New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012 Finalists Announced
A diverse and exciting range of books have today been announced as finalists for the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards.
The finalists – selected from 160 entries - include a biography of Captain William Bligh (the target of naval history’s most famous mutiny), explorations of New Zealand native trees, pottery and cloaks, and a detailed re-examination of one of New Zealand’s most shocking murders – the Parker and Hulme case.
The judges unanimously found five finalists in the both general and illustrated non-fiction categories.
“The non-fiction categories feature writers who are working at the peak of their craft, finding new, original ways in which to portray New Zealand in print,” said the convenor of the New Zealand Post Book Awards judging panel, Chris Bourke.
However, due to the strength of this year’s entries, the judges found it very difficult to limit themselves to just the three finalists required in the fiction and poetry categories.
“Having all the categories restored to five finalists would more accurately represent the quality and breadth of New Zealand’s writing,” said Mr Bourke.
“The same diversity is present in the fiction and poetry - and should be reflected in the shortlists.”
The Chair of the Book Awards Governance Group, Sam Elworthy said he appreciated the candour of the judging panel.
“We are committed to ensuring writers are best served with these awards and the reduction in fiction and poetry finalists was made after extensive consultation with the literary community. None-the-less, getting the right format for the country’s premier book awards is all-important. It is a challenge the Governance Group accept,” says Mr Elworthy.
He further commented that the Awards were under review and that exciting changes could be anticipated next year.
The 2012 judging panel comprises multi-award winning poet, writer, critic and journalist David Eggleton, writer, publisher, book designer and typesetter Mary Egan, poet, reviewer, writer and anthologist Paula Green, writer and Maori and Pacific literature specialist Reina Whaitiri (Kai Tahu) together with Mr Bourke, a journalist, producer and writer who won last year’s New Zealand Post Book of the Year prize.
Fiction finalists
|
From Under the Overcoat Sue Orr Vintage, Random House NZ 9781869790578 (Paperback) 9781869795511 (Ebook) |
 |
|
Rangatira 9781742532219 (Ebook) |
 |
|
The Trouble with Fire Fiona Kidman Vintage, Random House NZ 9781869793593 (Paperback) 9781869793609 (Ebook) |
 |
Poetry finalists
|
The leaf-ride Dinah Hawken Victoria University Press 9780864736505 |
 |
|
Shift Rhian Gallagher Auckland University Press 9781869404871 |
 |
|
Thicket Anna Jackson Auckland University Press 9781869404826 |
 |
Illustrated Non-Fiction finalists
|
A Micronaut in the Wide World: The Imaginative Life and Times of Graham Percy Gregory O'Brien Auckland University Press 9781869404703 |
 |
|
New Zealand Film - An Illustrated History Diane Pivac, Frank Stark, and Lawrence McDonald Te Papa Press 9781877385667 |
 |
|
New Zealand's Native Trees John Dawson and Rob Lucas Craig Potton Publishing 9781877517013 |
 |
|
Playing with Fire: Auckland Studio Potters Society Turns 50 Peter Lange and Stuart Newby Auckland Studio Potters Society– in conjunction with the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD) 9780958281713 |
 |
|
Whatu Kākahu / Māori Cloaks Awhina Tamarapa Te Papa Press 9781877385568 |
 |
General Non-Fiction finalists
|
Bligh: William Bligh in the South Seas Anne Salmond Penguin Group (NZ) 9780670075560 (Hardback) 9781742287812 (Ebook) |
 |
|
The Broken Book Fiona Farrell Auckland University Press 9781869405762 |
 |
|
The Hungry Heart: Journeys with William Colenso Peter Wells Vintage, Random House NZ 9781869794743 (Hardback) 9781869794750 (Ebook) |
 |
|
So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder That Shocked the World Peter Graham Awa Press 9781877551123 |
 |
|
Tupaia: The Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Polynesian Navigator Joan Druett Random House NZ 9781869793869 (Hardback) 9781869797133 (Paperback) |
 |
People’s Choice Award
Voting opens today for the nation’s favourite book. Nominations can be made from this year’s finalist books on-line at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz. The 2012 finalist book with the most votes will be honoured with the much-coveted People’s Choice Award.
In addition to individual category winners, and a People’s Choice Award, there will be a Māori Language Award winner and the overall New Zealand Post Book of the Year winner announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on 1 August 2012.
The overall New Zealand Post Book of the Year Award winner will receive $15,000. Winners of the four Category Awards will each receive $10,000. The Māori Language Award winner will receive $10,000 and the People’s Choice Award winner $5,000.
Sponsors
New Zealand Post’s sponsorship of the national book awards reflects their long-standing support for literacy and education. They maintain that focus throughout the year with initiatives such as ReadWriteGrow.co.nz, creative writing contests for school students, and the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards which they have sponsored for the past 16 years. That commitment to promoting literacy, excellence in writing and the joy of reading sees New Zealand Post play a key role in supporting other champions of literature, such as Booksellers NZ, to promote and reward local literary talent.
The New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012 are also funded by Creative New Zealand. The Awards are managed by Book Awards Governance Group, administered by Booksellers NZ and supported by the New Zealand Society of Authors and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd.
ENDS
Key dates:
• 6 June 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT
• 6 June 2012 Readers’ Choice Award VOTING OPENS
• 27 July 2012 NATIONAL POETRY DAY
• 6 July 2012 Readers’ Choice Award VOTING CLOSES, 5pm.
• 1 August 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards WINNERS ANNOUNCED.
• 2 August 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards WINNERS EVENT.
We announced the Best First Book winners last week - see who they were.
Bookmark/Search this post with
in