South Korean-born Sun Lyoung Kim has won the NorthWrite 2016 Competition for Northland writers with a story outlining the experiences of emigrating to a new country.
Ms Kim, who lives in Whangarei, grew up in South Korea and emigrated to New Zealand 20 years ago. Her winning story Floating Island explores the experience of emigration. Ms Kim said winning the competition gave her "a chance and hope".
"It has helped open the gate to Kiwi society and my future," she said.
The one-off competition held by the Northland branch of the Society of Authors was open to any writer 18 years and over who was resident in Northland. The prize was attendance at a national writers' event worth up to $700, and Ms Kim chose last week's Auckland Writers' Conference.
She has completed a Diploma in Applied Writing at NorthTec and is studying to become a teacher. Her work has been published by Learning Media Ltd and LIFT Education, and she writes a regular column about New Zealand education in the Korean Federation of Teachers newsletter.