This year’s second Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellow, Craig Marriner, has taken up his tenure and is now resident at the Sargeson flat in central Auckland.

Back from the UK, Craig will use his time at the flat to put the finishing touches to his second novel, centred around the Kiwi/Aussie scene in London, as well as working on his third novel and the upcoming film of his award-winning first novel, stonedogs.

'Being awarded the Fellowship gives me the financial leeway and headspace to concentrate on my writing – it’s a fantastic opportunity,' Craig beams.

This year’s other Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellow, Karyn Hay, finished her tenure earlier in July and is currently on location in East Timor filming for the next series of Intrepid Journeys.

The Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship is a national literary fellowship offered annually in partnership with The Frank Sargeson Trust. It provides the opportunity each year for an outstanding New Zealand writer(s) to write full time ‘in residence’ with a monthly stipend.

NB: Looks like our Craig's been watching a few episodes of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. He's definitely been tzushed up a bit since he was last photographed (right).