Pegasus Prize is big league

Tu Tangata, Issue 17, 1 April 1984, Page 2

Pegasus Prize is big league

Maori writing stands to gain immensely from the Pegasus Prize for maori literature say the competition judges. And that’s why they want entries from as wide a field as possible before the deadline of first of May 1984. The Pegasus Prize is sponsored by the Mobil Corporation and each year is competed for in a different country to bring unknown authors to the attention of American readers. Past winners have had their work recognised internationally, with one winning of a Pulitzer Prize. This is the kind of recognition a Maori writer could receive say the judges who are Sid Mead, Peter Sharpies, Terry Sturm, Anne Salmond, Elizabeth Murchie and

Wiremu Parker. The relationship between the Pegasus Prize and the Te Maori Exhibition in the United States later this year has also been explained by the judges. Chairman of the judging panel, Sid Mead says the publicity surrounding the Te Maori exhibition will be used in the States to bring the winning author to the attention of the american public. The winning book will be published by the Louisiana State University Press at the time of the author’s tour. The Mobil sponsors say it’s unlikely that the american edition of the book will be distributed in New Zealand. They’re hoping a New Zealand publisher will take that up.