Montana New Zealand Book Awards

The Montana New Zealand Book Awards are organised and administrated by Booksellers New Zealand, the trade association for booksellers and publishers.

2008

Biography: The Life and Times of James Walter Chapman-Taylor Judy Siers (Millwood Heritage Productions Ltd)
Environment and Montana Medal for Non-fiction: Wetlands of New Zealand Janet Hunt (Random House NZ)
Fiction and Montana medal for fiction or poetry: Opportunity Charlotte Grimshaw (Random House NZ)
Fiction runner up: Edwin & Matilda Laurence Fearnley (Penguin Group NZ)
History: Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka Volume II: Te Ara Hou - The New Society Hilary and John Mitchell (Huia Publishers)
Illustrative: Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning Jennifer Hay, with Ron Brownson, Chris Knox and Laurence Aberhart; designed by Aaron Beehr, Christchurch Art Gallery
Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Mau Moko: The World of Maori Tattoo Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Penguin Group (NZ)
Poetry: Cold Snack Janet Charman, Auckland University Press
Reference and Anthology: A Nest of Singing Birds: 100 years of the New Zealand School Journal Gregory O'Brien, Learning Media Limited
Maori Language: Te Tu a Toka: He Ieretanga no nga Tai e Wha edited by Piripi Walker and Huriana Raven
NZSA E.H. McCormick Best First Book Award for Non-fiction: The Great sacred forest of Tane - Te Wao Tapu Nui a Tane: A Natural Pre-history of Aotearoa New Zealand Alan Clarke, Reed Publishing
NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry: Incognito Jessica Le Bas, Auckland University Press
NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction: The Blue Mary McCallum (Penguin Group NZ)
Readers choice award: The Blue Mary McCallum (Penguin Group NZ)

2007

Biography: Douglas Lilburn: His life and music Philip Norman, Canterbury University Press
Environment: Ghosts of Gondwana: The History of life in New Zealand George Gibbs, Craig Potton Publishing
Montana Medal for Fiction or Poetry: Mister Pip Lloyd Jones, Penguin Books (also Readers' Choice winner); The Cowboy Dog Nigel Cox, Victoria University Press Runner up; The Fainter: Damien Wilkins, Victoria University Press Runner up
NZSA Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction: The Sound of Butterflies Rachael King
History: Vaka Moana: Voyages of the ancestors Edited by K. R. Howe, David Bateman Ltd
Montana Medal for Non-fiction and Illustrative: Eagles Complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand Audrey Eagle, Te Papa Press
Lifestyle and contemporary culture: Stitch: Contemporary New Zealand textile artists Ann Packer, Random House
Poetry: The Goose bath Janet Frame, Vintage Winner
NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry: Secret Heart Airini Beautrais, Victoria University Press Best First Book - Poetry winner
Reference and anthology: Furniture of the New Zealand colonial era: An Illustrated history 1830 - 1900 William Cottrell
NZSA E.H. McCormick Best First Book Award for Non-fiction: Furniture of the New Zealand colonial era: An Illustrated history 1830 - 1900 William Cottrell

2006

Deutz Medal for Fiction or Poetry and Fiction category winner Blindsight Maurice Gee (Penguin Books)

Blindsight by Maurice Gee and The Captive Wife by Fiona Kidman were joint winner of the Readers' Choice Award.

Fiction

Blindsight Winner: Maurice Gee (Penguin Books)
The Captive Wife Runner up: Fiona Kidman (Vintage)
Responsibility Runner up: Nigel Cox (Victoria University Press)
Dreamhunter: Elizabeth Knox (Fourth Estate)
Watch of Gryphons and other stories: Owen Marshall (Vintage)
More about the Fiction finalists

Poetry

Lifted Winner: Bill Manhire (Victoria University Press)
Footfall: Brian Turner (Godwit)
The Time of the Giants: Anne Kennedy (Auckland University Press)
More about the Poetry finalists

Biography

Dingle Winner: Graeme Dingle (Craig Potton Publishing)
Charles Fleming: Environmental Patriot: Mary McEwen (Craig Potton Publishing)
Sir Edmund Hillary: An Extraordinary Life: Alexa Johnston (Viking)

More about the Biography finalists

History

Thrift to Fantasy: Home Textile Crafts of the 1930s - 1950s Winner: Rosemary McLeod (HarperCollins Publishers)
Black November: The 1918 influenza pandemic in New Zealand: Geoffrey W Rice (Canterbury University Press)
We Call it Home: A History of State Housing in New Zealand: Ben Schrader ( Reed Publishing)

More about the History finalists

Illustrative

Contemporary New Zealand Photographers Winner: Edited by Hannah Holm & Lara Strongman (Mountain View Publishing)
Faithfully Mozart: The Fantastical World of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Donovan Bixley (Hodder)
Jeffrey Harris: Justin Paton (Victoria University Press / Dunedin Public Art Gallery)
More about the Illustrative finalists

2005

Deutz Medal for Fiction or Poetry and Fiction category winner:
Tu by Patricia Grace (Penguin Books)
Montana Medal for Non-Fiction and History category winner
At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins (Godwit)
Poetry
Nice Morning For It, Adam by Vincent O'Sullivan (Victoria University Press)
Biography
Chronicle of the Unsung by Martin Edmond (Auckland University Press)
Reference & Anthology
The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary edited by Tony Deverson & Graeme Kennedy (Oxford University Press)
Lifestyle & Contemporary Culture
Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa by Gareth Shute (Reed Publishing)
Environment
Tiritiri Matangi: A Model of Conservation by Anne Rimmer (Tandem Press)
Illustrative
Handboek: Ans Westra Photographs by Luit Bieringa and Lawrence McDonald (BWX)
Readers' Choice Award
Made in Morocco: A Journey of Exotic Tastes and Places by Julie Le Clerc and John Bougen (Penguin Books)

Best first book awards:

New Zealand Society of Authors Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction
Julian Novitz, My Real Life and Other Stories (Vintage)
New Zealand Society of Authors Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry
Sonja Yelich, Clung (Auckland University Press)
The New Zealand Society of Authors E.H. McCormick Best First Book Award for Non-Fiction
Douglas Wright, Ghost Dance (Penguin Books)

Reviewer and review page or programme awards:

Best Review Page or Programme
North & South magazine
Reviewer of the Year
Wellington writer Tony Simpson

2004

Deutz Medal for Fiction - Slow Water by Annamarie Jagose
Montana Medal for Non-fiction - The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond
Readers' Choice - Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King
Poetry - Sing-song by Anne Kennedy
History - The Trial of the Cannibal Dog by Anne Salmond
Lifestyle and contemporary culture - Classic fly fishing in New Zealand Rivers by David Hallett and John Kent
Biography - Mason by Rachael Barrowman
Illustrative - Central by Arno Gasteiger
Reference & Anthology - Whetu Moana: Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English
Environment - Deep New Zealand: Blue Water, Black Abyss by Peter Batson

Best Review Page or Programme - The Listener
Reviewer of the Year - Michael King
A.W. Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature - Joy Cowley

New Zealand Society of Authors Best First Book Awards

E. H. McCormick best first book for fiction - Tai Tokerau Whakairo Rakau by Dr Deidre Brown
Hubert Church best first fiction - Bloom by Kelly Ana Morey
Jessie Mackay best first book for poetry - The Adulterer's Bible by Cliff Fell

2003

Readers' Choice Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
Non-fiction Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Fiction The Shag Incident Stephanie Johnson
Poetry Playing God Glenn Colquhoun
History No idle rich: The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840-1914 Jim McAloon
Lifestyle and contemporary culture Wine Atlas of New Zealand Michael Cooper
Biography A sort of conscience: The Wakefields Philip Temple
Illustrative Len Castle: Potter Nancy Pel and Len Castle
Reference & Anthology Spirit in a strange land: A Selection of New Zealand spiritual verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw
Environment Te Araroa: The New Zealand Trail Geoff Chapple
New Zealand Society of Authors Hubert Church best first book for fiction Queen of Beauty Paula Morris
Jessie Mackay best first book for poetry Feeding the dogs Kay McKenzie Cooke
E H McCormick best first book for non-fiction The Year of the Horse Sam Mahon
Reviewer of the year David Eggleton
Review pages section of the year The Listener

2002

Readers' Choice A City possessed: The Christchurch Civic Creche Case Lynley Hood
Non-fiction A City possessed: The Christchurch Civic Creche Case Lynley Hood
Fiction Stonedogs Craig Marriner
Poetry Piggy-back moon Hone Tuwhare
History A City possessed: The Christchurch Civic Creche Case Lynley Hood
Lifestyle The Art of tivaevae: Traditional Cook Islands quilting Lynnsay Rongokea, photography by John Daley
Biography Long loop home: A Memoir Peter Wells
Illustrative Akekeia! Traditional Dance in Kiribati Tony and Joan Whincup
Reference & Anthology Nga pepeha a ngā tipuna: The Sayings of the ancestors Hirini Moko Mead and Neil Grove
Environment Rolling thunder: The Spirit of Karekare Bob Harvey
Honour award Eruera Manuera Te Onehou Phillis

2001

Readers' Choice Award Wrestling with the angel: A Life of Janet Frame Michael King
Runners-up Nineteen widows under ash Damien Wilkins; The Curative Charlotte Randall
Montana Medal for Non-fiction Wrestling with the angel: A Life of Janet Frame Michael King
Deutz Medal for Fiction The Book of Fame Lloyd Jones
Poetry The Bells of St Babel's Allen Curnow
History and Biography Wrestling with the angel: A Life of Janet Frame Michael King; Parihaka: The Art of passive resistance edited by Te Miriringa Hohaia, Gregory O'Brien, Lara Strongman
Environment Dancing Leaves: The story of New Zealand's cabbage tree, ti kouka Philip Simpson
Lifestyle Fresh Julie Biuso, photography by Ian Batchelor
Illustrative Arts Ralph Hotere: Black Light edited by Ian Wedde
Hubert Church best first book for fiction Emerald Budgies Karyn Hay
Jessie Mackay best first book for poetry Animals indoors Stephanie de Montalk
E H McCormick best first book for non-fiction Pukaki: A Comet Returns Paul Tapsell
A W Reed lifetime achievement award Dame Fiona Kidman
Reviewer of the year David Eggleton
Review pages section of the year Evening Post

2000

Readers' Choice Award The Art of Grahame Sydney Grahame Sydney
Runners-up Golden Deeds Catherine Chidgey; Talking about O'Dwyer C K Stead
Montana Medal for Non-fiction The Art of Grahame Sydney Grahame Sydney
Deutz Medal for Fiction Harlequin Rex Owen Marshall
Poetry The Lark quartet Elizabeth Smither
History and Biography Kapiti Chris MacLean
Environment Classic tramping in New Zealand Shaun Barnett and Rob Brown
Lifestyle The Gardener's encyclopaedia of New Zealand native plants Yvonne Cave and Valda Paddison
Illustrative Arts The Art of Grahame Sydney Grahame Sydney
Hubert Church best first book for fiction Stray thoughts and nose bleeds Duncan Sarkies
Jessie Mackay best first book for poetry The Art of walking upright Glen Colquhoun
E H McCormick best first book for non-fiction Kava in the blood Peter Thomson
A W Reed lifetime achievement award Allen Curnow
Reviewer of the year Michael King
Review pages section of the year The Evening Post

1999

Readers' Choice Award: The Vintner's luck Elizabeth Knox
Montana Medal for Non-Fiction: The Loving stitch: a history of knitting and spinning in New Zealand Heather Nicholson
Deutz Medal for Fiction: The Vintner's luck Elizabeth Knox
Poetry: Seeing you asked Vincent O'Sullivan
History and Biography: Under the bridge and over the moon: a memoir Kevin Ireland
Natural heritage: The Natural world of New Zealand Gerard Hutching
Leisure and lifestyle: The Loving stitch: a history of knitting and spinning in New Zealand Heather Nicholson
Illustrative arts: 100 New Zealand craft artists Helen Schamroth
Best First Book for Fiction: Alpha male William Brandt
Best First Book for Poetry: Unfamiliar legends of the stars Kate Camp
Best First Book for Nonfiction: 100 New Zealand craft artists Helen Schamroth

1998

Readers' Choice Award: New Zealand historical atlas edited by Malcolm McKinnon
Montana Medal for Non-fiction: Dictionary of New Zealand English Harry Orsman
Deutz Medal for Fiction: Live bodies Maurice Gee
Poetry: Shape-Shifter Hone Tuwhare
History and Biography: Dictionary of New Zealand English Harry Orsman
Natural Heritage: Pick of the bunch: New Zealand wildflowers Peter Johnson
Leisure and lifestyle: Complete New Zealand fisherman: saltwater and freshwater fishing Geoff Thomas
Illustrative Arts: Goldie Roger Blackley
Best First Book for Fiction: In a fishbone church Catherine Chidgey
Best First Book of Poetry: All roads lead to the sea Kapka Kassabova
Best First Book for Non-fiction: Olives : the new passion: growing and using olives in New Zealand Genevieve Noser

1997

Book of the Year: The Story of Suzanne Aubert Jessie Munro
Poetry: An Anthology of New Zealand poetry in English edited Jenny Bornholdt, Gregory O'Brien and Mark Williams
Fiction: What becomes of the broken hearted? Alan Duff
Cultural Heritage: The Story of Suzanne Aubert Jessie Munro
Natural Heritage: New Zealand coast and mountain plants: their communities and lifestyles John Dawson and Rob Lucas
Leisure and Lifestyle: The Wines and vineyards of New Zealand Michael Cooper, photographed by John McDermott
Illustrative Arts: Mataora: the living face: contemporary Māori art general editors Sandy Adsett and Cliff Whiting; edited by Witi Ihimaera
Honour Award: Dove on the waters Maurice Shadbolt (Fiction) and Dedications J C Sturm (Poetry)
Hubert Church Best First Book for Fiction: Finding home Dominic Sheehan
Jessie Mackay Best First Book for Poetry: Before the divorce we go to Disneyland Diane Brown
E H McCormick Best First Book for Non-Fiction: The Story of Suzanne Aubert Jessie Munro

1996

Book of the Year: Redemption Songs - A life of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turiki Judith Binney
Poetry: My Sunshine Bill Manhire
Fiction: Zoology Sheridan Keith
Illustrative Arts: Gold and Silversmithing in 19th Century New Zealand Winsome Shepherd
Natural Heritage: Wild Dunedin Neville Peat and Brian Patrick
Cultural Heritage: Redemption Songs - A life of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turiki Judith Binney
Leisure and lifestyle: Cook! Michael Lee-Richards
Best first book, Poetry: Go round power please James Brown
Best first book, Fiction: Not her real name Emily Perkins
Best first book, Cultural Heritage: Salmond, Southern jurist Alex Frame
Honour Award: Nga Iwi O Tainui Pei Te Hurinui Jones, edited and translated by Bruce Biggs

About New Zealand Literary Prizes

Before 1996, there were two major New Zealand literary prizes. They merged in 1996 to form the Montana New Zealand Book awards.

The New Zealand Book Awards ran from 1976 to 1995.

The other major award from 1968-1993 was the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards (when the Wattie's company merged with Goodman Fielder, the Wattie book awards became the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book awards).

Montana took over sponsorship in 1994 and the awards became the Montana Book Awards (1994-1995).

In 1996, the Montana Book Awards merged with the New Zealand Book Awards to become the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

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