Chidgey named Aotearoa New Zealand public’s favourite woman writer

Waikato author Catherine Chidgey (The Book of Guilt, Penguin, 2025) has taken out the number-one spot in The Women’s Bookshop’s Top 50 Women Writers of the Last 50 Years survey.

It is the first time an Aotearoa New Zealand author has taken the top spot in the 20 years that the survey has been running.

Voting took place online and in store over 3 months, with voters invited to choose their top 10 women authors of the last 50 years (1975–2025).

Over 1000 votes were received, and Chidgey was announced as the winner on 11 October, as part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Bookshop Day.

Many other local authors also made the cut this year. Of the overall 50, 10 were New Zealanders, with Patricia Grace, Eleanor Catton, Keri Hulme, Janet Frame, Fiona Kidman, Becky Manawatu, Elizabeth Knox, Saraid de Silva and Pip Adam joining Chidgey in the list.

The Women’s Bookshop founder and owner Carole Beu said previously the top spot had gone to international authors. “It had always been a battle between the superstars – Margaret Atwood and Barbara Kingsolver,” she said. “We’ve never had so many New Zealand women writers in the top 50. It speaks volumes about the increasing popularity of local authors.”

More information, including the full list, is available on the bookshop’s website.

Category: Awards Local news