New Zealand Post Book Awards

Last year Chris Bourke took home the country’s top literary honour – the New Zealand Post Book of the Year Award – for his work Blue Smoke: the Lost Dawn of New Zealand Popular Music 1918-1964. This year he heads up the judging panel for the same award.

A respected writer, reviewer, music historian and radio producer, Chris is well known as a former long-time producer for Radio New Zealand National’s Saturday Morning programme and as a staff writer and arts and books editor for print publications including The Listener.

Entries open today for the nation’s most prestigious book awards: the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012.

More than 2,000 entries are expected, from emerging and experienced authors across the country, but just a few will make it to the final shortlist.

Together the two awards reflect the diversity, depth, colour and flair of contemporary New Zealand writing.

Wellington, Te Papa (on the Marae) Thursday, 28 July, 12.15-1.45pm, Free entry.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the winning authors of the 2011 New Zealand Post Book Awards.They’ll be talking about their books, research, writing, new projects, what inspires them, and what books they’re reading. Authors will available to sign their books, which are also available to purchase at the event.

Booksellers New Zealand are pleased to invite you to purchase tickets to attend the 2011 New Zealand Post Book Awards.

Tickets are $75 (inc. GST) per person.

Time is flying and we are getting close to some very import dates!

Guests at the inaugural New Zealand Post Book Awards Ceremony, on Friday 27 August at the Langham Hotel Auckland, were invited to take their pick and bravely predict the book they thought would win the coveted ‘Book of Year Award’ to be announced later that night.

The prize was a case of delicious Te Kairanga Wine, generously provided by our wine sponsor for the event, Te Kairanga Wines of Martinborough, www.tkwine.co.nz

The winner who correctly guessed the Book of the Year 2010, Encircled Lands by Judith Binney (published by Bridget Williams Books), was

Two Free Public Events – Auckland & Wellington

Book-lovers, mark your page now: the New Zealand Post Book Award-winning writers of 2010 will be speaking at two free author events in Auckland and Wellington. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear New Zealand’s best writers come together to discuss their books, love of writing, inspirations and challenges and the books currently on their own ‘must-read’ lists.

The winners of our major literary awards for contemporary writing will be announced at a gala dinner ceremony on Friday 27 August.

Matariki

When she walked –
small bells were heard

Trees smiled

Seven sisters accompanied her
their names have been forgotten
    it was a long time ago

        -------------------

The harvest is nearly done
They are returning soon

        --------------------

Preparations have begun
Cameron and Kayleigh are making
a kiwifruit tree, balancing small, hard
fruit on twigs, dropping butterfly seeds

Down by the River

Down by the river
Dragonflies skim the silk
And the trout sing of sunny days
And the dog leaps and chases bubbles
Swimming out into the current to cruise the fronds of scent
Enjoying the moment with the Boss
And I let my head go where it wants to,
Chasing fronds of its own
Instead of keeping order
 
And the trout sing
And I sing
And the Boss sings

by Judy Nicholas
shared by the author