There's a lucrative new award open to New Zealand authors. Unfortunately, it's also open to writers from Australia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji.

The Tasmania Pacific Bicentenary History Prize puts AUS$25,000 (NZ$28,300) up for grabs. The money will go to the author of a work of history or biography first published between May 2002 and April 2004. Entrants must "contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the past" and only nominations from publishers will be accepted. The closing date for nominations is May 1 2004.

The Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & The Arts administers the prize, and you can get more information from this web site. Or email Caroline.Flood@dtpha.tas.gov.au.