• Aotearoa NZ Book of the Month unites booksellers, libraries and publishers behind local books, sponsored by Libby.

    Posted on 30 October 2026

    Bookshops and libraries unite for new nationwide campaign to spotlight one New Zealand book every month   On 1 November, the Coalition for Books will launch Aotearoa NZ Book of the Month, a new nationwide campaign that will celebrate a single New Zealand book each month across bookshops, libraries, digital platforms and media. The campaign […]

    Continue reading

  • Wellington Writers Walk announce new chair

    Posted on 29 October 2026

    October 2026 Pippa Werry is stepping down as Chair of the WWW committee which she has led since 2013, and been Chair since 2022. Over those years she has led the negotiation, fundraising and eventually positioning the first plaque in te reo māori on the Walk, which happened several months ago. The WWW committee introduces […]

    Continue reading

  • Alice Miller named as 2027 International Institute of Modern Letters Writer in Residence

    Posted on 29 October 2026

    Acclaimed writer Alice Miller has been appointed Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) and Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence for 2027. While holding the residency, Alice will work on a number of projects including a new novel, a collection of poems, and a commissioned libretto for an opera […]

    Continue reading

  • Pip Adam, recipient of the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize

    Posted on 22 October 2026

    The 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Congratulations to Pip Adam, recipient of the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for Audition!   Adam’s novel was chosen by selectors Nicola Griffith, Mat Johnson, Fonda Lee, Darcie Little Badger, and Peter Rock. The panel said: “Audition is an ambitious and original book […]

    Continue reading

  • Allen & Unwin Aotearoa NZ announces winner of 2026 Fiction Prize

    Posted on 21 October 2026

     A debut novelist has won the Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand 2026 Fiction Prize for the fourth time. Nelson writer, Penny Richards, has taken out the top prize from a very strong field. The judges said, ‘Penny Richards’ winning novel, Soft, combines compelling characters and a beautifully judged plot with writing that is funny, […]

    Continue reading

  • NZ’s reading crisis: charity calls for urgent action to get books back into children’s hands

    Posted on 20 October 2026

    October 20, 2026 As new figures reveal declining reading achievement and enjoyment among New Zealand children, Kiwi Christmas Books is calling on Kiwis to help turn the tide — one book at a time.   New Zealand has a reading problem — and children’s book charity Kiwi Christmas Books says getting quality books into the […]

    Continue reading

  • Political parties respond to book sector election manifesto

    Posted on 20 October 2026

    After the release of the Coalition for Books (CFB) election manifesto, the sector reached out to the seven main political parties to ask for their response. We know they are busy on the campaign trail, so we gave them several weeks to reply and followed up our email with a reminder as the deadline for […]

    Continue reading

  • Meet Your 2026 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates

    Posted on 19 October 2026

      We’re thrilled to announce eight new Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates – outstanding practising artists recognised for their world-class work and profound impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s culture and communities. Each Laureate receives a $50,000 gift — no strings attached — given in recognition of their extraordinary contribution to date and as a […]

    Continue reading

  • Lawrence Patchett is awarded the NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship for 2026!

    Posted on 16 October 2026

    16 October 2026   The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates Lawrence Patchett on winning the NZSA Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship 2026 to work on his novel.This annual award is made possible by the generosity of the Beatsons. In establishing this fellowship, they have given NZ authors a […]

    Continue reading

  • ARA Historical Novel Prize 2026 winners announced

    Posted on 16 October 2026

    Thursday, 15 October 2026   Bernice Barry and Meg Caddy have won the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize, with Wayne Marshall picking up the Readers’ Choice award. The winning titles are: Adult ($100,000) The Names of a Hare (Bernice Barry, Fremantle Press). Children and Young Adult ($30,000) A Flash in the Dust (Meg Caddy, University […]

    Continue reading

  • The Allen & Unwin Aotearoa NZ Fiction Prize 2027

    Posted on 15 October 2026

    The Allen & Unwin Aotearoa NZ Fiction Prize has been created to support NZ writers and to give our readers fantastic, home-grown stories that resonate; the 2027 prize is now open for entries. The winner will be awarded a publishing contract with an advance against royalties of $NZD 10,000. The competition will be open to […]

    Continue reading

  • PEN International’s resolutions on AI, writers’ rights and the accelerating consequences of international disorder

    Posted on 7 October 2026

    5 Oct Written By PEN International At its 92nd Congress, held online on 29–30 September 2026, the Assembly of Delegates of PEN International adopted two resolutions addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges: the impact of Generative and Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) on writers’ rights, human authorship and freedom of expression; and the accelerating consequences […]

    Continue reading