News

Eight standout authors set to define the next chapter of New Zealand writing have secured places on the 2026 New Voices of Aotearoa list.

Selected by an expert judging panel and administered by the Coalition for Books, New Voices of Aotearoa is an annual initiative shining a spotlight on exceptional and distinctive writing talent across fiction, poetry and non-fiction.

Now in its second year, NVA is about connecting readers with authors who have already demonstrated early commercial and critical success; a laser point on writers to watch and read now.

The 2026 New Voices of Aotearoa are: Ōtaki-based writer and public servant Tīhema Baker (Raukawa te Au ki te Tonga, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira); Auckland-based poet and storyteller Amber Esau (Ngāpuhi, Manase); Hastings award-winning poet and storyteller Nafanua Purcell Kersel (Satupa‘itea, Faleālupo, Aleipata, Tuaefu); Auckland-based te reo Māori journalist and author Dr Atakohu Middleton (Waikato, Pākehā); bestselling Scottish-New Zealand crime writer Zoë Rankin; US-New Zealand forager, fungi enthusiast and bestselling author Liv Sisson; #1 bestselling novelist Jennifer Trevelyan; and Christchurch academic and historian Dr Madi Williams (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau).

Coalition for Books chair Melanie Laville Moore says readers keen to explore dynamic, fresh and highly contemporary books need to seek out these authors’ books.

‘They’re the interesting writers capturing the mood of the moment while showing readers where literature is headed next. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, they stand out for their ability to connect with readers through books that are gripping, thought-provoking and deeply affecting.’

The New Voices of Aotearoa 2026 was judged by author, academic and architect Jade Kake (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Whakatōhea); reviewer and former books editor of The Dominion Post (now The Post) and former books and culture editor of the New Zealand Listener Guy Somerset; and bestselling author and co-owner of Wardini Books Louise Ward.

Tīhema Baker’s first novel Turncoat (Lawrence & Gibson) was a critical and commercial success and longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2024. His second book One Day a Taniwha will be published by Moa Press, Hachette in August 2026.

NVA26 judge Jade Kake says Tīhema Baker is a bold new voice in contemporary fiction. ‘From political satire and science fiction to contemporary Māori magic realism, Tīhema’s writing is sharp, incisive and of our place and time.’

Amber Esau’s defiant, celebratory and world-building first collection of poetry, Hungus (Te Herenga Waka University Press), was published to acclaim in March this year.

 Kake comments that Amber’s words resonate and linger in the wairua long after you finish absorbing them from the page. ‘A double punch for the ngākau and the hinengaro.’

Nafanua Purcell Kersel won the country’s most prestigious poetry award for her first poetry collection Black Sugarcane (Te Herenga Waka University Press) – the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026.

NVA26 judge Louise Ward says Nafanua addresses challenging ideas in her poetry with a gentle elegance, landing heartbreak and joy on the reader. ‘Her work deftly places us in Samoa and Aotearoa, inviting us to visit places most of us have never been.’

Waka Aroha by Atakohu Middleton will be the first-ever collection of short stories for adults written in te reo Māori, to be published by Auckland University Press in September. Her first book was Kia Hiwa Rā!: Māori Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kake says: ‘He whakatutuki tino whakahirahira. He puna mō te whakarauora o te reo Māori, otirā, he haerenga ngahau te pānui!’

‘An incredible achievement. Atakohu has written this collection of short stories for adults in te reo Māori, the first writer to do so. A wellspring for the revitalisation of te reo Māori, and, more importantly, a joy to read!’

Zoë Rankin’s first book The Vanishing Place (Moa Press) about a shocking murder set in dense New Zealand bush, catapulted to the bestseller charts on publication in September last year and has largely remained there ever since. The psychological thriller has secured valuable publishing deals in the UK and the US.

NVA judge Guy Somerset says Zoë has a firm grasp of New Zealand gothic and its enduring appeal. ‘… thrilling and terrifying. Rankin’s writing is as visceral about the bush as it is about the violence that inhabits it.’

Fungi of Aotearoa: A curious forager’s guide (Penguin NZ) by Liv Sisson captured a public mood and became a major commercial success. It was the joint Booksellers’ Choice of the Year Winner at the 2023 Book Industry Awards.

Liv Sisson’s second book Butterflies and Moths of Aotearoa is out in November 2026.

NVA judge Louise Ward says Liv’s writing makes you want to get outside and stick your face into the bush. ‘Her descriptions of fungi have an almost Steinbeckian, zoom-in quality; you can smell and taste the landscapes through this writing and end up being ‘bemushroomed’ along with her.’

Jennifer Trevelyan’s first book A Beautiful Family (Allen & Unwin), has sold around 30,000 copies, won notable fans such as Liane Moriarty and Hannah Kent, and had its rights bought by US and UK publishers.

‘In the utterly convincing voice and perspective of her 10-year-old narrator on the precipice of emerging knowledge and understanding, Trevelyan takes the quintessential Kiwi summer beach holiday and turns it inside out, unravelling the ties and tensions of the two sisters and their parents at its heart, along with the mystery of a young girl missing from the community where they’re staying,’ says Somerset.

Madi Williams’ non-fiction titles are counter narratives in many ways. With her first book Polynesia 900–1600: An Overview of the History of Aotearoa, Rēkohu and Rapa Nui and Ngāti Kuia: He Pūtake, Hei Pakiaka Ora just published by Auckland University Press, she has established herself as one of New Zealand’s most original and exciting historians.

‘Williams brings fresh eyes and thinking to assiduously researched subjects that come alive under the light she shines on them. It’s a light that benefits us all,’ says Somerset.

The inaugural New Voices of Aotearoa held last year was a commercial success for recipients.

In the 12 weeks after the NVA25 announcement in June 2025, compared to the 12 weeks before, Neilsen Bookscan recorded an average increase of 69% in book sales of the selected authors’ debuts.

‘We’re thrilled that the first New Voices campaign saw an uplift in sales for the recipients. It’s exactly what these hugely talented authors need – a platform for exposure, and a path for future success,’ says Laville Moore.

The Coalition for Books is grateful for the support of Mātātuhi Foundation.

Poet, memoirist and scholar Ingrid Horrocks has won the $65,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for her fiction debut, All Her Lives, a story collection that follows nine different women across nine different life stages as they resist, nurture and transform.

It is the first time in five years that a book of short stories has won the country’s richest writing prize, and the collection is just the fifth of its kind to take the Fiction honour since the awards began 58 years ago.

Ms Horrocks won the award ahead of two-time previous Acorn prize winner, internationally celebrated New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey (The Book of Guilt); food writer, blogger and novelist Laura Vincent (Hoods Landing); and biographer, visual artist, environmental activist and novelist Sam Mahon (How to Paint a Nude).

Fiction category convenor of judges Craig Cliff says Ingrid Horrocks crushes her first foray into fiction.

“Across nine elegant, probing stories that range from the late eighteenth century to the unsettled present, from rural Wairarapa to icy Norwegian ports and rave culture Berlin, All Her Lives explores the shifting expectations and constraints of womanhood. Sparks from one story and one generation ignite elsewhere in the book, illustrating how material conditions, freedoms and ideologies can be shaped, for better or worse, by our forebears.

“Emotionally intelligent and historically alert, All Her Lives is an outrageously good addition to the top shelf of New Zealand fiction.”

Hastings poet and performer Nafanua Purcell Kersel (Satupa‘itea, Faleālupo, Aleipata, Tuaefu) has won the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry for Black Sugarcane – her debut collection that speaks to creation, destruction and regeneration.

Poetry category convenor of judges Daren Kamali says Black Sugarcane is a work of rare linguistic grace and emotional precision.

“Each poem pulses with clarity, restraint, and quiet power, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary. The collection’s careful architecture and tonal control mark it as a deeply considered achievement for debut author Nafanua Purcell Kersel.

“Black Sugarcane not only enriches contemporary poetry but also expands its possibilities, offering readers a resonant, enduring contribution to the literary landscape today,” says Mr Kamali.

Christchurch novelist, editor and creative writing teacher Tina Makereti (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangatahi-Matakore, Pākehā) has won the General Non-Fiction award for This Compulsion in Us, her first book of non-fiction – a memoir about whakapapa, identity and growing up Pākehā.

General Non-Fiction category convenor of judges Philip Matthews says This Compulsion in Us is an honest, revealing and stimulating work, and a celebration of writing as a timeless way of experiencing and understanding the world and ourselves.

“Tina Makereti is better known as a writer of fiction, and she uses her well-honed literary skills to advantage in this artful and skilfully curated collection of essays, adding up to an alternative memoir of one person’s discoveries about her whakapapa and childhood family, and her place in national society and within Māori literature,” says Mr Matthews.

Each of these three category winning books are published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

Wellington historian Elizabeth Cox has won the BookHub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction for Mr Ward’s Map: Victorian Wellington Street by Street– a book that reveals fascinating stories about a vital capital city, its neighbourhoods and its people at the turn of the twentieth century.

Illustrated Non-Fiction category convenor of judges Lauren Gutsell says Mr Ward’s Map is innovative, engaging, inherently human and a celebration of research and storytelling.

“Elizabeth Cox deployed one historic cartographic document as the foundation for a superbly written publication that bridges multiple world views and time periods – highlighting one source and how it resonates in the contemporary moment.

“While anchored in Victorian Wellington, Cox presents a range of complex issues and histories that have universal reach. This skilfully interweaves impacts of colonial land alienation on tangata whenua, reveals imbalances and intersectional experiences of race, class and gender, and offers a reflection of societal changes and what remains the same,” says Ms Gutsell.

Mr Ward’s Map is published by Massey University Press.

Te Mūrau o te Tuhi, a discretionary Māori Language Award, was presented this year to member of the Māori Queen’s Council of Twelve, professor, and tohunga of Māori language and thought Tā Pou Temara (Ngāi Tūhoe) KNZM for Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti, an analysis of the prophetic sayings of Te Kooti, published by Auckland University Press.

In presenting this award, judge Hone Morris (Ngāi Te Rangitotohu, Ngāti Mārau, Ngāti Maru, Ngāi Te Ao Kāpiti) says: “Ko Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kooti, he mahi rangahau nui whakahirahira e wānanga ana i te rētōtanga, te mana, me te toitūtanga o ngā kupu whakaari me ngā whakataukī, me te hononga ā-ngākau ki te whakapono, ki te whenua, ki te hītori, me te tangata. He mea whakarite te hanganga o te pukapuka nei ki tētahi tupuna whare hei arataki i te kaipānui mai i te tūāpapa o te whare ki tōna whatumanawa, e whakakitea ana te kupu tapu mā ngā whakataukī, ngā kupu whakaari, ngā waiata, me ngā ingoa o ngā whare nā Te Kooti Arikirangi Turuki i tapa. E whakaatu ana a Tā Pou he tapu atua tō te reo poropiti, he maha ōna paparanga tikanga, ā, he kawenga matatika kei runga i te kawe o aua kupu. Mā tēnei pukapuka ka whakarangatira te reo Māori, ka whakahoki i te mauri o te mātauranga Māori, ā, ka waiho he wāhi mā te kaipānui hei whakaaroaro, hei wānanga, ka mutu, kia ū ki tōna ake māramatanga.”

“Te Āhua o Ngā Kupu Whakaari a Te Kootiis a significant scholarly work that examines the depth, authority, and enduring power of kupu whakaari and whakataukī, and the intimate connections to faith, land, history, and people. Structured metaphorically as a whare tūpuna, the book guides the reader from the foundations of the whare through to its heart, revealing the sacred nature of language through whakataukī, kupu whakaari, waiata, and named houses of Te Kooti Arikirangi Turuki. Tā Pou Temara demonstrates how prophetic language conveys divine tapu, layered meaning, and moral responsibility. This work enriches te reo Māori, restores the mauri of mātauranga Māori, and creates space for readers to reflect, interpret, and arrive at their own understandings.”

The Poetry, General Non-Fiction, Illustrated Non-Fiction, and Māori Language award recipients each received $12,000.

Four Best First Book Awards, sponsored by the Mātātuhi Foundation, were also presented at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards ceremony.

The Hubert Church Prize for Fiction was presented to Auckland author John Prins for his short story collection Pastoral Care (Otago University Press).

“A youth group leader seeks solace from an AI chatbot. Two brothers disagree about the future of the family bach. A teacher positions himself for another career change. In John Prins’ lively story collection, both men and women battle to balance domestic and work spheres, how they perceive themselves and how they act. Funny, assured, thoughtful, of the moment and of this place, Pastoral Care is a grand debut,” say the Fiction category judges.

Auckland poet Sophie van Waardenberg has taken the Jessie Mackay Prize for Poetry for No Good (Auckland University Press).

“Sophie van Waardenberg’s honed ability to hold the reader’s focus is impossible to ignore. No Good is a stupefying kiss. The poet shares her insights on grief, love and friendship with generosity. She makes the work of editing look effortless. The ‘Cremation Sonnets’ sequence is particularly impressive for the confidence with which this debut poet tackles the inexpressible, non-literary realities of bereavement,” say the Poetry category judges.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, has won the E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction for her memoir A Different Kind of Power (Penguin, Penguin Random House).

“Good political memoirs and biographies are rare in New Zealand, but former prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s first book, A Different Kind of Power, is exceptional. A singular figure with both national and global appeal, her time in office was marked by several catastrophic events, including the country’s worst terror attack, the deadly White Island eruption, and the defining pandemic. Ardern’s thoughtful and rewarding account sheds important light on those years, and on a Kiwi childhood that somehow inadvertently prepared her for the rigours of leadership,” say the General Non-Fiction category judges.

The Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction has gone to emeritus professor of botany Philip Garnock-Jones for his book He Puāwai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowers by (Auckland University Press)

“Built out of a career dedicated to research and scientific discovery, He Puāwai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowerscements Philip Garnock-Jones as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading botanists. Detailed, accessible and stunningly beautiful in its design, his first book is a celebration of scholarship and the power of stereoscopic photography,” say the Illustrated Non-Fiction judges.

Each Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Award winner received $3,000 and a 12-month membership subscription to the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa.

The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are supported by Ockham Residential, Creative New Zealand, the late Jann Medlicott and the Acorn Foundation, Mary and Peter Biggs CNZM, BookHub presented by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand, The Mātātuhi Foundation, and the Auckland Writers Festival.

The awards ceremony, emceed by Miriama Kamo and attended by politicians, publishers, writers, and the book-loving public, was held on Wednesday 13 May at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Aotea Centre as part of the 2026 Auckland Writers Festival programme.

To find out more about the winners’ titles go to https://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards/2026-awards/winners/

PANZ Councillor for International Louise Russell met by by CIBTC staff member Dun Yixuan on arrival in China

PANZ Councillor for International Louise Russell reports

Thanks to China International Book Trading Corporation and Prime Media, I was invited to attend the ‘Roundtable Meeting for Publishers and Distributors from Countries along the Belt and Road Routes’ in Beijing, as well as the 2025 Huangshan Book Fair, which took place in Hefei, in the Anhui province.

I was one of 12 foreign publishers, the other countries being: South Africa, Poland, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Argentina. Most countries had one representative, though a couple had two, whenever a translator was required.

The delegation was organised by CIBTC with a view to building and strengthening relationships; and exploring the different ways international publishers might collaborate: through import and export opportunities; rights sales; and sharing ideas and resources.

It was a thoroughly well-organised week, and I felt thoroughly looked after the whole time by our Chinese colleagues. It was my first ever trip to China, and I must admit I didn’t really know what to expect leading up to my departure, whether my interests and intentions on behalf of Bateman and the wider New Zealand publishing industry would align with CIBTC. I also wondered whether my inability to speak Chinese might be a massive disadvantage, in terms of doing business.

My concerns were swiftly allayed from the moment I set foot on Chinese soil. I was met at the airport in Hefei by Dun Yixuan, one of the CIBTC staff who was part of the Chinese delegation hosted by Dandi at the Cordis earlier this year. A car was waiting which took us to our hotel, and so my incredible week in China had begun.

The following day the other international publishers and I boarded a bus, along with our CIBTC hosts, destined for the Huangshan Book Fair. It was great to have the chance to see the kinds of subject areas that Chinese publishers are pursuing. The international guests were told we each had a booth, and where they were located. I didn’t really know what this would look like exactly, but imagine my surprise walking up to a giant photo of myself and the other NZ publishers who had attended this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair.

Next, we all gathered for the formal part of the day’s proceedings. I was honoured to be invited on stage to represent the Oceania Writers and Publishers’ Society. Here, the international ‘China Anhui Bookshelf’ was unveiled. The first batch of Anhui Bookshelves will be established in New Zealand, Nepal and South Africa, showcasing high-quality Anhui publications in literature, art, history and more.

After many speeches and many photos taken, we headed to a hotel for a delicious lunch featuring signature dishes from the Anhui region, hosted by Mr Xie Gang, Vice President of China International Communications Group (CICG). Following on from lunch we had a guided tour of a new state-of-the-art children’s educational playground and a bookstore.

The next day we headed to Beijing via bullet train where, we were invited to a welcome feast of specialty local dishes by Foreign Language Press, a division of CIBTC. The Nepalese publisher Kiran Gautaum was our self-appointed party coordinator, and he commandeered the microphone and got everyone drinking Baiju rice wine and singing something from their homeland. The singing continued into the evening, with several of us heading along the road from our hotel for karaoke.

The next day was the roundtable meeting for publishers and distributors from partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. There were a number of illuminating speeches from the hosts, and from some of the visiting publishers and distributors. I was honoured to be invited to speak on behalf of Bateman and as a Council member of PANZ about the industry in New Zealand and the rich, vital and diverse publishing we produce across all sectors.

After the speeches we were invited to meet with a selection of talented artisan craftspeople with a view to how we might venture beyond the book form into different mediums. That afternoon we visited the CIBTC offices, including the international bookstore they have there, then the visitors were each offered a chance for a one-on-one meeting – mine was with the imports team and it was great to make that connection and begin discussions for how we might work together. The CIBTC expressed interest in importing English-language titles for distribution amongst Chinese libraries. I will follow up on this before Christmas and report back to PANZ Council on how New Zealand publishers might be able to capitalise on this opportunity.

In summary, my time in China taught me how eager our Chinese publishing counterparts are to strengthen cooperation with distributors from countries along the Belt and Road, and jointly explore new global market opportunities. I think it would make a lot of sense for the publishing community of Aotearoa to engage in dialogue and actively explore the potential of such partnerships.

The Publishers Association of New Zealand / Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) is delighted to announce that it will assume responsibility for the Whitireia Publishing Course – New Zealand’s only full-time, industry-led publishing qualification – from 2026 and will welcome a capped intake of 20 students for next year.

This decision was a response to the closure of the programme by Whitireia/WelTec, announced earlier this year and follows a PANZ Council vote to formalise a partnership with Whitireia, ensuring the continuation of the Graduate Diploma in Publishing (Applied) and related Microcredentials and preserving a vital pathway into the New Zealand publishing industry.

PANZ President Eboni Waitere says the move represents a significant commitment to workforce development and industry sustainability:

“This course has been a puna mātauranga – a spring of knowledge – nurturing skilled graduates who are already shaping our industry. PANZ is proud to invest in this talent, ensuing a vibrant future workforce. From editing and project management to publishing, marketing and sales, our graduates’ skills make a remarkable impact across sectors.”

Under the new arrangement, PANZ will take on operational responsibility for the course while Whitireia retains NZQA accreditation and student enrolment processes. This continuity allows students to benefit from the course’s unique blend of practical experience, industry placements, and intensive mentorship.

Senior tutor Odessa Owens says the 2026 cohort will be limited to twenty students in order to strengthen the experience of ākonga:

“We are thrilled to work even more closely with publishers to prepare students for a rapidly evolving industry. Our hands-on apprenticeship style programme gives ākonga real practical experience and industry contacts.”

Odessa says students will work directly with publishers, editors, designers, booksellers, and authors to bring real books to life.

Benefits to Industry and Students

By taking a leadership role in the course, PANZ will:

• Ensure a secure talent pipeline, with skilled graduates entering the workforce each year.
• Strengthen industry networks through collaboration between publishers, tutors, and students.
• Support diversity and Te Tiriti commitments, including continuation of the Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Scholarship.
• Offer members access to interns, placements, and projects that build sector capability.
• Generate sustainable revenue to reinvest in advocacy and member services

Enrolments

Places for the 2026 intake will be limited to 20 students and subject to a minimum number of 15 enrolments and NZQA site accreditation. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their interest early to avoid missing out.

For enrolment enquiries, visit here.

Whitireia Publishing Course – FAQ

What is the Whitireia Publishing Course?

The Whitireia Publishing Course is New Zealand’s only full-time, industry-led qualification in publishing. Running for over 30 years, it has produced graduates who work across trade, educational, legal, and government publishing, as well as communications and media.

Why was there a risk it would close?

Whitireia signalled it could no longer run the course on its own due to space and delivery constraints. Without industry intervention, the course would have faced closure — leaving a significant skills gap in New Zealand publishing.

Who is now running it?

The Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) will take on operational leadership, including employing tutors, arranging a Wellington site to run the course, and leading promotion. Whitireia will retain NZQA accreditation and enrolment processes.

How many students can enrol?

The 2026 intake is capped at 20 students.

What makes this course unique?

• Hands-on, apprenticeship-style learning
• Two work placements for each student in real publishing environments, and three internships per year
• Two scholarships (Mason Publishing Scholarship and Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship) and two industry-sponsored awards
• Mentoring from industry professionals
• Projects where students take real manuscripts from pitch to publication
• Strong employment outcomes – graduates are in demand across the sector. On average, over recent years at least 75% of graduates are in publishing or publishing-adjacent work within 6 months of graduation.

What are the benefits for industry?

• A secure and diverse talent pipeline
• Strengthened whanaungatanga across the sector

How do people apply?

Enrolments are managed through Whitireia’s website. Students can submit enquiries now and apply directly once the enrolments page reopens. Register your interest via: https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/study-programmes/creativity/creative-writing-and-publishing/graduate-diploma-in-publishing-applied

*NZQA and TEC approval processes are being completed before direct enrolments can open fully.

Who can speak to media about this announcement?

PANZ Council members Michael Upchurch (michael.upchurch@tepapa.govt.nz) and Graeme Cosslett (graeme.cosslett@nzcer.org.nz) are the primary spokespeople. Course tutors Odessa Owens and Theresa Crewdson available to comment on programme delivery and student experience (publishing@whitireia.ac.nz).

Social Media Tiles are available for download here.

Eboni Waitere (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne) has made history as the first Māori President of the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ), following her appointment at the organisation’s 49th Annual General Meeting.

Highlighting the strength of Māori leadership at the highest levels of the sector, this milestone marks an important shift in Aotearoa’s publishing landscape.

“I’m genuinely thrilled that Eboni is stepping into the role of PANZ President. She brings strategic excellence, mana, unwavering integrity, and a lived understanding of the power of publishing to shape culture,” says Courtney Sina Meredith, PANZ Association Director. “Eboni’s leadership is courageous, considered, and grounded in a vision that reflects the richness and diversity of Aotearoa. I can’t wait to work alongside her as we continue to grow and advocate for a sector that holds our stories at its heart.”

Eboni is Executive Director of HUIA Publishers, which under her leadership won the prestigious 2024 Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher of the Year (Oceania) – international recognition for their bold, rangatahi-focused publishing and unwavering commitment to Te Reo Māori and Māori creatives.

Over the past decade Eboni has helped shape HUIA into a respected name in publishing worldwide with a focus on growing talent, elevating Māori voices, and forging partnerships that centre equity and excellence.

Now, as PANZ President, she’s bringing that same vision to the wider sector.

“I am excited to be of service back to the publishing community,” Eboni says. “We have an extraordinary depth of talent across Aotearoa, and I believe New Zealand’s trade and education publishers are world-class. We’re already exporting stories, voices, and ideas globally – my vision is to build on that foundation through collective strength, collaboration, and bold, strategic action,”

Eboni is known for her kaupapa-driven leadership style. She holds a degree in Education and Māori from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and is a 2024 graduate of the Advanced Publishing Institute at New York University. She leads HUIA alongside co-director Panaia Tahau-Hodges (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Tūtemohuta, Tūhoe), and together they are committed to nurturing the next generation of Māori storytellers.

“Literacy rates and our education space are priorities for me,” says Eboni. “Valuing our local content and seeing our stories is important. New Zealand is an international leader in educational resources, we need to reignite that – through stronger investment and cross-sector collaboration.”

Eboni also believes the publishing industry has a critical opportunity to help shape a copyright framework that truly reflects Aotearoa.

“In the age of artificial intelligence, laws must protect creators, uphold indigenous rights, and enable fair access in a digital world. This is a chance to create copyright settings that are future focused, a system that values mātauranga Māori, supports local publishers, and ensures the voices of our storytellers are protected and respected.”