Historical crime wins big: Ngaio Marsh Awards 2025

The 16th Ngaios season culminated on Thursday 25th September with a tremendous evening of improv murder mystery alongside the Ngaio Marsh Awards' 2025 winner announcements. This was held in Dame Ngaio's hometown, Ōtautahi Christchurch, in conjunction with WORD Christchurch.

The 2025 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel went to Otago-based academic turned author Wendy Parkins, for THE DEFIANCE OF FRANCES DICKINSON (Affirm Press), based on a true 1830s story, a young heiress has a daring plan to escape her abusive, gaslighting husband.

Our judges said: “A skilfully written historical tale based on true 1830s events and a sensational trial that’s not easy reading given some monstrous acts. Parkins soaks readers in an era and attitudes which have some scary echoes today.”

Our 2025 Ngaios Best Non-Fiction winners are investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston & academic James Hollings, co-writers of THE CREWE MURDERS (Massey University Press), which harnesses striking new testimony to tell the most in-depth version of NZ’s most infamous cold case.

Our judges said: “Scrupulously researched, carefully structured, layered with forensic and legal detail. Among a small library of writing about the Crewes and Thomas, this should be regarded as the definitive record of one of New Zealand’s most infamous and troubling crimes.

And finally, the 2025 Ngaio for Best Novel went to Māori filmmaker and author Michael Bennett for RETURN TO BLOOD (Simon & Schuster Australia), where a skeleton in the sand dunes upturns ex-Auckland police detective Hana Westerman’s hometown respite from the tumult of criminal investigations.

Our judges said: “Excellent characters, populating a nuanced and telling plot which once again tackles the concept of justice for marginalised people… the second Hana Westerman tale heralds what is already looking like a superb series.”

Huge congratulations not only to our four winning authors, but all the finalists, longlistees, and entrants, plus libraries, booksellers, media, events hosts, judges, and readers who collectively made our 2025 Ngaios season the biggest and arguably best ever.

“It was a brilliant night to cap an outstanding season for the Ngaio Marsh Awards, with our terrifically strong and varied group of finalists,” says awards founder Craig Sisterson. “We were also really stoked to have the marvellous Court Jesters involved, delivering a wonderful improv murder mystery we’re sure would have tickled theatre-loving Dame Ngaio; a full circle moment back to our original plans in 2010.” Kete Reviews: The Defiance of Frances Dickinson by Wendy Parkes Return to Blood by Michael Bennett