Te Pae Tawhiti Awards 2026 shortlists announced

The shortlists for the Te Pae Tawhiti Awards for Aotearoa and Pasifika speculative fiction writers have been announced.

The shortlisted works in each category are:

Outstanding Achievement for Adult Novel

• The Book of Guilt (Catherine Chidgey, Te Herenga Waka University Press)
• Dancing in the Purple Rain (Judy L Mohr, Rhodon Press)
• Galaxy Grifter (A Zaykova, Orbit)
• Lifelikeness (Alex Lodge, Dinnae Press Aotearoa).

Outstanding Achievement for Middle Grade Fiction

• Draconic Search and Rescue (Robinne L Weiss, Sandfly Books)
• Eye of the Dragon (Susan Brocker, Scholastic)
• The Secret Green (Sonya Wilson, A&U Children’s NZ)
• Welcome to Miracle (Shara Curlett, Scholastic).

Outstanding Achievement for Young Adult Fiction

• The Lost Saint (Rachael Craw, A&U Children’s NZ)
• Truth Needs No Colour (Heather McQuillan, Cloud Ink Press)
• Wyld Witch Weather (Janna Ruth, self-published).

Outstanding Achievement for a Novella

• Chasing Worms (Joseph Bonnett, self-published)
• Dear Diary (Marie Hodgkinson, self-published)
• The Emotion Dealer (Jack Ramiel Cottrell, Canterbury University Press)
• Spellcasting On (Andi Buchanan, self-published).

Outstanding Achievement for a Short Story

• “The Cold Burns” by Anne Wilkins
• “A Day Lost in Time” by Douglas Perenara Johnston
• “The Hound of Annwn” by Rem Wigmore
• “The Poppy Cloud” by Lee Murray
• “Wild@Heart” by Michael Botur.

Outstanding Achievement for a Collection or Anthology (fiction, poetry or essay)

• Blood Protectors (Sue Glamuzina, self-published)
• This Way Lies Madness (edited by Lee Murray & Dave Jeffery, Flame Tree Publishing)
• Uninvited Guests (North Shore Writers group, self-published)
• Untethered: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Papua New Guinea (edited by Kirsten McGavin, Kokomo Ink).

In addition to the category winners, an award recognising outstanding service to speculative fiction will be announced at the awards ceremony on 22 August at Te Whare Tāpere Iti, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts in Hamilton as part of Hamilton Book Month.

The evening will feature a keynote by Pip Adam, and a panel discussion moderated by Lee Murray, with Pip Adam, David Hair, Jade Kake and Gareth Ward. The event will also include 4 professional development workshops during the day.

The Te Pae Tawhiti Awards were created by Speculative Fiction Writers of New Zealand (SpecFicNZ) and are supported by Creative New Zealand and Copyright Licensing New Zealand.

Category: Awards Local news