New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust. In 2016, the Awards merged with the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) Awards.

All awards carry prize money of $7,500. In addition, the judges may decide to award a best first book prize of $2,000 to a previously unpublished author or illustrator. The overall prize, the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, carries a prize of $7,500. The awards are judged by a panel of five. Te Kura Pounamu Award is judged by Te Ropu Whakahau.

2021 winners

Finalists were announced Thursday 10 June. The awards ceremony and announcement of winners of 2021 NZCYA Book Awards was held Wednesday 11 August 2021.

Margaret Mahy Book of the Year
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea T K Roxborogh, published by Huia Publishers

Picture Book Award
Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker, published by Little Love (an imprint of Mary Egan Publishing)

Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea T K Roxborogh, published by Huia Publishers

Young Adult Fiction Award
The Pōrangi Boy Shilo Kino, published by Huia Publishers

Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction
Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated cookbook written by Alexandra Tylee and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, published by Gecko Press

Russell Clark Award for Illustration
Hare & Ruru: A quiet moment illustrated and written by Laura Shallcrass, published by Beatnik Publishing

Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori
Ngake me Whātaitai written by Ben Ngaia and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers, published by Huia Publishers

Best First Book Award
Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker, published by Little Love (an imprint of Mary Egan Publishing)

Read the Judges' comments

2020: Books Alive and Virtual Storytimes

Aotearoa celebrated the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults with Books Alive - Virtual Storytimes and Online Events.
Check out Christchurch City Libraries contribution.

2020 winners

The 2020 shortlist was announced on 4 June, and the winners were announced in a virtual presentation, streamed online on the evening of Wednesday 12 August 2020.