Writers who have contributed to New Zealand literature include:
A
- Avis Acres (1910–1994), artist, writer, illustrator and conservationist
- Catherine Adamson (1868–1925), homemaker and diarist
- Pip Adam (living), novelist, short story writer, and reviewer
- Arthur Henry Adams (1872–1936), journalist, poet, novelist and playwright
- Fleur Adcock (born 1934), poet and editor
- Rob Allan (born 1945), poet
- Rosetta Allan (living), poet and novelist
- Pamela Allen (born 1934), children's writer and illustrator
- Margaret Alington (1920–2012), librarian, historian and author
- Pinky Agnew (born 1955), author, playwright, social commentator and wedding celebrant
- Barbara Anderson (1926–2013), short story writer and novelist
- Isobel Andrews (1905–1990), poet, playwright and short story writer
- K O Arvidson (1938–2011), poet and academic
- Sylvia Ashton-Warner (1908–1984), writer, poet and educator
- Tusiata Avia (born 1966), poet and children's author
B
- Louisa Alice Baker (1856–1926), journalist and novelist
- Hinemoana Baker (born 1968), poet, musician and recording artist
- Murray Ball (1939–2017), cartoonist
- Philippa Ballantine (born 1971), author of speculative fiction
- David Ballantyne (1924–1986), journalist, novelist and short story writer
- Ellen Wright Blackwell (1864–1952), writer and botanist
- Arapera Blank (1932–2002), poet and teacher
- Serie Barford (living), performance poet
- Mary Anne Barker (Lady Barker) (1831–1911), poet and non-fiction writer
- John Barr (1809–1889)
- Miriam Barr (born 1982), page and performance poet
- Sarah Maria Barraud (1823–1895), homemaker and letter-writer
- Rachel Barrowman (born 1963), author and historian
- Blanche Baughan (1870–1958), poet, writer and penal reformer
- James K. Baxter (1926–1972), poet and playwright
- John Beaglehole (1901–1971), historian
- Fleur Beale (born 1945), young adult novelist
- Margaret Beames (born 1935), children's book novelist
- Airini Beautrais (born 1982), poet
- Bernard Beckett (born 1967), young adult novelist
- James Belich (born 1956), historian
- Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), poet and social worker
- Jean Betts (living), playwright, actor and director
- Graham Billing (1936–2001), novelist, journalist and poet
- Judith Binney (1940–2011), writer, academic and historian
- Hera Lindsay Bird (born 1987), poet
- Gavin Bishop (born 1946), children's author and illustrator
- Paddy Blanchfield (1911–1980), poet and politician
- Arapera Blank (1932–2002), poet and teacher
- Paula Boock (born 1964), writer and editor
- Ivan Bootham (1939–2016), novelist, short story writer, poet and composer
- Jenny Bornholdt (born 1960), poet and anthologist
- Avice Maud Bowbyes (1901–1992), home science lecturer and writer
- Thomas Bracken (1843–1898), poet, journalist and politician
- Charles Brasch (1909–1973), poet, literary editor and arts patron
- Errol Brathwaite (1924–2005), author
- Freda Bream (1918–1996), teacher and writer
- Diana Bridge (born 1942), poet
- Bub Bridger (1924–2009), poet and short story writer
- Adele Broadbent (born 1968), children's author
- Deidre Brown (born 1970), art historian and historical lecturer
- Diane Brown (born 1951), novelist and poet
- Helen Brown (born 1954), author and columnist
- Riwia Brown (born 1957) playwright and screenwriter
- Harriet Louisa Browne (1829–1906), political salon hostess, community leader and letter-writer
- Margaret Bullock (1845–1903), journalist, writer, feminist and social reformer
- Lindsay Buick (1866–1938), politician, journalist and historian
- Dorothy Butler (1925–2015), children's book author, bookseller, memoirist and reading advocate
C
- Dolce Ann Cabot (1862–1943), early newspaper editor
- Christine Cole Catley (1922–2011), journalist, publisher and author
- Kate Camp (born 1972), poet and author
- Alistair Campbell (1925–2009), poet, playwright and novelist
- Meg Campbell (1937–2007), poet
- Clyde Carr (1886–1962), politician, church minister and poet
- Ken Catran (born 1944), children's novelist and screenwriter
- Eleanor Catton (born 1985), novelist and screenwriter
- Gordon Challis (1932–2018), poet
- Lynda Chanwai-Earle (born 1965), writer and radio producer
- Janet Charman (born 1954), poet
- Brenda Chawner (living), library academic
- Hannah Rebecca Frances Caverhill (1834–1897), diarist and homemaker
- Catherine Chidgey (born 1970), novelist and short-story writer
- Daphne Clair (born 1939), romance novelist and activist
- Margaret Clark (born 1941), political scientist and writer
- Paul Cleave (born 1974), crime novelist
- Constance Clyde (1872-1951), novelist, travel writer and suffragette
- Nellie Euphemia Coad (1883–1974), teacher, community leader and writer
- Elizabeth Fairburn Colenso (1821–1904), missionary, teacher and Bible translator
- Glenn Colquhoun (born 1964), poet and doctor
- Jennifer Compton (born 1949), poet and playwright
- Sandra Coney (born 1944), local-body politician, writer, feminist, historian, and women's health campaigner
- Hugh Cook (1956–2008), science fiction writer
- Kay McKenzie Cooke (born 1953), poet
- Sue Copsey (born 1960), children's author and editor
- Judy Corbalis (living), novelist and short story writer
- Winston Cowie (born 1982), novelist and historian
- Violet May Cottrell (1887–1971), writer, poet and spiritualist
- James Courage (1903–1963), novelist, short-story writer, poet and bookseller
- David Coventry (born 1969), novelist and musician
- Joy Cowley (born 1936), author best known for her children's fiction
- Rachael Craw (living), novelist and teacher
- Douglas Cresswell (1894–1960), author, historian, and broadcaster
- Walter D'Arcy Cresswell (1896–1960), poet, journalist and writer
- Barry Crump (1935–1996), author of semi-autobiographical comic novels
- Majella Cullinane (living), poet and novelist
- Allen Curnow (1911–2001), poet and journalist
D
- Dan Davin (1913–1990), novelist, non-fiction writer and editor
- Joan de Hamel (1924–2011), children's author
- Stephanie de Montalk (born 1945), poet and biographer
- Elena de Roo (living), children's writer and poet
- Pip Desmond (living), author and journalist
- George E. Dewar (1891–1969), poet, writer, teacher, farmer, worker and soldier
- Jean Devanny (1894–1962), author and communist
- William Direen (born 1957), writer and performer
- Lynley Dodd (born 1941), children's book author and illustrator
- Alfred Domett (1811–1887), fourth Premier of New Zealand and poet
- Robyn Donald (born 1940), romance novelist
- Basil Dowling (1910–2000), poet
- Joan Druett (born 1935), historian and novelist
- Marilyn Duckworth (born 1940), novelist, poet and short-story writer
- Tessa Duder (born 1940), author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and non-fiction, editor and former swimmer
- Alan Duff (born 1950), novelist and newspaper columnist
- Yvonne du Fresne (1929–2011), novelist, short-story writer and playwright
- Eileen Duggan (1894–1972), poet and journalist
- Maurice Duggan (1922–1974), writer of short fiction
- Kate Duignan (born 1974), novelist, short-story writer, reviewer and teacher
E
- Dorothy Eden (1912–1982), Gothic novelist and short-story writer
- Lauris Edmond (1924–2000), poet and writer
- Brendon Egan (born 1984), sports writer
- Stevan Eldred-Grigg (born 1952), novelist and historian
- Chris Else (born 1942), novelist, short-story writer and poet
- Ellen Elizabeth Ellis (1829–1895), feminist and writer
- Riemke Ensing (born 1939), poet
- Margaret Escott (1908–1977), novelist, drama teacher and poet
- Barbara Ewing (born 1939), actress, playwright and novelist
F
- Jacqueline Fahey (born 1929), painter and writer
- Fiona Farrell (born 1947), poet, fiction writer and playwright
- Angie Farrow (born 1951), academic and writer for theatre and radio
- Beryl Fletcher (1938–2018), feminist novelist
- Tui Flower (1925–2017), food writer
- Michelanne Forster (born 1953), playwright and scriptwriter
- Dorothy Fowler (living), novelist
- Janet Frame (1924–2004), novelist, short-story writer, poet and autobiographical writer
- Ruth France (1913–1968), librarian, poet and novelist
- Margaret Fraser (1866–1951), domestic servant and letter writer
- Anne French (born 1956), editor and poet
- Catherine Fulton (1829–1919), diarist, community leader, philanthropist, social reformer and suffragette
G
- Abby Gaines (living), romance novelist
- Rhian Gallagher (born 1961), poet
- Maurice Gee (born 1931), novelist
- Elizabeth Anne Gard'ner (1858–1926), home science teacher, administrator and writer
- Frances Shayle George (1828–1890), teacher, writer and educationalist
- Golriz Ghahraman (born 1981), politician and non-fiction author
- Ivy Gibbs (c. 1886–1966), poet and children's writer
- Michael Gifkins (1945–2014), literary agent, short story writer, critic, publisher and editor
- Ruth Gilbert (1917–2016), poet
- Olivia Aroha Giles (born 1962), novelist and children's author
- Betty Gilderdale (born 1923), children's author
- Esther Glen (1881–1940), children's novelist, journalist and community worker
- Denis Glover (1912–1980), poet and publisher
- Brannavan Gnanalingam (born 1983), author and lawyer
- Charlotte Godley (1821–1907), letter-writer and community leader
- Alfred Augustus Grace (1867–1942), teacher, journalist and writer
- Patricia Grace (born 1937), writer of novels, short stories, and children's books
- Grace Winifred Green (1907–1976), radio broadcaster and journalist
- Paula Green (born 1955), poet and children's author
- Lisa Greenwood (born 1955), novelist
- H. W. Gretton (1914–1983), poet, lyricist, writer, teacher, journalist, linguist, diarist and soldier
- Charlotte Grimshaw (living), novelist, columnist and reviewer
- Edith Searle Grossmann (1863–1931), teacher, novelist, journalist and feminist
- Kirsty Gunn (born 1960), novelist and short-story writer
- John Guthrie (1905–1955), journalist and novelist
H
- Mandy Hager (born 1960), novelist, children's author, non-fiction writer and screenwriter
- David Hair (living), fantasy author
- Bernadette Hall (born 1945), playwright and poet
- Pip Hall (born 1971), scriptwriter and actor
- Roger Hall (born 1939), playwright
- J. H. Haslam (1874–1969), Methodist Church minister, poet, editor and Wesleyan Church historian
- Jane Elizabeth Harris (c.1853–1942), writer, lecturer and spiritualist
- Kathleen Hawkins (1883–1981), poet
- Catherine Hay (1910–1995), historical romance novelist
- Karyn Hay (born 1959), author and broadcaster
- Joel Hayward (born 1964), historian, writer, and poet
- Helen Heath (born 1970), poet
- Christina Henderson (1861–1953), teacher, feminist, prohibitionist, social reformer and editor
- Ellen Hewett (1843–1926), memoirist
- Mary St Domitille Hickey (1882–1958), Catholic nun, school principal and historian
- Sarah Higgins (1830–1923), homemaker, midwife, community leader and writer
- David Hill (born 1942), author, especially known for his young adult fiction
- Eva Hill (1898–1981), doctor, medical superintendent, writer, publicist and health campaigner
- Janet Holmes (born 1947), sociolinguist
- Lynley Hood (born 1942), biographer and non-fiction writer
- M. H. Holcroft (1902–1993), essayist and novelist.
- Edith Howes (1872–1954), teacher, educationalist, and writer of children's literature
- Keri Hulme (1947), novelist, poet, and short-story writer
- Des Hunt (born 1941), teacher and a writer for children and young adults
- Sam Hunt (born 1946), poet especially known for performance poetry
- Rex Hunter (1889–1960), poet, playwright and fiction writer
- Robin Hyde (1906–1939), poet
I
- Witi Ihimaera (born 1944), novelist
- Catherine Lucy Innes (c.1840–1900), journalist
- Fanny Irvine-Smith (1878–1948), teacher, lecturer and writer
- Kate Isitt (1876–1948), journalist and writer
J
- Anna Jackson (born 1967), poet, fiction and non-fiction writer and academic
- Annamarie Jagose (born 1965), LGBT academic and fiction writer
- Lynn Jenner (living), poet and essayist
- Alexa Johnston (living), author, art curator and historian
- Andrew Johnston (born 1963), poet and journalist
- Christine Johnston (born 1950), novelist
- Stephanie Johnson (born 1961), poet, playwright, and short story writer
- Lloyd Jones (born 1955), novelist
- Tim Jones (born 1959), novelist, short-story writer and poet
- V. M. Jones, (born 1958), children's author
- M. K. Joseph (1914–1981), poet and novelist
- Sherryl Jordan (born 1949), writer for children and young adults
- Andrea Jutson (living), novelist
K
- Keri Kaa (1942–2020), writer, educator, and advocate for the Māori language
- Amy Kane (1879–1979), journalist and community leader
- Merata Kawharu (living), writer and academic
- Lindy Kelly (born 1952), children's author, short story writer, playwright and novelist
- Elizabeth Kelso (1889–1967), journalist, editor and community leader
- Anne Kennedy (born 1959), novelist, poet, and filmwriter
- Alice Annie Kenny (1875–1960), poet, short-story writer and novelist
- Angela Kepler (born 1943), naturalist and author
- Bob Kerr (born 1951), author, illustrator and artist
- Fiona Kidman (born 1940), novelist, poet, scriptwriter and short-story author
- Michael King (1945–2004), popular historian, author, and biographer
- Rachael King (born 1970), novelist and short-story writer
- Russell Kirkpatrick (born 1961), geography lecturer and novelist
- Elizabeth Knox (born 1959), novelist
- Shonagh Koea (born 1939), novelist and short-story writer
- Saradha Koirala (born 1980), poet and writer
L
- Sarah Laing (born 1973), author and cartoonist
- Annabel Langbein (born 1958), celebrity chef, food writer and publisher
- Eve Langley (1904 –1974), novelist and poet
- Jack Lasenby (1931–2019), writer of books for children and young adults
- John A. Lee (1891–1982), politician and writer
- Owen Leeming (born 1930), poet, playwright and former radio presenter and television producer
- Michele Leggott (born 1956), poet and professor of English
- June Margaret Litman (1926–1991), journalist
- Elsie Locke (1912–2001), writer, historian and activist
- Terry Locke (born 1946), poet, anthologist, poetry reviewer and academic
- Iain Lonie (1932–1988), poet and historian
- Jean Lonie (1930–1997), poet and teacher
- Judith Lonie (1935–1982), poet
- Robert Lord (1945–1992), playwright
- Helen Lowe (born 1961), novelist
- Brigid Lowry (born 1953), writer of books for children and young adults
- Edith Lyttleton (1873–1945), novelist and short-story writer
M
- Charlotte Macdonald (living), historian
- Rebecca Macfie (living), author and journalist
- Katrine Mackay (1864–1944), journalist and cook
- Jessie Mackay (1864–1938), poet and animal rights activist
- Anna Mackenzie (born 1963), novelist
- Hester Maclean (1859–1932), nurse, hospital matron, nursing administrator, editor and writer
- Shirley Maddock (1928–2001), producer, television presenter, author and actress
- Margaret Mahy (1936–2012), author of children's and young adult books
- Jane Mander (1877–1949), novelist and journalist
- Bill Manhire (born 1946), poet, short story writer and professor
- Frederick Edward Maning (1812–1883), early settler, writer and Native Land Court judge
- Phillip Mann (born 1942), science fiction author
- Emilie Monson Malcolm (c.1830–1905), homemaker and memoirist
- Clare Mallory (1913–1991), children's author and teacher
- Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923), short-story writer and poet
- Juliet Marillier (born 1948), fantasy novelist and short-story writer
- Janice Marriott (born 1946), writer, editor, audio producer, screenwriter, poet and gardener
- Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), crime writer and theatre director
- Selina Tusitala Marsh (born 21 April 1971), poet and academic
- Owen Marshall (born 1941), short-story writer and novelist
- Mary Ann Martin (1817–1884), community leader, teacher and writer
- Bruce Mason (1921–1982), playwright
- Kāterina Mataira (1932–2011), Māori language advocate, educator, artist and writer
- Sarah Louise Mathew (c.1805–1890), diarist
- Peta Mathias (living), food writer and television show presenter
- Tina Matthews (born 1961), author, illustrator and puppetmaker
- Muriel May (1897–1982), teacher, school principal and writer
- Ged Maybury (born 1953), children's book author
- Cath Mayo (living), novelist, short story writer and musician
- Rachel McAlpine (born 1940), poet, novelist and playwright
- Mary McCallum (born 1961), author and journalist
- Anthony McCarten (born 1961), novelist, playwright, journalist, television writer and filmmaker
- Sue McCauley (born 1941), novelist, short story writer, playwright, journalist and screenwriter
- Lyn McConchie (born 1946), novelist, children's author and short-story writer
- Carolyn McCurdie (living), novelist, poet and short-story writer
- Jill McDonald (1927–1982), children's writer and illustrator
- Shona McFarlane (1929–2001), artist, journalist and broadcaster
- Greg McGee (born 1950), crime writer and playwright
- Rosemary McLeod (born 1949), writer, journalist, cartoonist and columnist
- Linda McNabb (born 1963), children's author
- James McNeish (1931–2016), novelist, playwright and biographer
- Cilla McQueen (born 1949), poet
- Courtney Sina Meredith (born 1986), poet, playwright, and short-story writer
- Richard Meros (living), satirical author
- Elizabeth Messenger (1908–1965), journalist, cookery writer and crime novelist
- Kyle Mewburn (born 1963), children's author
- Ian Middleton (1928–2007), novelist
- O. E. Middleton (1925–2010), short-story writer
- Karlo Mila (living), poet
- David Mitchell (1940–2011), poet, teacher and cricketer
- Tze Ming Mok (born 1978), fiction writer and socio-political commentator
- Pérrine Moncrieff (1893–1979), author, conservationist and amateur ornithologist
- Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk (1903–1997), poet, polemicist, pagan and pretender to the Polish throne
- Geoff Moon (1915–2009), naturalist, ornithologist, conservationist, veterinary surgeon and photographer
- Ronald Hugh Morrieson (1922–1972), novelist and short-story writer
- Paula Morris (born 1965), novelist and short-story writer
- Michael Morrissey (born 1942), poet, short-story writer, novelist, editor, feature article writer, book reviewer and columnist
- Elsie K. Morton (1885–1968), journalist and writer
- John Mulgan (1911–1945), writer, journalist and editor
- Shirley Murray (1931–2020), hymn lyrics writer
- Margaret Mutu (living), Ngāti Kahu leader, author and academic
N
- Elizabeth Nannestad (born 1956), poet
- Susan Napier (born 1954), romance writer
- Sheila Natusch (1926–2017), writer, naturalist and freelance illustrator
- Emma Neale (born 1969), novelist and poet
- Lino Nelisi (born 1952), author and educator
- John Newton (born 1959), poet
- Marjory Lydia Nicholls (1890–1930), poet, teacher and drama producer
- Carl Nixon (born 1967), novelist, short story writer and playwright
O
- Susan Moller Okin (1946–2004), liberal feminist political philosopher and author
- Michael O'Leary (living), publisher, poet, novelist, performer, and bookshop proprietor
- Gloria Olive (1923–2006), academic mathematician and author
- Linda Olsson (born 1948), novelist
- Claudia Orange (born 1938), historian
- Margaret Orbell (1935–2006), author, editor and academic
- Sue Orr (born 1962), fiction writer and journalist
P
- Makereti Papakura (1873–1930), guide, entertainer and ethnographer
- Ruth Park (1917–2010), novelist, children's writer, non-fiction writer and radio writer
- Lorae Parry (born 1955), playwright and actor
- Justin Paton (born 1972), writer, art critic and curator
- Jenny Pattrick (born 1936), novelist
- Evelyn Patuawa-Nathan (living), poet and novelist
- Isabel Peacocke (1881–1973), teacher, novelist and broadcaster
- Bill Pearson (1922–2002), fiction writer, essayist and critic
- Nicky Pellegrino (born 1964), novelist
- Emily Perkins (born 1970), novelist and short-story writer
- Dianne Ruth Pettis (1955–2008), novelist and journalist
- April Phillips (living), actress, playwright, singer, director and producer
- Vivienne Plumb (born 1955), poet, playwright, fiction writer, and editor
- Leonie Pihama (living), Māori academic
- Mark Pirie (born 1974), poet, writer, literary critic, anthologist, publisher, and editor
- Robert J. Pope (1865–1949), poet, songwriter, violinist, cricketer, teacher, and headmaster
- Rebecca Priestley (living), academic, science historian, and writer
- Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (1941–2006), weaver and author
Q
- Alison Quigan (living), actress, director and playwright
- Sarah Quigley (living), novelist, short-story writer and poet
R
- Beverley Randell (born 1931), children's author
- Charlotte Randall (living), novelist
- Jo Randerson (born 1973), writer, director and performer
- Lizzie Frost Rattray (1855–1931), journalist, suffragist and welfare worker
- Gloria Jasmine Rawlinson (1918–1995), poet, novelist, short-story writer and editor
- Annie Lee Rees (1864–1949), writer, teacher, lawyer and community leader
- Rosemary Frances Rees (c.1875–1963), actress, playwright, theatre producer and novelist
- William Pember Reeves (1857–1932), politician, cricketer, historian and poet
- Sue Reidy (living), author and designer
- Mary Richmond (1853–1949), community leader, teacher and writer
- Paddy Richardson (living), novelist and short-story writer
- Lauren Kim Roche (born 1961), author and physician
- Violet Augusta Roche (1885–1967), journalist and welfare worker
- Hilda Rollett (1873–1970), teacher, journalist and writer
- Joan Rosier-Jones (born 1940), novelist, playwright, short-story writer, non-fiction writer, and teacher
- Tania Roxborogh (born 1965), novelist and non-fiction writer
S
- Ben Sanders (born 1989), crime writer
- Elspeth Sandys (born 1940), novelist, poet and short-story writer
- Frank Sargeson (1903–1982), short-story writer and novelist
- Duncan Sarkies (living), screenwriter, playwright, novelist, stand-up comic and short story writer
- Fiona Samuel (born 1961), playwright, actor and director
- Elspeth Sandys (born 1940), novelist, short-story writer, poet and non-fiction writer
- Nelle Scanlan (1882–1968), journalist and novelist
- Dick Scott (1923–2020), historian and journalist
- Margaret Scott (1928–2014), writer, editor, librarian and Katherine Mansfield scholar
- Mary Scott (1888–1979), novelist, teacher and librarian
- Mary-anne Scott (living) writer, singer and musician
- Robyn Scott (born 1981), writer and entrepreneur
- Rosie Scott (1948–2017), novelist and lecturer
- Maurice Shadbolt (1932–2004), novelist, short-story writer, autobiographer and playwright
- Tina Shaw (born 1961), novelist
- Helen Lilian Shaw (1913–1985), short-story writer, poet and editor
- Keith Sinclair (1922–1993), poet and historian
- Nalini Singh (born 1977), paranormal romance novelist
- Tracey Slaughter (born 1972), poet and short-story writer
- Anna Smaill (born 1979), poet and novelist, and a former violinist
- Elizabeth Smither (born 1941), poet and novelist
- Laura Solomon (1974–2019), novelist, playwright and poet
- Eileen Louise Soper (1900–1989), journalist, writer and Girl Guide Commissioner
- C. K. Stead (born 1932), novelist, poet, short-story writer and literary critic
- Mamari Stephens (living), legal academic
- Adela Blanche Stewart (1846–1910), homemaker and writer
- Olga Stringfellow (born 1923), journalist and novelist
- Jacquie Sturm (1927–2009), poet, short story writer and librarian
- Laura Jane Suisted (1840–1903), writer, journalist and parliamentary reporter
- Essie Summers (1912–1998), romance novelist
- Barbara Sumner (living), writer and film producer
- Vanda Symon (born 1969), crime writer and radio host
- Melinda Szymanik (born 1963), children's author
T
- Tamairangi (fl. 1820–1828), Ngati Ira and Ngati Kuia leader and poet
- Leilani Tamu (living), poet and politician
- Anna Taylor (born 1982), short-story writer
- Chad Taylor (born 1964), novelist, short-story writer and screenwriter
- Grace Taylor (born c.1984), poet and performer
- Renée (born 1929), feminist writer and playwright
- Ngahuia Te Awekotuku (born 1949), academic, lesbian activist and essayist
- Philip Temple (born 1939), novelist, children's author and non-fiction author
- Margaret Tennant (living), historian
- Ngaire Thomas (1943–2012), memoirist
- Kirsten Moana Thompson (born 1964), academic and film writer
- Mervyn Thompson (1935–1992), coal miner, academic, playwright and theatre director
- Mona Tracy (1892–1959), children's novelist, journalist, poet, short-story writer and community worker
- Jill Trevelyan (born 1963), art curator, reviewer, and author
- Brian Turner (born 1944), poet, sportsman and journalist
- Hone Tuwhare (1922–2008), poet
V
- Julius Vogel (1835–1899), eighth Premier of New Zealand and first New Zealand science-fiction novelist
W
- Dorothy Wall (1894–1942), children's author and illustrator
- Louise Wallace (born 1983), poet
- Marilyn Waring (born 1952), politician and academic in feminist economics
- Joy Watson (born 1938), children's author
- Ian Wedde (born 1946), poet, fiction writer, critic, and art curator
- Peter Wells (1950–2019), writer, filmmaker, and historian
- Albert Wendt (born 1939), poet and writer
- Joyce West (1908–1985), novelist and children's writer
- Lydia Wevers (born 1950), literary critic, historian, editor, and book reviewer
- Dorothy Neal White (1915–1995), librarian and writer
- Emily White (1839–1936), gardener and writer
- Cherry Wilder (1930–2002), science fiction and fantasy writer
- Damien Wilkins (born 1963), novelist, short story writer, and poet
- Guthrie Wilson (1914–1984), novelist and educator
- Helen Wilson (1869–1957), teacher, farmer, community leader and writer
- Annabelle White (living), food writer
- Alison Wong (born 1960), poet and novelist
- Elizabeth Wong (living) retired official and fiction writer
- Susan Wood (1836–1880), poet and short-story writer
- Alice Woodhouse (1883–1977), librarian, journalist and broadcaster
- Sue Wootton (born 1961), poet, short-story writer and novelist
- Anne Eyre Worboys (1920–2007), romance and suspense novelist
- Niel Wright (born 1933), poet, literary critic, bibliographer and publisher
See also
- New Zealand literature
- List of New Zealand poets