NZ Booklovers Awards 2026 Winners Announced

‘We are delighted to announce five award-winning books that families in New Zealand will enjoy for many reasons,’ says NZ Booklovers Director Karen McMillan. ‘Our winning novel is a gritty and heart-palpitating police procedural. Our lifestyle-winning book speaks to New Zealanders of all ages across the motu through images that capture people, places, and moments. The young adult winner is a must-read for both teenagers and their parents. Our junior fiction winner is a great adventure story of courage, friendship, love, and the power within us all. The winning children’s picture book is a must-have book from a superbly talented author-illustrator at the peak of his powers. We are very grateful to Lighthouse PR and the Copyright Licensing New Zealand Contestable Fund for their support.’

Each category winner will receive $500 from NZ Booklovers.

Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake wins the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Novel 2026, published by Echo Publishing.

The judges say: ‘As Faulkner’s line goes, “The past is never dead. It is not even past”, and with Softly Calls the Devil, Chris Blake proves it. Among a shortlist of

sterling novels and novellas in several genres, this gritty police procedural stands out for its cool-eyed depiction of a close community confronting what has lain unresolved for decades. The novel features Matt Buchanan as the sole- charge constable in sleepy Haast on the West Coast. Life is peaceful, and he is working on burying his trauma from the detective work he left behind in Auckland, but when his much-loved predecessor is found murdered in the small town, everyone’s peace is shattered, and suspicion falls on several local personalities. The investigation rapidly grows tentacles, resurrecting a 1978 cold case and drawing a journalist to town as tensions and the body count rise in sync. As Matt follows the leads, he puts himself and others in grave danger.

An intense and gripping read that looks at the darker side of life in “paradise”.’

New Zealand Photography Collected: 175 years of photography in Aotearoa by Athol McCredie wins the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Lifestyle Book 2026, published by Te Papa Press.

The judges say, ‘A landmark title that genuinely enriches everyday life, New Zealand Photography Collected invites us to slow down, look closely and see Aotearoa with fresh eyes. Expertly curated across 175 years (1850– 2025), this fully revised edition is both an essential reference and a book to live with, one you’ll return to again and again. With more than 400 images, the collection balances iconic works with lesser-known pieces, reflecting the increasingly diverse story of New Zealand photography. Athol McCredie’s text adds depth and context in a uniquely accessible way, enhancing the visual experience. This book’s appeal reaches well beyond photography, art and history circles. It speaks to New Zealanders of all ages across the motu through images that capture people, places, and moments. From everyday scenes to major shifts in our national story, it provides a shared visual record of who we’ve been and who we’re becoming.

‘New Zealand Photography Collected is lifestyle publishing at its best. Pick it up and you'll find yourself lost in it, either moved by a familiar landscape, surprised by a moment you'd forgotten, or seeing Aotearoa as if for the first time. This is a book that doesn't just sit on a shelf; it becomes part of how you see and appreciate the world around you, wherever you are in Aotearoa. It meets readers where they are and stays with them long after they've put it down.’

Bear by Kiri Lightfoot wins the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Young Adult Book 2026, published by Allen & Unwin.

The judges say: ‘A sensitive and perceptive portrayal of how fourteen-year- old Jasper Robinson Woods begins to negotiate the seemingly insurmountable problems which are affecting his life. Jasper has a lot to be upset about, in fact, so much so that his only place of solace is the tree outside his home, which he climbs and hides in. Jasper’s mother is impatient with him, her boyfriend is moving into their home, his father is either absent or unreliable, he’s invariably late for school, he’s bullied by his peers and finds it hard to make friends, and his goldfish is dying. Not only that, but there’s Bear who haunts his dreams, Bear who is angry, uncontrollable, and destructive, Bear who hurts people. Lightfoot’s portrayal of Jasper and the common struggles many adolescents face is insightful and tender. The novel, while dealing with painful issues, is lightened by humour and Jasper’s own observations and opinions. Bear is a must-read for both teenagers and the parents of teenagers.’

The Secret Green by Sonya Wilson is the winner of NZ Booklovers Award for Best Junior Fiction Book 2026, published by Allen & Unwin.

The judges say, ‘A rewarding sequel to Sonya Wilson’s debut novel featuring magic in Fiordland, Spark Hunter. The Secret Green picks up the story a year later, when Nissa Marshall, now 13, is once again called on by forest creatures to help fight for the environment. Alongside her loyal friend, Tama, Nissa must find a way to go back to Fiordland and help the mysterious ancient forest creatures, "sparks", fight to keep the environment safe. With rich and riveting writing, Wilson spins a high-stakes tale of environmental heroism and friendship, imbued with the real magic of Fiordland. This is a great adventure story of courage, friendship, love, and the power that is inside us all, even and especially if you’re “just a kid”. It’s sure to captivate young readers.’

Taniwha by Gavin Bishop wins the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Children’s Picture Book 2026, published by Penguin.

The judges say, ‘Many of us recall the waiata we sang at primary school about a taniwha who whispered in our taringa, our ear, inviting us to bathe with him in the moana... but while some of these supernatural creatures are, like the taniwha of the song, benevolent benefactors guiding and protecting people, others are somewhat more nefarious, such as Hotupuku, a cave-dweller who terrorised and tucked into travellers between Rotorua and Taupō. Gavin Bishop’s latest tome, which tells tales of taniwha from all over Aotearoa, is a taonga to be savoured and shared: from the lush pink and turquoise hues of the hard cover – upon which a jagged-toothed taniwha is depicted swallowing a waka whole, its occupants sliding into the sea to escape – to the sweeping landscape pages that invite careful plucking and much poring over. Another must-have from a superbly talented author-illustrator at the peak of his powers.’

2026 Sponsors:

NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Novel 2026, sponsored by Lighthouse PR

NZ Booklovers Awards for Best Lifestyle, Young Adult, Junior Fiction and Children’s Picture books 2026 are thanks to NZ Booklovers being a recipient of a Copyright Licensing New Zealand Contestable Fund Grant 2025.

Judges 2026

The Best Adult Fiction Book Award is judged by author, reviewer and judge of the Ngaio Marsh Awards Stephanie Jones, reviewer and librarian Clare Lyon, and NZ Booklovers Director and author Karen McMillan.

The Best Lifestyle Book Award is judged by journalist and author Andrea Molloy, Whitireia publishing programme graduate, researcher and literary event volunteer Anne Kerslake Hendricks, and publisher, home renovator and foodie Iain McKenzie.

The Young Adult, Best Junior Fiction Book and Children’s Picture Book Awards are judged by author, creative writing teacher, assessor, mentor and reviewer Paddy Richardson, writer and former editor Heidi North, early childhood kaiako and journalist Rebekah Lyell, high school teacher, author, musician, and reviewer Chris Reed, and primary school teacher, journalist and former book editor Stacey Anyan.