Cats, autocrats, and carnivorous lovers—Turbine | Kapohau 2025 is live
This year's issue of Turbine | Kapohau, the annual online literary journal of the International Institute of Modern Letters—Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o te Ao (IIML), is now live.
The journal showcases new fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry from the 2025 Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing workshops at the IIML. It includes work from Tamsin Pritchard, winner of the 2025 Landfall Tauraka Essay Prize, established writers such as Harry Ricketts and Erik Kennedy, as well as exciting work from emerging and writers across the motu and overseas.
The MA cohort of 2025 brings a wealth of experience that moves this issue of Turbine | Kapohau in many directions. The journal proudly includes work from the 2025 Adam Foundation Prize winner, Niamh Vaughan, the 2025 Biggs Family Prize in Poetry winner, Will Salmon, the Modern Letters Fiction Prize winner Stephenjohn Holgate, and the Letteri Prize in Creative Non-Fiction winner Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds.
In its pages, you can read an extended interview with acclaimed novelist Anna Smaill, this year's Te Herenga Waka University—Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence. She talks with Lucy Croft about the relationship between music and writing, working overseas, and her novel in progress, The Dream of Happiness.
Across Turbine | Kapohau 25 you will find preoccupations with whakapapa, cats, autocrats, RNZ Concert, and carnivorous lovers. You can consider different takes on the internet, literary journal guidelines, and deities across islands. And meditate on the karakia-like forest poem by Trevor Landers and let Eleanor Hayward ask you what it means to let others into your lane. You can even contemplate giving in to the terrible voices in your head, like Jackson, or bounce on a Swiss ball with Hannah in an extract from Lucy Croft's novel. While greatly varying in subject matter, these pieces remind us that language is never neutral.
Having read submissions from 180 writers across Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu and beyond, the editors are proud to present a collection of work that is captivating and diverse.
IIML senior lecturer Chris Price says, "Turbine | Kapohau is an early Christmas present that offers a first glimpse of some exciting new talents—watch out for their names in the years to come."
The issue also offers audio recordings from five writers performing their work, and reflections from six MA students on their reading and writing process throughout the year.
This edition of Turbine | Kapohau was co-edited by 2025 MA workshop members Ada Duffy, Isabella Smith, and Stephenjohn Holgate. You can view the journal at: https://turbinekapohau.org.nz
For more information, contact senior lecturer, IIML Chris Price on chris.price@vuw.ac.nz.