Two highly experienced panels that include bestselling and award-winning authors, illustrators, editors, book reviewers, kaiako and librarians have been appointed as NZCYP judges for 2025.
Kirikiriroa Hamilton-based Feana Tu‘akoi will convene the English/bilingual panel. Joining her are author and editor of children’s books and educational resources Don Long MNZM from Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington, Tākaka-based Singaporean-Pākehā writer and reviewer Linda Jane Keegan, international best-selling author and 2024 Margaret Mahy Book of the Year winner Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and kaiako and education specialist Mero Rokx (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai), who lives in Porirua. Mero will make a valuable contribution to judging of both the English and bilingual and Te Kura Pounamu categorie.
Convening the panel judging the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Awards for books written in, or translated into, te reo Māori for 2025 will be Mat Tait (Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Kuia), who won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the 2023 NZCYP awards. Joining him and Mero will be kaitakawaenga (programming specialist) at Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi Justice-Manawanui Arahanga-Pryor (Ngāti Awa ki Rangitaiki, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki), and kaiako, curriculum developer and author Maxine Hemi (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne), who lives in Whakaoriori Masterton.
Feana says she is thrilled to be asked to convene this year’s English and bilingual judging panel, having been a judge in the 2023 awards. “But the real privilege is the opportunity to read, discuss and celebrate the mahi of Aotearoa’s multi-talented writers and illustrators,” she says.
Mat says it’s an honour to be invited to convene this year’s Te Kura Pounamu panel and to work alongside judges with the experience and mātauranga they collectively bring. “This year is a significant one for Te Kura Pounamu as the award splits into two prizes to acknowledge two important but different pūkenga in the growing sphere of pukapuka reo Māori: that of translation, and those written first and foremost in te reo. We are all looking forward to the kōrero that will no doubt spring from this welcome change.”
The 2025 NZCYA awards’ first submission deadline of 12 December, is for books published between 1 April 2024 and 30 November 2024. Entries for books published between 1 December 2024 and 31 March 2025 will open on Friday 13 December.
