Dame Lynley Dodd, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most beloved storytellers, continues to shape the nation’s literary landscape through creativity, mentorship, and enduring cultural impact. In recent years, she has expanded her commitment to nurturing the next generation of writers by establishing the Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award through The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi – a biennial $30,000 grant supporting mid-career authors of children’s literature. This initiative reflects Dame Lynley’s deep belief in strengthening the future of storytelling, offering writers the time, stability, and encouragement needed to grow their craft.

Her extraordinary influence extends far beyond her own celebrated works. In 2024, her contribution to children’s literature was further recognised with the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. Across decades, her iconic Hairy Maclary series has ignited a love of reading for generations of tamariki, becoming a cultural touchstone both here and around the world.