‘In turns fresh, inspiring, challenging, and surprising, the judges saw potential for an ongoing writing career in each author selected.’

The ten authors chosen for the New Voices for Aotearoa initiative each have a unique perspective that draws a reader into their books. Kete’s gathered together reviews and commentary on these books for you to explore, and find your next exciting read. Scroll to the bottom for the full reading list.

The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

‘A veritable Alice in Wonderland trip down the rabbit hole of writer Una Cruickshank’s incredible mind,’ writes Kelly Ana Morey, reviewing for Kete, as she details the extraordinary depth and breadth of the fascinating exploration within Una’s essays - of the carbon cycle and beyond, reincarnation, rebirth. You can read an excerpt from an essay entitled ‘Les Tigres’ on the Spinoff. The Chthonic Cycle was awarded the E.H. McCormick Prize for Best First Book of General Non-Fiction at the recent 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, a fantastic accolade in a wide-ranging category.

Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging by Kate Evans (Moa Press)

‘Surely there would not be enough to say?’ asks Jo McCarroll in her review for Kete, before quickly realising how wrong she is. Award-winning journalist Kate Evans has more than enough to say on feijoas. It’s an obsession, one in which she covers a wide range of ground, right across the world. She visits South America, Columbia, France and Germany in her quest, and covers botany, science, history, politics, human rights, philosophy and even economics. Read a tantalising extract over at the Spinoff.

Sam the Trap Man, by Sam Gibson (Allen & Unwin NZ)

Sam’s well-spun stories of backcountry Aotearoa could be written off as fun yarns, but the stories ‘are given gravitas by his respect for the environment in which he works and lives,’ writes David Hill, reviewing for Kete. After six weeks on the bestseller list, Sam the Trap Man is definitely popular. On RNZ’s Saturday Morning, Sam discusses the power of the bush and how it can calm young people. Definite respect.

A Life Less Punishing by Matt Heath (Allen & Unwin NZ) ‘There was a period of time, not that long ago, when no one in their right mind would take advice from DJ and TV personality Matt Heath,’ writes Sarah Ell for Kete. This book is a transformation, a reminder that ‘we all have to grow up sometime’. Heath has grown up to use his degree in philosophy to write on how to ‘reframe the things that ail us’ in this book. And he also has a very practical piece of advice, given in this interview for RNZ, where you can read more of his beliefs : ‘You can also get a dog. A dog goes a long way to dealing with loneliness.’

Hidden Traps of the Internet, by Judy L Mohr (Black Wolf Productions)

‘Mohr believes the best online presence you can build is the one that suits your unique needs,’ writes Erica Challis on SpecFicNZ. Challis goes on to describe the practical, confidence-boosting layout and information contained within the book, running through gems for writers like how to create your own branding, build a website, and protect your information from common pitfalls and safety hazards on the web. Judy’s second book, a futuristic technothriller titled Dancing in the Purple Rain, is out in August from Black Wolf Productions.

Kitten by Olive Nuttall (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

Kitten’s main character, Rosemary, is ‘a blur of rapid-fire judgements, the kind you have to make on Tinder and in general as a young trans woman,’ writes Kí Anthony for Bad Apple Gay. It was Reading Room’s Book of the Week when it was released, and reviewer Pip Adam says it’s a book ‘that feels true to an experience with no aspirations of speaking for all experiences.’ The Spinoff features an insightful conversational interview between author Olive Nuttall and Sylvan Spring, for those who want to delve further.

Poorhara, by Michelle Rahurahu (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

Savannah Patterson, reviewing for Kete, writes that Poorhara ‘is unflinching and deeply affecting, yet essential for its portrayal of cultural identity.’ Rahurahu uses the page to illuminate the plight of those in poverty, the ‘cockroaches’ of the world. Poorhara is a tragicomedy, ‘rife with violence, racism on every level, poverty and aggressions,’ writes Sam Brooks for the Spinoff, but the characters also ‘laugh. They make jokes. They cling together. Once there’s no water left for tears, no words left for screams, all you can do is laugh.’ And as the winner of the Hubert Church Award for Best First Book of Fiction at the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, there’s obviously no stopping this book.

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts, by Josie Shapiro (Allen & Unwin New Zealand) Paula Green called this book a ‘triumph,’ reviewing for Kete. She went on to say it was ‘a rollercoaster, heart-in-the-mouth read that deposits you in the pain, ache and joy of both running and living.’ Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts won the inaugural Allen and Unwin Fiction Prize, and spent weeks on the bestseller list. Chronicling the life and running career of Mickey Bloom, it follows the structure of a marathon, showing fragility and strength in equal measure as Mickey grapples with the pressures of high performance sport and the toll of life. Shapiro talks further about the inspiration behind the novel in an essay on Reading Room. In November, Allen & Unwin will publish her second novel, titled Good Things Come and Go.

Amma, by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press) Lately longlisted for the international Women’s Prize for fiction, Amma follows three Indian and Sri Lankan women. Himali McInnes, writing for Kete, says ‘the migrant experience is brought vividly to life with characters that are rich, complex and contradictory.’ These are stories of survival, of strength and determination. Brannavan Gnanalingam, in a review for the Spinoff, wrote that the characters ‘cross boundaries – ethnically, sexually, and geographically. Nothing ever is really stable.’ There are multitudes in this book.

The Call, by Gavin Strawhan (Allen and Unwin NZ) The Call is another Allen & Unwin Fiction Prize winner, a crime novel ‘so action-packed it starts without us,’ writes Ruth Shaw in a review for Kete. Strawhan is a screenwriter, and the propulsive story here has fast-moving dialogue and a strong sense of place. Detective Honey Chalmers has returned to her childhood home to recover from injury, only to discover things aren’t quite right here either. Shaw goes on to say that ‘The novel revolves around these conflicting and powerful demands on Honey and will ultimately result in what she is called to do about it.’