Ngā Tohu Pukapuka

Book Awards


Michael Gifkins Prize for an Unpublished Novel


Held by the NZSA since 2018, this annual award is open to ‘published and unpublished authors who are invited to enter manuscripts of adult fiction. The manuscript must be unpublished and not on submission to another publisher.’

The winner receives a contract for world rights with Text Publishing and a $10,000 advance.

KEY DATES

The 2024 winners were announced on 15th May.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

See website.

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New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults


An annual series of awards to recognize excellence in children and young adult literature. There are six categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award), Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction (the Elsie Lock Award), Illustration (the Russell Clark award, and Te Reo Māori (the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award).

Winners in each category receive $7500. The overall prize, the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, is $7500. In addition, there is a Best First Book prize of $2,000.

MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE

Patricia GraceWhiti HereakaReina KahukiwaShilo KinoBen NgaiaTania RoxboroghChris Szekely

KEY DATES

A shortlist is announced in June each year, and the awards event takes place every August.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

The deadline for submissions for this year’s awards was February 2023. Submissions for the 2024 awards open in November.

Any queries regarding the awards should be directed to childrensawards@nzbookawards.org.nz

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New Zealand Society of Authors Heritage Literary Awards


Annual awards for books linked to New Zealand heritage.
Books can be fiction, non-fiction, children’s, or in Te Reo Māori. Books that have only been published digitally are not eligible, however there are two online entry categories for short prose and poetry.

Fiction and non-fiction winners each receive $1000, te reo Māori and children’s book winners receive $300 each, and winners of the short prose and poetry awards receive $200 each.

MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE

Caroline BarronHone BlackWiti IhimaeraWhiti Hereaka

KEY DATES

Submissions are not scheduled to run for 2024.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

See link below.

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Ngaio Marsh Award


Presented annually to recognise excellence in crime fiction, mystery and thriller writing in New Zealand.

In 2023, the categories are: Best Crime Novel, Best First Novel and Best Non Fiction.

Best Non Fiction is a biennial award.

MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE

Alan DuffBecky ManawatuJ. P. PomareRenée

KEY DATES

Finalists for 2024 have been revealed and the winners will be announced on the 28th of August.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

N/A

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Ockham New Zealand Book Awards


New Zealand’s premiere literary awards began in 1968, and changed names various times due to new sponsorship. There are five main prizes, for fiction, general non-fiction, illustrated non-fiction, poetry, and books written in te reo Māori. Best First Book prizes are awarded in the first four categories (the Crystal Arts Trust Best First Book awards). Winners of the Jann Medicott Acorn Prize for Fiction win a minimum of $55,000, making it the biggest book prize in New Zealand. The other winning books receive $10,000 each. Best First Book winners receive $3000 each.

MĀORI AWARDEES INCLUDE

Shayne CarterTā Pou TemaraAlan DuffNicole Titihuia HawkinsKeri HulmePatricia GraceWhiti HereakaWiti IhimaeraBecky ManawatuKāterina Te Heikōkō MatairaKelly Ana MoreyPaula MorrisRebecca K. ReillyTayi TibbleHone TūwhareChristall LoweAlice Te Punga SomervilleAnthony Lapwood

KEY DATES

The awards are usually held in May during the Auckland Writers Festival. There final deadline for book submissions is in October each year, and the longlists are announced in January.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Deadline for books published between 1st January and 31st August 2024: 5:00pm on Wednesday 11 September.

Online submissions for books published between 1st September and 31st December 2024: Open on Thursday 12th September and close 5:00pm on Wednesday 23rd October.

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Storylines Tessa Duder Award


This biennial award is open to New Zealand authors, to submit an unpublished work of fiction for young adults aged 13 and over. The prize is publication of the winning manuscript by Walker Books, and a $1500 advance.

KEY DATES

Entries for the next award close 31st October 2024.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

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