An initiative to promote emerging writers and their books.

Kete and the Coalition for Books, with support from the Mātātuhi Foundation, are excited to announce that nominations for their new annual promotion, New Voices of Aotearoa, are officially open.

Showcasing new and emerging talent publishing adult fiction or non-fiction, New Voices of Aotearoa is designed to promote first or second books by a range of writers. The campaign will aim to boost readership and sales for the chosen authors.

Nominations can be made by publishers or by individuals. A panel of experts, including writers, booksellers, publishers, reviewers and librarians, have been convened to select 2025’s ten new voices. This year’s panel includes book reviewer Guy Somerset; festival director Kerry Sunderland; author Lee Murray; author Jacquie Mcrae (Tainui); editor and former Penguin Random House publisher Harriet Allan, and Unity bookseller Melissa Oliver.

Authors nominated must have published their first book in print between January 2024 and June 2025, or have their second book scheduled for publication before December 2025. They must be either New Zealanders by birth, have New Zealand citizenship or be long-term residents of Aotearoa. Please see complete criteria on the nomination form, available on the Coalition for Books website.

The ten New Voices will be announced at the end of June, with the promotional campaign running through the latter half of this year, in collaboration with booksellers, libraries and festivals.

‘We hope this new campaign will help more emerging writers make connections with readers,’ says Paula Morris, a trustee of the Mātātuhi Foundation. ‘Publishing in Aotearoa New Zealand has its challenges, so we are happy to fund an initiative like this that supports writers, books, publishers and booksellers.’

The ‘New Voices of Aotearoa’ campaign is supported by the Coalition for Books, Kete, and the Mātātuhi Foundation.