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New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
Book Awards 004 (1024x395).jpg
The official party of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2015
Presented by New Zealand Book Awards Trust
Date 1982–present
Country New Zealand
Reward NZ$7,500 for each award

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children's and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards were founded in 1982, and have had several title changes until the present title was introduced in 2015. In 2016 the awards were merged with the LIANZA children's book awards. As of 2023 the awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust and each category award carries prize money of NZ$7,500.

History

The awards began in 1982, as the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards, with two categories, Children's Book of the Year and Picture Book of the Year. A non-fiction award was presented in 1986, but not in 1987 or 1988, the final years of this incarnation of the awards.

No awards were presented in 1989. In 1990, Unilever New Zealand (then the New Zealand manufacturer of Aim toothpaste) restarted the awards as the AIM Children's Book Awards. There were two categories at that time, Fiction and Picture Book. Second and third prizes were originally awarded, though these were replaced with honour awards in 1993, presented at the judges' discretion. More categories were added over time: Best First Book in 1992 (not presented 1994–5); Non-Fiction in 1993, when Fiction was split into two categories (Senior Fiction and Junior Fiction); and AIM Book of the Year in 1995.

In 1997, the awards became the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, and another new category was added, the New Zealand Post Children's Choice award. In 2004, the Senior Fiction category was renamed to Young Adult Fiction and the name of the awards changed to New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

In 2015 the title of the awards changed to the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. At this time the awards were administered by Booksellers New Zealand, an industry organisation, and were presented at the end of a 10-day festival organised by the New Zealand Book Council each May.

In 2016, the awards merged with the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) Awards, and became administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust. As a consequence of the merge, the Junior Fiction category prize was combined with the LIANZA Esther Glen Award for junior fiction and the Non-Fiction award was combined with the LIANZA Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction]. In addition, two new categories were introduced via the LIANZA Russell Clark Award for Illustration and the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award for works written in te reo Māori (the Māori language).

Prizes

As of 2023, the winners of the category awards are awarded NZ$7,500, with the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year winner receiving an additional $7,500. The Picture Book prize money is split evenly between the author and the illustrator of the book. Winners of the Best First Book and New Zealand Post Children's Choice awards receive $2,000 each, and any finalists presented an Honour Award receive $500 each.

Awards

Children's Book of the Year

Now called the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, this award is presented to a book "which, in the opinion of the judges, achieves outstanding excellence in all general judging criteria". As of 2013, winners receive $7,500 (in addition to the $7,500 prize for winning in their category). Currently called the New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year award, this award was originally known as the New Zealand Children's Book of the Year Award, presented from 1982 to 1988. When the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards finished in 1988, the award ceased to exist until 1995, when the AIM Children's Book Awards established the AIM Book of the Year.

Winners of the Fiction category in 1990 to 1992, when there was no Book of the Year award and the only additional category was Picture Book (and Best First Book in 1992), have been considered Book of the Year winners.

Winners of the Children's Book of the Year award
New Zealand Children's Book of the Year Award (1982–8); AIM Book of the Year (1995–6); New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year (1997–)
Year Book Author(s) Category Reference(s)
1982 The Silent One Joy Cowley; ill. by Sherryl Jordan ZN/A
1983 The Halfmen of O Maurice Gee
1984 Jacky Nobody Anne de Roo
1985 Visitors Caroline MacDonald; ill. by Garry Melson 
1986 Guardian of the Land Joanna Orwin
1987 The Keeper Barry Faville
1988 Alex Tessa Duder
1995 The Fat Man Maurice Gee Junior Fiction
1996 Crossroads Janice Marriott Senior Fiction
1997 The Bantam and the Soldier Jennifer Beck; ill. by Robyn Belton Picture Book
1998 Dare Truth or Promise Paula Boock Senior Fiction
1999 A Summery Saturday Morning Margaret Mahy; ill. by Selina Young Picture Book
2000 The House that Jack Built Gavin Bishop Picture Book
2001 Voyage with Jason Ken Catran Senior Fiction
2002 The Plight of the Penguin Lloyd Spencer Davis Non Fiction
2003 Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths and Legends of Aotearoa  Robert Sullivan; ill. by Gavin Bishop Non Fiction
2004 Bird in the Hand: Keeping New Zealand Wildlife Safe Janet Hunt Non Fiction
2005 Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story Kate De Goldi; ill. by Jacqui Colley Picture Book
2006 Hunter Joy Cowley Junior Fiction
2007 Illustrated History of the South Pacific Marcia Stenson Non Fiction
2008 Snake and Lizard Joy Cowley; ill. by Gavin Bishop Junior Fiction
2009 The 10pm Question Kate de Goldi Young Adult Fiction 
2010 Old Hu-Hu
Hū Hū Koroheke (Te Reo edition)
Kyle Mewburn and Rachel Driscoll
Te Reo ed. trans. by Kāterina Mataira
Picture Book
2011 The Moon & Farmer McPhee Margaret Mahy; ill. by David Elliot Picture Book
2012 Nice Day for a War Matt Elliot; ill. by Chris Sloane Non Fiction
2013 Into the River Ted Dawe Young Adult Fiction
2014 The Boring Book Vasanti Unka Picture Book
2015 Singing Home the Whale Mandy Hager Young Adult Fiction
2016 Anzac Heroes Maria Gill; ill. by Marco Ivancic Non Fiction
2017 Snark David Elliot (after Lewis Carroll)
2018 Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story Gavin Bishop Non-Fiction
2019 The Bomb Sacha Cotter, ill. by Josh Morgan
2020 Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference Selina Tusitala Marsh Non-Fiction
2021 Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea T. K. Roxborogh, ill. by Phoebe Morris Fiction
2022 Atua: Māori gods and heroes Gavin Bishop Fiction
2023 Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku Mat Tait Non-Fiction

Children's Choice

In 2015 for the first time, children chose the finalist list for the Children's Choice awards. With 6,000 students putting their votes in for all 149 of the titles submitted for the awards, the finalists were announced on 9 June. This began the second stage of voting, which saw just under 16,000 students post their votes for the Children's Choice winners.

Until 2014, the Children's Choice award was chosen from the finalists in all categories below by a public vote open to school aged children, and is considered one of the highest accolades in the awards. As of 2013 winners of the Children's Choice award receive a prize of $2,000.

The Children's Choice award was created at the first New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 1997, and has been presented every year since. Despite being open to finalists from all categories, as of 2013 all winners have been from the Picture Book category. From 2010 the winners of each category have also been announced.

Winners of the Children's Choice overall award
Year Book Author(s) Category References
1997 Mechanical Harry Bob Kerr Picture Book
1998 Alphabet Apartments Lesley Moyes Picture Book 
1999 The Life-Size Inflatable Whale Gaelyn Gordon; ill. by John Tarlton Picture Book
2000 Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack  Lynley Dodd Picture Book
2001 Oliver in the Garden Margaret Beames, ill. by Sue Hitchcock Picture Book
2002 Grandpa's Shorts Joy Watson, ill. by Wendy Hodder Picture Book
2003 Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms? Dawn McMillan & Bert Signal; ill. by Ross Kinnaird Picture Book
2004 Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! Ngāreta Gabel; ill. by Ali Teo & Astrid Jensen Picture Book
2005 The Other Ark Lynley Dodd Picture Book
2006 Nobody's Dog Jennifer Beck; ill. by Lindy Fisher Picture Book
2007 Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! Kyle Mewburn; ill. by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly Picture Book
2008 The King's Bubbles Ruth Paul Picture Book
2009 The Were-Nana Melinda Szymanik & Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson Picture Book
2010 The Wonky Donkey Craig Smith; ill. by Katz Cowley Picture Book
2011 Baa Baa Smart Sheep Mark Sommerset; ill. by Rowan Sommerset Picture Book
2012 The Cat's Pyjamas Catherine Foreman Picture Book
2013 Melu Kyle Mewburn; ill. by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly. Picture Book
2014 The Three Bears … Sort Of Yvonne Morrison; ill. by Donovan Bixley Picture Book
Where categories are bold these books also won the category award.
Winners of Children's Choice categories
NB: Overall Children's Choice award winners not included.
Year Book Author(s) Category Reference(s)
2010 Dear Alison: A New Zealand Soldier's Story from Stalag 383 Dudley Muff; ed. by Simon Pollard Non-fiction
2010 Friends: Snake and Lizard Joy Cowley; ill. by Gavin Bishop Junior Fiction
2010 Brainjack Brian Falkner Young Adult Fiction
2011 Who's Cooking Tonight? Claire Gourley & Glenda Gourley Non-fiction
2011 Hollie Chips1 Anna Gowan Junior Fiction
2011 Smiling Jack Ken Catran Young Adult Fiction
2012 New Zealand Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis Maria Gill; ill. by Bruce Potter Non-fiction
2012 Super Finn1 Leonie Agnew Junior Fiction
2012 The BridgeH Jane Higgins Young Adult Fiction
2013 Kiwi: The Real Story Annemarie Florian; ill. by Heather Hunt Non-fiction
2013 My Brother's War David Hill Junior Fiction
2013 Snakes and Ladders Mary-anne Scott Young Adult Fiction
2015 The Letterbox Cat and other poems Paula Green;ill. by Myles Lawford Non-fiction
2015 The Anzac Puppy Peter Millett;ill. by Trish Bowles Picture Book
2015 Monkey Boy Donovan Bixley Junior Fiction
2015 Night Vision Ella West Young Adult Fiction
2016 First to the Top David Hill;ill. by Phoebe Morris Non-fiction
2016 Te Hua Tuatahi a Kuwi Kat Merewether, translated by Pānia Papa Te Reo Māori
2016 The House on the Hill Kyle Mewburn;ill. by Sarah Davis Picture Book
2016 The Girl Who Rode the Wind Stacy Gregg Junior Fiction
2016 Stray Rachael Craw Young Adult Fiction
Where categories are bold these books also won the category, 1 denotes a Best First Book award, and H denotes an Honour Award.

Best First Book

The Best First Book award is open to entrants in any of the categories below who are first‐time authors. As of 2012, winners in of the Best First Book award receive a prize of $2,000.

The Best First Book category was first included in the AIM Children's Book Awards in 1992, but was not awarded 1994–5. Since then, the award has been presented every year except 2001.

Winners of the Best First Book award
Best First Book (1992–3, 1996–2000, 2002–)
Year Book Author(s) Category References
1992 Out Walked Mel Paula Boock Fiction
1993 The OptimistH Bob Kerr Junior Fiction
1996 Laura's Poems Laura Ranger Junior Fiction
1997 Reliable Friendly Girls Jane Westaway Senior Fiction
1998 Trapped Judy Knox Junior Fiction
1999 Footsteps of the Gods Hana Hiraina Erlbeck; ill. by Manawa-Ote-Rangi  Junior Fiction
2000 2MUCH4U Vince Ford Junior Fiction
2002 Brodie Joy Cowley, ill. by Chris Mousdale Picture Book
2003 Buddy V. M. Jones Junior Fiction
2004 Thunder Road Ted Dawe Young Adult Fiction 
2005 Cross Tides Lorraine Orman Young Adult Fiction
2006 The Unknown Zone Phil Smith Young Adult Fiction
2007 The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff  Ben Galbraith Picture Book
2008 Out of the Egg Tina Matthews Picture Book
2009 Violence 101 Denis Wright Young Adult Fiction
2010 The Bone Tiki David Hair Young Adult Fiction
2011 Hollie ChipsCC Anna Gowan Junior Fiction
2012 Super FinnCC Leonie Agnew Junior Fiction
2013 Reach Hugh Brown Young Adult Fiction
2014 A Necklace of Souls R. L. Stedman Young Adult Fiction
2015 Māori Art for Kids Julie Noanoa and Norm Heke Non-Fiction
2016 Allis the Little Tractor Sophie Siers; ill. by Helen Kerridge Picture Book
2017 The Discombobulated Life of Summer Rain Julie Lamb Junior Fiction
2018 My New Zealand Story: Dawn Raid Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith
2019 Art-tastic Sarah Pepperle Non-Fiction
2020 #Tumeke! Michael Petherick Junior Fiction
2021 Kōwhai and the Giants Kate Parker Picture Book
2022 Spark Hunter Sonya Wilson Fiction
2023 The Lighthouse Princess Susan Wardell ill. by Rose Northey Picture Book
Where more than one author is listed, the Best First Book award recipient is listed in bold.
Where categories are bold these books also won in their category, H denotes an Honour Award,
and CC denotes a Children's Choice category winner.

Categories

Picture Book

The Picture Book category is for titles in which the illustrations "carry the impact of the story" along with the text. These can be titles for children or young adults, but illustrations have to make up at least half of the content, and these illustrations must be original, not compiled from other sources. As of 2012, winners receive a prize of $7,500, split evenly between the author and the illustrator.

"Picture Book" is the only category to be included in every awards ceremony, and was first presented in 1982 as "Picture Book of the Year" in the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards. There were no awards ceremonies in 1989, but the category was resurrected in the first AIM Children's Book Awards in 1990 as "Picture Book", and has retained the name to this day.

Winners of the Picture Book category
Picture Book of the Year (1982–8); Picture Book (1990–)
Year Book Writer(s) Illustrator(s) Reference(s)
1982 The Kuia and the Spider Patricia Grace Robyn Kahukiwa
1983 Mr Fox Gavin Bishop (retold by) Gavin Bishop
1984 Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy Lynley Dodd Lynley Dodd
1985 The Fish of Our Fathers Ron Bacon R. H. G. Jahnke
1986 Hairy Maclary Scattercat Lynley Dodd Lynley Dodd
1987 Taniwha Robyn Kahukiwa Robyn Kahukiwa
1988 Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper Lynley Dodd Lynley Dodd
1990 Annie and Moon Miriam Smith Lesley Moyes
1991 My Cat Maisie Pamela Allen Pamela Allen
1992 Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness Lynley Dodd Lynley Dodd
1993 Lily and the Present Christine Ross Christine Ross
1994 Hinepau Gavin Bishop Gavin Bishop
1995 The Best-Loved Bear Diana Noonan Elizabeth Fuller
1996 The Cheese Trap Joy Cowley Linda McClelland
1997 The Bantam and the Soldier Jennifer Beck Robyn Belton
1998 Alphabet ApartmentsC Lesley Moyes Lesley Moyes
1999 A Summery Saturday Morning Margaret Mahy Selina Young
2000 The House that Jack Built Gavin Bishop Gavin Bishop
2001 Oliver in the GardenC Margaret Beames Sue Hitchcock
2002 Brodie1 Joy Cowley Chris Mousdale
2003 Pigtails the Pirate David Elliot David Elliot
2004 Cuthbert's Babies Pamela Allen Pamela Allen
2005 Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story Kate De Goldi Jacqui Colley
2006 A Booming in the Night Benjamin Brown Helen Taylor
2007 Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!C Kyle Mewburn Ali Teo & John O'Reilly
2008 Tahi – One Lucky Kiwi Melanie Drewery John O'Reilly & Ali Teo
2009 Roadworks Sally Sutton Brian Lovelock
2010 Old Hu-Hu
Hū Hū Koroheke (Te Reo edition)
Kyle Mewburn
Te Reo ed. trans. by Kāterina Mataira
Rachel Driscoll
2011 The Moon & Farmer McPhee Margaret Mahy David Elliot
2012 Rāhui Chris Szekely
Te Reo ed. trans. by Brian Morris
Malcolm Ross
2013 Mister Whistler Margaret Mahy Gavin Bishop
2014 The Boring Book Vasanti Unka
2015 Jim's Letters Glyn Harper Jenny Cooper
2016 The Little Kiwi's Matariki Nikki Slade Robinson Nikki Slade Robinson
2017 That's Not a Hippopotamus! Juliette MacIver Sarah Davis
2018 I am Jellyfish Ruth Paul Ruth Paul
2019 The Bomb Sacha Cotter Josh Morgan
2020 Abigail and the Birth of the Sun Matthew Cunningham Sarah Wilkins
2021 Kōwhai and the Giants Kate Parker Kate Parker
2022 Lion Guards the Cake Ruth Paul Ruth Paul
2023 Duck Goes Meow Juliette MacIver Carla Martell
Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, C denotes a Children's Choice award, and 1 denotes a Best First Book award.
Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Picture Book & New Zealand Post Picture Book on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Non-fiction

The Non-fiction category is for titles in "which present well-authenticated data, with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and style". Titles for children or young adults can be included in this category, but not textbooks, resource kits, poetry, folklore, or retellings of myths and legends. As of 2012, winners in the Non-fiction category receive a prize of $7,500.

The Non Fiction category was added in 1986 to the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards, but removed again in 1987. The category was not resurrected until 1993, as part of the AIM Children's Book Awards. From 2008, the category's name has been hyphenated.

In 2016, when the awards merged with the LIANZA Awards, this category was merged with the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction and renamed the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award.

Winners of the Non-fiction category
Non Fiction (1986, 1993–2007); Non-fiction (2008–)
Year Book Author(s) Reference(s)
1986 The Story of New Zealand Judith Bassett, Keith Sinclair and Marcia Stensen
1993 Picture Magic Chris Gaskin
1994 Old Blue: The Rarest Bird in the World Mary Taylor
1995 Which Native Forest Plant? Andrew Crowe
1996 Aya's Story Jenny Scown, photography by Trish Gribben
1997 Picture Book Magic Chris Gaskin, photography by Denis Page
1998 The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants Diana Noonan & Keith Olsen
1999 The Natural World of New Zealand Gerard Hutching
2000 Te Wao Nui a Tāne Hirini Melbourne; ill. by Te Maari Gardiner
2001 The Zoo: Meet the Locals Colin Hogg
2002 The Plight of the Penguin Lloyd Spencer Davis
2003 Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths and Legends of Aotearoa Robert Sullivan; ill. by Gavin Bishop
2004 A Bird in the Hand Janet Hunt
2005 Welcome to the South Seas Gregory O'Brien
2006 Scarecrow Army: The Anzacs at Gallipoli Leon Davidson
2007 Illustrated History of the South Pacific Marcia Stenson
2008 Which New Zealand Spider? Andrew Crowe
2009 Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young & Curious Gregory O'Brien
2010 E3 Call Home Janet Hunt
2011 Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front Leon Davidson
2012 Nice Day for a War Matt Elliot; ill. by Chris Sloane
2013 100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa Simon Morton & Riria Hotere
2014 The Beginner's Guide to Hunting and Fishing in New Zealand Paula Adamson
2015 Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill Debbie McCauley
2016 Anzac Heroes Maria Gill; ill. by Marco Ivancic
2017 Jack and Charlie: Boys of the Bush Jack Marcotte and Josh James Marcotte
2018 Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story Gavin Bishop
2019 Art-tastic Sarah Pepperle
2020 Mophead Selina Tusitala Marsh
2021 Egg and Spoon: An illustrated cookbook Alexandra Tylee, ill. by Giselle Clarkson
2022 Atua: Māori gods and heroes Gavin Bishop
2023 Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku Mat Tait
Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award.
Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Non-Fiction & New Zealand Post Non-Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Fiction

The Fiction category is for works of creative writing, in which the text constitutes the "heart of the book". The category was added with the creation of the AIM Children's Book Awards in 1990, but was split into Junior Fiction and Senior Fiction in 1993. The name of the Senior Fiction category was later to change to Young Adult Fiction in 2004.

As of 2012, winners in either Fiction category receive a prize of $7,500.

Winners of the Fiction category in 1990 to 1992, when there was no Book of the Year award and the only additional category was Picture Book (and Best First Book in 1992), have been considered Book of the Year winners.

Winners of the Fiction category
Year Book Author Reference
1990 Alex in Winter Tessa Duder
1991 Rocco Sherryl Jordan
1992 Bow Down Shadrach Joy Cowley
Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Fiction
on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Junior fiction

Created in 1993, this award is for works in the Fiction category whose intended audience are in Years 1–8 (primary and intermediate school) (See Education in New Zealand § Years of schooling).

Winners of the Junior Fiction category
Year Book Author(s) Reference(s)
1993 Underrunners Margaret Mahy
1994 A Dolphin in the Bay Diana Noonan
1995 The Fat Man Maurice Gee
1996 The Waterfall Jack Lasenby
1997 The Battle of Pook Island Jack Lasenby
1998 Ticket to the Sky Dance Joy Cowley
1999 Starbright and the Dream Eater Joy Cowley
2000 2MUCH4U1 Vince Ford
2001 Shadrach Girl Joy Cowley
2002 Recycled Sandy McKay
2003 Buddy1 V. M. Jones
2004 Juggling with Mandarins V. M. Jones
2005 Aunt Effie and the Island that Sank Jack Lasenby
2006 Hunter Joy Cowley
2007 Thor's Tale: Endurance and Adventure in the Southern Ocean  Janice Marriott
2008 Snake and Lizard Joy Cowley, ill. by Gavin Bishop 
2009 Old Drumble Jack Lasenby
2010 The Loblolly Boy James Norcliffe
2011 Finnigan & the Pirates Sherryl Jordan
2012 Super Finn1CC Leonie Agnew
2013 My Brother's WarCC David Hill
2014 Dunger Joy Cowley
2015 Monkey Boy Donovan Bixley
2016 From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle Kate De Goldi
2017 My New Zealand Story: Bastion Point Tania Roxborogh
2018 How to Bee Bren MacDibble
2019 The Dog Runner Bren MacDibble
2020 Lizard's Tale Weng Wai Chan
2021 Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea T. K. Roxborogh
2022 The Memory Thief Leonie Agnew
2023 Below David Hill
Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, 1 denotes a Best First Book award,
and CC denotes a Children's Choice category winner. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book
Awards – Fiction
& New Zealand Post Junior Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Young Adult Fiction

Created in 1993, and called Senior Fiction prior to 2004, this award is for works in the Fiction category whose intended audience are in Years 9–13 (secondary school).

Winners of the Young Adult Fiction category
Senior Fiction (1993–2003); Young Adult Fiction (2004–)
Year Book Author Reference(s)
1993 Songs for Alex Tessa Duder
1994 The Value of X Pat Quinn
1995 The Blue Lawn William Taylor
1996 Crossroads Janice Marriott
1997 Sanctuary Kate De Goldi
1998 Dare Truth or Promise Paula Boock
1999 Taur Jack Lasenby
2000 The Tiggie Tompson Show Tessa Duder
2001 Voyage with Jason Ken Catran
2002 Owl Joanna Orwin
2003 Alchemy Margaret Mahy
2004 Thunder Road1 Ted Dawe
2005 Malcolm and Juliet Bernard Beckett
2006 With Lots of Love from Georgia Brigid Lowry
2007 Genesis Bernard Beckett
2008 Salt Maurice Gee
2009 The 10pm Question Kate De Goldi
2010 Blood of the Lamb: The Crossing Mandy Hager
2011 Fierce September Fleur Beale
2012 Calling the Gods Jack Lasenby
2013 Into the River Ted Dawe
2014 Mortal Fire Elizabeth Knox
2015 Singing Home the Whale Mandy Hager
2016 Battlesaurus: Rampage at Waterloo Brian Falkner
2017 The Severed Land Maurice Gee
2018 In the Dark Spaces Cally Black
2019 Legacy Whiti Hereaka
2020 Aspiring Damien Wilkins
2021 The Pōrangi Boy Shilo Kino
2022 Learning to Love Blue Saradha Koirala
2023 Iris and Me Philippa Werry
Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, and 1 denotes a Best
First Book award. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Fiction &
New Zealand Post Young Adult Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website.
Finalist entries missing at the above sites are available at the awards' official website: http://www.booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-post-childrens-book-awards.

Illustration

The illustration award was added in 2016, when the Awards merged with the LIANZA Awards. It is named the Russell Clark award in honour of the New Zealand illustrator of that name.

Winners of the Illustration category
Year Book Author Illustrator Reference
2016 Much Ado About Shakespeare Donovan Bixley Donovan Bixley
2017 Snark David Elliott David Elliott
2018 Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts Craig Phillips Craig Phillips
2019 Puffin the Architect Kimberley Andrews Kimberley Andrews
2020 The Adventures of Tupaia Courtney Sina Meredith Mat Tait
2021 Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment Laura Shallcrass Laura Shallcrass
2022 Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes Gavin Bishop Gavin Bishop
2023 A Portrait of Leonardo Donovan Bixley Donovan Bixley
Full list of finalists at New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Russell Clark Award for Illustration and (for awards pre-2016) LIANZA Russell Clark Award
on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Te reo Māori

This award is currently called the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award and is awarded to a book written entirely in (or translated entirely into) te reo Māori (the Māori language). It was introduced in 2016 when the Awards merged with the LIANZA Awards, and is judged separately by Te Rōpū Whakahau.

Winners of Te Reo Māori category
Year Book Author Illustrator Translator Reference
2016 Whiti te Ra! Patricia Grace Andrew Burdan Kawata Teepa
2017 Te Kaihanga Māpere Sacha Cotter Josh Morgan Kawata Teepa
2018 Tu Meke Tūī! Malcolm Clarke Hayley King Evelyn Tobin
2019 Te Haka a Tānerore Reina Kahukiwa Robyn Kahukiwa Kiwa Hammond
2020 Tio Tiamu Kurahau Laya Mutton-Rogers
2021 Ngake me Whātaitai Ben Ngaia Laya Mutton-Rogers
2022 I Waho, i te Moana Yvonne Morrison Jenny Cooper Pānia Papa
2023 Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro Brianne Te Paa Story Hemi-Morehouse
Full list of finalists at New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori and (for awards pre-2016) LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award
on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

Honour Award and runners-up

Honour Awards are given at the judge's discretion to outstanding finalists that don't win in their category. As of 2012, finalists presented an Honour Award receive a prize of $500.

Honour Awards were first presented in 1993, while in 1990 to 1992 runners-up were awarded second and third prizes.

Winners of Honour Awards and Second Prizes
Second Prize (1990–2); Honour Award (1993–)
Year Book Author(s) Category Reference(s)
1990 The Champion Maurice Gee Fiction
1990 The Story of the Kakapo, Parrot of the Night Philip Temple; ill. by Chris Gaskin Picture Book
1991 Secrets Ruth Corrin Fiction
1991 Lily and the Bears Christine Ross Picture Book
1992 The Juniper Game Sherryl Jordan Fiction
1992 My Aunt Mary Went Shopping Roger Hall; ill. by Trevor Pye Picture Book
1993 The Optimist1 Bob Kerr Junior Fiction
1993 The Conjuror Jack Lasenby Senior Fiction
1993 Grandma McGarvey Paints the Shed Jenny Hessell; ill. by Trevor Pye Picture Book
1994 The Ace of Diamonds Gang Owen Marshall Senior Fiction
1994 Stretch, Bend and Boggle Brian Stokes; ill. by Carolyn Smith Non Fiction
1995 The Emerald Encyclopedia James Norcliffe Senior Fiction
1995 The Life Cycle of the Praying Mantis Betty Brownlie Non Fiction
1995 Kotuku: The Flight of the White Heron Philip Temple; ill. by Chris Gaskin Picture Book
1996 Take it Easy David Hill Junior Fiction
1996 Joe's Ruby Elsie Locke; ill. by Gary Hebley Non Fiction
1996 Tom's Story Mandy Hager; ill. by Ruth Paul Picture Book
1998 Because We Were the Travellers Jack Lasenby Senior Fiction
1999 Killer Moves Denis Edwards Junior Fiction
1999 I Am Not Esther Fleur Beale Senior Fiction
1999 Slinky Malinki Catflaps Lynley Dodd Picture Book
2000 A Villain's Night Out Margaret Mahy; ill. by Harry Horse Junior Fiction
2000 Closed, Stranger Kate De Goldi Senior Fiction
2000 Sydney and the Sea Monster David Elliot Picture Book
2001 The Lies of Harry Wakatipu Jack Lasenby Junior Fiction
2001 24 Hours Margaret Mahy Senior Fiction
2001 Dragor, Or, How a Dragon Suffering from
Prickly Heat Saved the World from Perpetual
Winter and Established a Well-known Weed
Pat Quinn; ill. by Philip Webb Picture Book
2004 Napoleon and the Chicken Farmer Lloyd Jones; ill. by Graeme Gash Picture Book
2006 Sil Jill Harris Junior Fiction
2006 Kaitangata Twitch Margaret Mahy Young Adult Fiction
2006 Blue New Zealand Glenys Stace Non Fiction
2006 Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell Tim Tipene; ill. by Huhana Smith Picture Book
2007 A Present from the Past Jennifer Beck; ill. by Lindy Fisher Picture Book
2008 The Sea-wreck Stranger Anna Mackenzie Young Adult Fiction
2008 Reaching the Summit Alexa Johnston & David Larsen Non-fiction
2008 To the Harbour Stanley Palmer Picture Book
2009 Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig Diana Neild; ill. by Philip Webb Picture Book
2010 The Word Witch Margaret Mahy; ill. by David Elliot;
ed. by Tessa Duder
Picture Book
2012 The Travelling Restaurant Barbara Else Junior Fiction
2012 The Bridge Jane Higgins Young Adult Fiction
2012 Digging Up The Past:
Archaeology for the Young & Curious
David Veart Non-fiction
2012 Shaolin Burning Ant Sang Picture Book
2013 The Queen and the Nobody Boy:
A Tale of Fontania
Barbara Else Junior Fiction
2014 Bugs Whiti Hereaka Young Adult Fiction
1 denotes a Best First Book award.
Third Prize winners (1990–2) can be found at AIM Children's Book Awards 1990 – 1996 on the Christchurch City Libraries website.

See also

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New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.