Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand, Little Moa, and the Margaret Mahy Estate are thrilled to announce Emma Collicott as the winner of the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize for 2025.

This year, entrants were tasked with reimagining the swashbuckling classic The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate.

The judges praised Emma’s choice to use watercolours for her illustrations, and the cleverly plotted and humourous sub-narratives hidden within the spreads, sprinkled with 'uniquely Aotearoan touches'.

'A strong feature of Collicott’s illustrations was their clarity and accessibility, offering a quirky charm for children while still holding interest for adults. The line drawings, enriched by a lively colour range, added a delightful vibrancy and appeal to the work. One of the more complex aspects of the task lay in balancing the images for a younger audience with a rich vocabulary and detailed text, yet this was managed thoughtfully and with creative endeavour.'

Hachette Aotearoa NZ Managing Director Mel Winder says 'The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate is one of my favourite stories, who doesn’t love a story about a subversive mother! The opportunity to reinterpret the way this classic story looks is incredibly exciting, and I look forward to seeing how Emma Collicott takes up the challenge.'

Emma wins a $2000 cash prize, $500 worth of Hachette books, and the opportunity to develop her submission into a published work.

About Emma:

Emma studied Design at Massey University in Wellington, majoring in visual communication, and graduated with honours in 2001. She has worked in animation, advertising, packaging and graphic design, weaving illustration into her work at any opportunity. She loves everything about the sea and is an avid swimmer, sailor, kayaker, and diver. Emma grew up in Whakatāne and now lives in Beach Haven, surrounded by bush and the Waitematā Harbour, with her partner and two children.