Storylines Award Winners 2026

Tim Tipene, recipient of the 2026 Margaret Mahy Award for services to children’s literature delivered the annual lecture which can be read HERE

Congratulations to all winners announced last Sunday:

Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for Best Loved Book: Flight of the Fantail – Steph Maketu

Storylines Tessa Duder Award: Ten Thousand Pitches – Amy Martin

Storylines Joy Cowley Award: Māhuri Tōtara, Tōtara Haemata | Small Tree Small Tree, Tall Tree Tall Tree – Annabel Wilson & Regan Kupu Stokes Swannanoa

Storylines Tom Fitzgibbons Award: Missing Out – Philippa Werry

Storylines Prize for an Unpublished Writer from the Tom Fitzgibbon Award shortlist: The Great Plastic Caper – Kelly Buchanan-Johns

Storylines Janice Marriott Mentoring Award:  The Time Healer – Rachael Schmidt-McCleave

Storylines Te Kahuranga Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira Award: Tutū Tipihaere – Amiria Stirling

Storylines Prize for an Unpublished Writer from the Joy Cowley Award shortlist:  Infinite Love – Katie Vincent

Storylines Prize for an Unpublished Writer from the Tessa Duder Award shortlistThe Omegas – Megan Clare