Great Southern Television and the Queenstown Lakes District Council have named the four screenwriters: Claire Varley, Finnius Teppett, Matasila Freshwater and Mia Maramara.
The one-month residency will involve workshops on writing for international television markets along with the provision of personal mentors, accommodation and coverage of living costs.
Over the course of the retreat, each writer will develop a concept for a scripted drama series to be based and produced in the Queenstown-Lakes region.
At the conclusion of the month, they will then pitch their concepts to a selection committee.
Great Southern Television will have the first right to option chosen concepts and commission a pilot script.
About 80 aspiring script writers applied.
"Following the success of Tahuna 2022, we are excited to have selected another four emerging writers of the highest quality," Great Southern Television chief executive Philip Smith said.
"We have watched the writing careers of our inaugural residents flourish.
"The ideas they brought to the table were excellent and are alive in various forms in the global marketplace.
"In 2023, we have a wonderfully eclectic mix of writers who we can’t wait to bring into the Tahuna world and provide with a home and creative space for a month.
"This will allow them to fast-track their ideas and launch them on to the world stage. Bring it on!"
QLDC film manager Kahli Scott said the council and Film Queenstown Lakes were excited to be supporting the residency for a second year and "to yet again have an impressive line-up of New Zealand screenwriting talent join us in Queenstown in 2023".
"As the district’s film office, we recognise the value film and TV production brings to the district’s economy and community.
"This residency will give these four incredibly skilled writers time, local connections, mentorship and inspiration to create original TV concepts set in the Queenstown-Lakes district, which is all in line with our vision for growing the local industry."
By: Staff reporter
