The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
In 2015, Ockham Residential, an Auckland urban development firm, was announced as the sponsor for the Awards which were previously known as the New Zealand Post Book Awards. The Awards are administered by the Auckland Writers Festival on behalf of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust.
The 2024 longlist was announced on 1 February 2024, and the shortlist on 6 March. The winners, including the four Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards recipients, was announced at a public ceremony on 15 May during the 2024 Auckland Writers Festival.
Winners of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction receive a minimum of $60,000 (wage-inflation adjusted each year). Winners of the other principal category awards each receive $10,000, and each of the winners of the four Best First Book awards, $2,500. Te Mūrau o te Tuhi Māori Language Award for books written entirely in te reo Māori is awarded at the discretion of a specially appointed judge, with prize money also $10,000.
- More information about the history of the New Zealand Book Awards
- See more literary prize winners
Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
2024
Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
- Lioness Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury Publishing) Winner
- A Better Place Stephen Daisley (Text Publishing)
- Audition Pip Adam (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
- Birnam Wood Eleanor Catton (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- Chinese Fish Grace Yee (Giramondo Publishing) Winner
- At the Point of Seeing Megan Kitching (Otago University Press)
- Root Leaf Flower Fruit Bill Nelson (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
- Talia Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) (Dead Bird Books)
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
- Don Binney: Flight Path Gregory O’Brien (Auckland University Press) Winner
- Fungi of Aotearoa: A Curious Forager's Field Guide Liv Sisson (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
- Marilynn Webb: Folded in the Hills Lauren Gutsell, Lucy Hammonds and Bridget Reweti (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) (Dunedin Public Art Gallery)
- Rugby League in New Zealand: A People’s History Ryan Bodman (Bridget Williams Books)
General Non-Fiction Award
- An Indigenous Ocean: Pacific Essays Damon Salesa (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
- Laughing at the Dark: A Memoir Barbara Else (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
- Ngātokimatawhaorua: The Biography of a Waka Jeff Evans (Massey University Press)
- There’s a Cure for This: A Memoir Emma Espiner (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Porou) (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
Mūrau o te Tuhi - Māori Language Award
Te Rautakitahi o Tūhoe ki Ōrākau Tā Pou Temara (Auckland University Press)
Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards
Hubert Church Prize for Fiction: Ruin and other stories Emma Hislop (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction: Rugby League in New Zealand: A People's History Ryan Bodman (Bridget Williams Books)
E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction: There's a cure for this: A Memoir Emma Wehipeihana (Espiner) (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
Jessie MacKay Prize for Poetry: At the point of seeing Megan Kitching (Otago University Press)
2023
Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
- The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press) Winner
- Better the blood by Michael Bennett (Simon & Schuster)
- Kāwai: For Such a Time as This by Monty Soutar (Bateman Books)
- Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant by Cristina Sanders (The Cuba Press)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- Always Italicise: How to Write While Colonised by Alice Te Punga Somerville Winner
- People Person by Joanna Cho (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
- Sedition by Anahera Maire Gildea (Taraheke | Bush Lawyer)
- We’re All Made of Lightning by Khadro Mohamed (We Are Babies Press, Tender Press)
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
- Jumping Sundays: The Rise and Fall of the Counterculture in Aoteroa New Zealand by Nick Bollinger (Auckland University Press) Winner
- Robin White: Something is Happening Here Edited by Sarah Farrar, Jill Trevelyan and Nina Tonga (Te Papa Press and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki)
- Secrets of the Sea: The Story of New Zealand’s Native Sea Creatures by Robert Vennell (HarperCollins)
- Te Motunui Epa by Rachel Buchanan (Bridget Williams Books)
General Non-Fiction Award
- The English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi by Ned Fletcher (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
- A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: A Collection of Narratives about Te Tai Tokerau Tūpuna by Melinda Webber and Te Kapua O’Connor (Auckland University Press)
- Downfall: The Destruction of Charles Mackay by Paul Diamond (Massey University Press)
- Grand: Becoming my Mother’s Daughter by Noelle McCarthy (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
Best First Book Awards - Supported by the Mātātuhi Foundation
Hubert Church Prize for Fiction: Home Theatre by Anthony Lapwood (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction: Kai: Food stories and recipes from my family table by Christall Lowe (Bateman Books)
E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction: Grand: Becoming my Mother's daughter by Noelle McCarthy (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
Jessie MacKay Prize for Poetry: We're all made of lightning by Khadro Mohamed (We are Babies Press, Tender Press)
2022
Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
- Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (Huia Publishers) Winner
- A Good Winter by Gigi Fenster (Text Publishing)
- Entanglement by Bryan Walpert (Mākaro Press)
- Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- Tumble by Joanna Preston (Otago University Press) Winner
- Rangikura byTayi Tibble (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
- Sleeping with Stones by Serie Barford (Anahera Press)
- The Sea Walks into a Wall by Anne Kennedy (Auckland University Press)
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction Award
- Dressed: Fashionable Dress in Aotearoa New Zealand 1840 to 1910 by Claire Regnault (Te Papa Press) Winner
- NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women by Qiane Matata-Sipu (QIANE+co)
- Shifting Grounds: Deep Histories of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland by Lucy Mackintosh (Bridget Williams Books)
- The Architect and the Artists: Hackshaw, McCahon, Dibble by Bridget Hackshaw (Massey University Press)
General Non Fiction Award
- Voices from the New Zealand Wars | He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa by Vincent O’Malley (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
- From the Centre: A Writer’s Life by Patricia Grace (Penguin, Penguin Random House)
- The Mirror Book Charlotte Grimshaw (RHNZ Vintage)
- The Alarmist: Fifty Years Measuring Climate Change by Dave Lowe (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Crystal Arts Trust Best First Book Awards
Hubert Church Prize for Fiction: Greta & Valdin Rebecca K. Reilly (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction: The Architect and the Artists: Hackshaw, McCahon, Dibble Bridget Hackshaw (Massey University Press)
E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction: The Alarmist: Fifty Years measuring Climate Change (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Jessie MacKay Prize for Poetry: Whai Nicole Titihuia Hawkins (We are Babies Press)
2021
Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
- Bug Week by Airini Beautrais (Victoria University Press) Winner
- Nothing to See by Pip Adam (Victoria University Press)
- Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press)
- Sprigs by Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- The Savage Coloniser Book by Tusiata Avia (Victoria University Press) Winner
- Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker (Victoria University Press)
- National Anthem by Mohamed Hassan (Dead Bird Books)
- Magnolia by Nina Mingya Powles (Seraph Press)
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction Award
- Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine by Monique Fiso (Godwit, Penguin Random House) Winner
- Marti Friedlander: Portraits of the Artists by Leonard Bell (Auckland University Press)
- An Exquisite Legacy: The Life and Work of New Zealand Naturalist G V Hudson by George Gibbs (Potton & Burton)
- Nature — Stilled by Jane Ussher (Te Papa Press)
General Non Fiction Award
- The Dark is Light Enough: Ralph Hotere A Biographical Portrait by Vincent O’Sullivan (Penguin, Penguin Random House) Winner
- Specimen: Personal Essays by Madison Hamill (Victoria University Press)
- This Pākehā Life: An Unsettled Memoir by Alison Jones (Bridget Williams Books)
- Te Hāhi Mihinare | The Māori Anglican Church by Hirini Kaa (Bridget Williams Books)
Mūrau o te Tuhu - Māori Language Award
Mātāmua ko te Kupu! Ta Timoti Kāretu (Kotahi Rau Pukapuka, Auckland University Press)
MitoQ Best First Book Awards
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine by Monique Fiso (Godwit, Penguin Random House)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
I am a Human Being Jackson Nieuwland (Compound Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
Victory Park Rachel Kerr (Mākaro Press)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
Specimen: Personal Essays by Madison Hamill (Victoria University Press)
2020
Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
- Auē Becky Manawatu (Mākaro Press) Winner
- Pearly Gates Owen Marshall (Vintage, Penguin Random House)
- A Mistake Carl Shuker (Victoria University Press)
- Halibut on the Moon David Vann (Text Publishing)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- How to Live Helen Rickerby (Auckland University Press) Winner
- Moth Hour Anne Kennedy (Auckland University Press)
- Lay Studies Steven Toussain (Victoria University Press)
- How I Get Ready Ashleigh Young (Victoria University Press)
Illustrated Non-Fiction Award
- Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance edited by Stephanie Gordon, Matariki Williams, Puawai Cairns (Te Papa Press) Winner
- Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and the Wider Moana Oceania edited by Karl Chitham, Kolokesa U Māhina-Tuai, Damian Skinner (Te Papa Press)
- We Are Here: An Atlas of Aotearoa Chris McDowall and Tim Denee (Massey University Press)
- McCahon Country Justin Paton (Penguin Random House and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki)
General Non Fiction Award
- Dead People I Have Known Shayne Carter (Victoria University Press) Winner
- Shirley Smith: An Examined Life Sarah Gaitanos (Victoria University Press)
- Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women’s Poetry Paula Green (Massey University Press)
- Towards the Mountain: A Story of Grief and Hope Forty Years on from Erebus Sarah Myles (Allen & Unwin)
MitoQ Best First Book Awards
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
We Are Here: An Atlas of Aotearoa Chris McDowall and Tim Denee (Massey University Press)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
Craven Jane Arthur (Victoria University Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
Auē Becky Manawatu (Mākaro Press)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
Dead People I Have Known Shayne Carter (Victoria University Press)
2019
Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize
- This Mortal Boy Fiona Kidman (Vintage, Penguin Random House) Winner
- The New Ships Kate Duignan (Victoria University Press)
- The Cage Lloyd Jones (Penguin Random House)
- This Mortal Boy Fiona Kidman (Vintage, Penguin Random House)
-
All This by Chance Vincent O'Sullivan (Victoria University Press)
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry
- Are friends electric? Helen Heath (Victoria University Press) Winner
- There's no place like the internet in springtime Erik Kennedy (Victoria University Press)
- The Facts Therese Lloyd (Victoria University Press)
- Poūkahangatus Tayi Tibble (Victoria University Press)
Illustrated Non-Fiction Award
- Tatau: A History of Samoan Tattooing Sean Mallon and Sébastien Galliot (Te Papa Press) Winner
- Fight for the Forests: The Pivotal Campaigns that Saved New Zealand’s Native Forests Paul Bensemann (Potton & Burton)
- Wanted: The Search for the Modernist Murals of E. Mervyn Taylor Edited by Bronwyn Holloway-Smith (Massey University Press)
- Birdstories: A History of the Birds of New Zealand Geoff Norman (Potton & Burton)
Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non Fiction
- Hudson & Halls: The Food of Love Joanne Drayton (Otago University Press) Winner
- Memory Pieces Maurice Gee (Victoria University Press)
- We Can Make a Life Chessie Henry (Victoria University Press)
- With Them Through Hell: New Zealand Medical Services in the First World War Anna Rogers (Massey University Press)
Te Mūrau o te Tuhi - Māori Language Award
He Kupu Tuku Iho: Ko te Reo Māori te Tatau ki te Ao Timoti Kāretu and Wharehuia Milroy (Auckland University Press)
MitoQ Best First Book Awards
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
Whatever it Takes: Pacific Films and John O’Shea 1948-2000 John Reid (Victoria University Press)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
Poūkahangatus Tayi Tibble (Victoria University Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
The Sound of Breaking Glass Kirsten Warner (Mākaro Press)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
We Can Make a Life Chessie Henry (Victoria University Press)
2018
Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize
The New Animals Pip Adam (Victoria University Press) Winner
Salt Picnic Patrick Evans (Victoria University Press)
Sodden Downstream Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson)
Baby Annaleese Jochems (Victoria University Press)
Poetry Award
Night Horse Elizabeth Smither (Auckland University Press) Winner
Anchor Stone Tony Beyer (Cold Hub Press)
Rāwāhi Briar Wood (Anahera Press)
The Yield Sue Wootton (Otago University Press)
Illustrated Non-Fiction Award
Tuai: A Traveller in Two Worlds Alison Jones and Kuni Kaa Jenkins (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
Tōtara: A Natural and Cultural History Philip Simpson (Auckland University Press)
Gordon Walters: New Vision Zara Stanhope (commissioning editor), Lucy Hammonds, Laurence Simmons, Julia Waite (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki and Dunedin Public Art Gallery)
The Face of Nature: An Environmental History of the Otago Peninsula Jonathan West (Otago University Press)
Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non Fiction
Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father Diana Wichtel (Awa Press) Winner
Dancing with the King: The Rise and Fall of the King Country, 1864-1885 Michael Belgrave (Auckland University Press)
Tears of Rangi: Experiments Across Worlds Anne Salmond (Auckland University Press)
Drawn Out: A Seriously Funny Memoir Tom Scott (Allen & Unwin NZ)
Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father Diana Wichtel (Awa Press)
Best first books
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
Caves: Exploring New Zealand’s Subterranean Wilderness Marcus Thomas and Neil Silverwood (Whio Publishing)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
Fully Clothed and So Forgetful Hannah Mettner (Victoria University Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
Baby Annaleese Jochems (Victoria University Press)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father Diana Wichtel (Awa Press)
2017
Ockham NZ Book Awards: Catherine Chidgey, Victoria University Press the big winners Stuff, 16 May 2017
Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize
- The Wish Child Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press) Winner
- Love as a Stranger Owen Marshall (Vintage, Penguin Random House)
- Billy Bird Emma Neale (Vintage, Penguin Random House)
- The Name on the Door is Not Mine CK Stead (Allen & Unwin)
Poetry
- Fits & Starts Andrew Johnston (Victoria University Press) Winner
- Fale Aitu | Spirit House Tusiata Avia (Victoria University Press)
- Hera Lindsay Bird Hera Lindsay Bird (Victoria University Press)
- This Paper Boat Gregory Kan (Auckland University Press)
Illustrated Non-fiction
- A History of New Zealand Women Barbara Brookes (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
- Bloomsbury South: The Arts in Christchurch 1933-1953 Peter Simpson (Auckland University Press)
- New Zealand Wine: The Land, the Vines, the People Warren Moran (Auckland University Press)
- Ann Shelton: Dark Matter edited by Zara Stanhope and managing editor Clare McIntosh (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki)
Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non-Fiction
- Can You Tolerate This? Ashleigh Young (Victoria University Press) Winner
- This Model World: Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art Anthony Byrt (Auckland University Press)
- My Father’s Island Adam Dudding (Victoria University Press)
- The Big Smoke: New Zealand Cities, 1840-1920 Ben Schrader (Bridget Williams Books)
Best first books
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
A Whakapapa of Tradition: 100 Years of Ngāti Porou Carving 1830-1930 Ngarino Ellis (Auckland University Press)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
Hera Lindsay Bird Hera Lindsay Bird (Victoria University Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
Black Ice Matter Gina Cole (Huia Publishers)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
My Father’s Island Adam Dudding (Victoria University Press)
2016
The winners (including the four Best First Book Awards) were announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 10 May 2016, at the opening night event of the Auckland Writers Festival. The awards covered books published between 1 June 2014 and 21 December 2015. The overall winner received $50,000. Winners of the three category awards each received $10,000; the Māori Language Award $10,000; and each of the winners of the four Best First Book Awards, $2,500.
Fiction
- Coming rain Stephen Daisley (Text Publishing) Winner
- The back of his head Patrick Evans (Victoria University Press)
- Chappy Patricia Grace (Penguin Random House)
- The invisible mile David Coventry (Victoria University Press)
Illustrated Non Fiction
- Tangata Whenua: an illustrated history Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris (Bridget Williams Books) Winner
- Real modern: everyday New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s Bronwyn Labrum (Te Papa Press)
- Te Ara Puoro: a journey into the world of Māori music Richard Nunns (Potton and Burton)
- New Zealand photography collected Athol McCredie (Te Papa Press)
General Non Fiction
- Māori boy: a memoir of childhood Witi Ihimaera (Penguin Random House) Winner
- Maurice Gee: life and work Rachel Barrowman (Victoria University Press)
- The villa at the edge of the Empire: one hundred ways to read a city Fiona Farrell (Penguin Random House)
- Lost and gone away Lynn Jenner (Auckland University Press)
Poetry
- The conch trumpet David Eggleton (Otago University Press) Winner
- How to be dead in a year of snakes Chris Tse (Auckland University Press)
- The night we ate the baby Tim Upperton (Haunui Press)
- Song of the ghost in the machine Roger Horrocks (Victoria University Press)
Best first books
The Judith Binney Best First Book Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction
Te Ara Puoro: A Journey into the World of Māori Music Richard Nunns (Potton and Burton)
The Jessie Mackay Award for Poetry
How to Be Dead in a Year of Snakes Chris Tse (Auckland University Press)
The Hubert Church Award for Fiction
The Invisible Mile David Coventry (Victoria University Press)
The E H McCormick Award for General Non-Fiction
Panguru and the City: Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua Melissa Matutina Williams (Bridget Williams Books)
History of the New Zealand Book Awards
Before 1996, there were two major New Zealand literary prizes. They merged in 1996 to form the Montana New Zealand Book awards.
The New Zealand Book Awards ran from 1976-1995.
The other major award from 1968-1993 was the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards (formerly the Wattie Book Awards).
Montana took over sponsorship in 1994 and the awards became the Montana Book Awards (1994-1995).
In 1996, the Montana Book Awards merged with the New Zealand Book Awards to become the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. The Montana New Zealand Book Awards ran from 1996-2009.
From 2010-2014 the Awards were sponsored by New Zealand Post. In 2015 Ockham assumed sponsorship of the Awards but no prizes were awarded that year.
- 2010 - 2014: New Zealand Post Book Awards
- 1996 - 2009: Montana New Zealand Book Awards
- 1994 - 1995: Montana Book Awards
- 1976 - 1995: New Zealand Book Awards
- 1968 - 1993: Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards
