Dunedin right setting for awarding winning novel | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

The cold southern city of Dunedin is the right setting for a crime novel - being already associated with the Aramoana massacre, the Bain family killings and most recently Sophie Elliott's murder.

Andrew Porteous sets most of the action of his new detective novel there. But he reserves some for Wanganui, the place where he spent the first 18 years of his life, and where he returns several times a year to see his parents.

His first novel, A Political Affair, has won the crime section of the Kinglake Publishing (UK) Unpublished Author Competition. The competition had worldwide entries of a high standard, and the prize includes a publishing contract. His book is due to come out before Christmas.

Mr Porteous said he's been working on the novel for the last two years, and it started off as a bit of fun.

The central character in A Political Affair is an inexperienced, young, part-Maori detective.

When the Prime Minister's personal assistant dies at his house at midnight, wearing an expensive cocktail dress, the detective is asked to investigate.

The son of Wanganui teachers Harvey and Kay Porteous, Andrew Porteous studied law at Victoria University after leaving school, did a stint at the Affco Imlay freezing works, went overseas for six years and then studied English at Otago University as a mature student.

He's now 33, works full-time in the University of Otago Science Library and has several plays to his name.

He had always wanted to write, and finally got started five years ago.

He puts aside 14 hours a week, usually two hours a day, after work.

His most recent play, The Death Bed, is due to be performed in Christchurch's Court Theatre in December.

Despite the grim title, it's a comedy, about three siblings who come together over the death of a relative.

Earlier plays are about students revolting and child abuse in rural New Zealand.