We are absolutely delighted to announce the winning and shortlisted entries from this year’s Short Story Competition here at Upper Hutt Libraries.

With well over 160 entries and a fantastic diversity of storytelling, it was a true challenge for our judging team to decide on the finalists.

Congratulations to all entrants: you took the opportunity to travel on the wings of imagination – thank you for sharing your writing. We can’t wait to see where your creativity takes you next year!

And if you’re keen to try out something different: our Poetry Competition opens on 23 June 2025. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for details coming soon.

Winners and Shortlists

Step on through into captivating new worlds.

Ride the highs and lows of life alongside characters you won’t forget after turning the page.

Have a laugh, reflect, enjoy – this is homegrown writing at its very best.

Adults

Winners

First place: A Concussion of Memories by Philip Luke
Second place: Park Avenue Movers by Colin Phillips
Third place: Best Present Ever by Andy Evans

Shortlist

The Missing Saltshaker by Laura Malin-Curry
Champion by Megan Scholtz
Catharsis by Sarah du Toit
Te Awa Kairangi: Birth of a River by Nick Cottrell
The Boy and the Bridge by Andy Dunn
By Right of Blood by Meenakshi Kannan
Where There Ought to Be Love by Gaynor Mills

Read the entries here (Teen and Adult categories): https://www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz/files/sharedassets/libraries/v/1/annual-events/short-story-competition/2025-short-story-competition/2025-short-story-competition-teens-and-adults-booklet.pdf

Teens

Winners

First place: Six Months of Sunshine by Erin Knox
Second place: The Perfection of Humanity by Anastasia Bradley
Third place: Who’s Holding the Eraser? by Anastasia Wongcharupan

Shortlist

Windy Wrath by Rudransh Sahoo
The First Firework by Elizabeth Walker
They Do What? by Rhea Wilson
The Golden City by Keira Dempsey
Pieces of the Past by Aryanna Billington
The Hospital by Talyn Hislop-Croft
Through The Khidkee (Window) by Manvi Sharma

Children (ages 5-7)

Winners

First place: Ra and Ua: Guardians of the Ngahere by Piper Sutton
Second place: The Time I Got Out by Jackson McCullagh-Smith
Third place: The Two Best Friends and the Magical Creature by Reese Huang

Shortlist

The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Superhero by Dev Rama
The Easter Bunny and the Girl by Jocelyn Liang
Beach Story by Surya Age
My BeFFs by Hannah Saker
Hamsters by Archer Pentecost
The Blood Hand by Brooklyn Sheehan

Read the entries here (both children’s categories): https://www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz/files/sharedassets/libraries/v/1/annual-events/short-story-competition/2025-short-story-competition/2025-short-story-competition-childrens-booklet.pdf

Children (ages 8-12)

Winners

First place: Behind the Blue Door by Vicky Vu
Second place: Planet Noodleoplis by Hannah Scott
Third place: A Whale’s Mission by Willow McIndoe

Shortlist

Why Chromebooks Always Run out of Battery by Sophia Le
Forest Showdown by Venkata Srinidhi
Sunrise Ride by Alette Gibbons
The Brave Old Man by Jacob Johnson
Bubbles and Fire by Paris Yiannoutsos
The Underwater Cave by Vida Kyle
The Vent Girl by Aoife Raggett

Source: Upper Hutt Libraries

03/06/25