The winners of the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards were announced at an award ceremony on 13 May, celebrating the very best in New Zealand writing across a range of categories.

These annual awards are Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prestigious literary honours, recognising outstanding books written by New Zealand authors and highlighting the depth and diversity of our storytelling.

2026 category winners

This year’s main category winners include:

• Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction:All Her Lives by Ingrid Horrocks.
• Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry:Black Sugarcane by Nafanua Purcell Kersel.
• General Non-Fiction:This Compulsion in Us by Tina Makereti.
• BookHub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction:Mr Ward’s Map: Victorian Wellington Street by Street by Elizabeth Cox.
• Mūrau o te Tuhi - Māori Language Award: Ko Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti by Tā Pou Temara.

Many of this year’s award-winning books are available through Marlborough District Libraries. We encourage readers to explore the winners and finalists.

Access our collection here