Created in 2002, the Randell Writers' Cottage Trust provides a residency for New Zealand and French writers in Thorndon, Wellington. It represents a form of cultural exchange between France and New Zealand as, for the French writers, the project can be seen as a counterpart to the Katherine Mansfield Fellowship awarded annually to New Zealand writers to spend some months in Menton, France. The first French writer-in-residence at the Randell Cottage was Nadine Ribault in 2002. Her living expenses in New Zealand were met by the New Zealand- France Friendship Fund. The French writers who have since been awarded the annual Randell fellowship have also been supported generously by the Fund.