foray into blogging.
Toni Daly has been working through her Bucket List for decades. She is an Ironman, a qualified nurse and science teacher, a doctor of genetics, and a high school dropout. She has built two homes with her sweetheart and spent her 50th birthday at Mount Everest Base Camp. Inspired to take up something new every time there is a zero on the end of her birthday, she is looking to add to her science publications with a memoir and Bucket List stories. She lives in her latest building project by the beach with her husband and dogs.
Kiwi by birthright, Mary Dodd popped out in the first city to see the rising sun; she is the proud mother of one precious girl. Relocating to Northland in 2019, Mary returned to tertiary study and pursued a Business Studies (Management) diploma coupled with an Apiculture qualification at NorthTec.
Her sanctuary throughout her life has been amid paperbound novel/las. At present she is completing a diploma in Creative Writing; where she has realigned her long-forgotten love of writing to welcome the genres of poetry for adults and short fiction for a YA audience.
Alice Fairley is a writer based in Whangārei, New Zealand. She is currently completing a diploma in creative writing through NorthTec Te Pūkenga. When life gives her lemons, she puts a slice in her gin and tonic.
Brooke McCann is a flower wrangler and busy mum, currently studying Creative Writing through NorthTec Te Pūkenga. She lives in Rotorua, New Zealand, where she is often mistaken for a hobbit by overseas tourists. Brooke keeps her writing light-hearted, believing there’s enough botheration bouncing around the internet. If you’re up for a wee interlude and are willing to be her audience, make yourself a cuppa and peruse away. Hopefully Brooke’s words will gift you a smile.
Zarn Oldham is a mother of three living in the magical Mount Maunganui. She splits her days between running around after kids, teaching reformer Pilates, and sitting in the sunniest spot in the house, writing or reading. Zarn enjoys blogging and has kept a blog for a few years now, consisting of pop culture, health and wellness with a dash of social issues. Her love of learning inspires her to learn something new with each blog post she writes.
Amy Fifita is a Northland-based writer and journalist. Writing has been a joy for her since a young age, especially to express the harder topics of life, which is why she loves telling other people’s stories and her own to encourage people. She was born in Waikato but spent most of her life in Whangārei. She travelled to England to be with family when she was surprised by pregnancy and has forged forward with her life despite all the mistakes in-between. Words have become her life more and more since becoming a mother, because she hopes to inspire her son to pursue his own goals. Life is for thriving and if you’re not doing that, then you better be learning.
Students 2024
Alexandra Heke is a creative writing student who is finally putting her love of reading to work. She lives in Wellington with her daughter, Giovanna, and cat, Daisy. Alex has previously been published in The Spinoff.
Abbey Tasker Bensemann is a Creative Writing student currently practising as a social worker. Much of her writing involves confidential case notes. Even though the truth is often strange, she would rather write fiction.
Students 2025
Kirikiriroa Hamilton-based Yvonne Milroy specialises in writing for the Arts. She is one of Waikato’s leading theatre reviewers which takes up a considerable portion of her after-hours time. Yvonne regularly supports new theatre practitioners by consulting on their productions, and ensuring their marketing campaigns are strategic, well-executed, and responsive. Yvonne has two major (research-heavy) writing projects on the go – one is a fictionalised biography about her great-aunt who died of a broken heart in 1941. The other is a historical fiction novel set in Hamilton East between 1886 and 1889. By day, Yvonne works for a charitable trust. She believes she was born exactly one hundred years too late as her passions include music, needlework, watercolour painting, and long walks through nature.
Students 2026
Melissa is a writer based in Taranaki. She is currently completing her second diploma in Creative Writing through NorthTec. Melissa enjoys writing across all genres, particularly creating poetry inspired by her deep connection with nature.
Online Writing Class 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026 