Emma Neale

Emma Neale (born 2 January 1969) is a novelist and poet from New Zealand.

Background

Neale was born in Dunedin and grew up in Christchurch, San Diego, and Wellington. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria University of Wellington and was awarded an MA and PhD from University College London. Following her graduation she returned to New Zealand to work for Longacre Press, working for ten years as editor then senior editor.

Works Neale's first work was published in 1998 and her writing has been featured extensively in magazines, newspapers and journals, and several anthologies.

Awards Neale's work has been awarded and nominated for several literary prizes including: The Janet Frame Prize (2025) Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry (2025), winner for Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize (2017), shortlisted for Billy Bird Ockham New Zealand Book Awards (2016), longlisted for Tender Machines Takahe Poetry Competition (2008), first place for the poem 'Well' NZSA Janet Frame Memorial Award for Literature (2008) She has also been awarded the Todd/Creative New Zealand New Writers Bursary (2000), the Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship (2014), and was a University of Otago/Sir James Wallace Pah Homestead Fellow.

Personal She is a daughter of writer Barbara Else and her first husband James Neale.