Te Pae Tawhiti Awards 2026 winners announced
The winners of the inaugural Te Pae Tawhiti Awards for Aotearoa and Pasifika speculative fiction writers have been announced.
The winning works in each category, selected from shortlists announced in June, are:
Outstanding Achievement for Adult Novel
- The Book of Guilt (Catherine Chidgey, Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Outstanding Achievement for Middle Grade Fiction
- Draconic Search and Rescue (Robinne L Weiss, Sandfly Books)
Outstanding Achievement for Young Adult Fiction
- Truth Needs No Colour (Heather McQuillan, Cloud Ink Press)
Outstanding Achievement for a Novella
- Dear Diary (Marie Cardno, self-published)
Outstanding Achievement for a Short Story
- “The Cold Burns” (Anne Wilkins)
Outstanding Achievement for a Collection or Anthology (fiction, poetry or essay)
- Blood Protectors (Sue Carpenter, self-published)
Outstanding Service to Speculative Fiction
- Kirsten McGavin, “in recognition of her championing of speculative fiction” and as someone who promotes using “speculative fiction as a tool to explore important – and sometimes traumatic – topics in Pacific history and identity”.
Special Award for Outstanding Service to Speculative Fiction
- Lee Murray, for “her decades of advocating for Aotearoa New Zealand speculative writing and specifically her expertise and commitment guiding the Te Pae Tawhiti committee”.
Convenor AJ Ponder said, “The committee was thrilled with the quality of writing and were impressed with the creative approach across all the entries. It was such a high calibre of entries, and we were absolutely thrilled to present the winners.”
Winners were announced at a ceremony on 22 August at Te Whare Tāpere Iti, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts in Hamilton as part of Hamilton Book Month.
The evening featured a keynote by Pip Adam and a panel discussion with Adam, David Hair, Jade Kake and Gareth Ward, moderated by Lee Murray.
Category: Awards Local news
