As winter settles in, what better time to revisit some of the most celebrated books of the year? The 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards in March delivered a powerful shortlist, blending poetic insight, rigorous non-fiction, and fiction that lingers long after the final page.
Fiction that Moves and Unsettles
From a remote bush hotel in At the Grand Glacier Hotel by Laurence Fearnley, to the psychological richness of Damien Wilkins’ Delirious (a hot contender for the prize), fiction this year was anything but ordinary. Tina Makereti’s The Mires reminded us of how deeply land and psyche intertwine—a timely read amid climate debates. For those drawn to the art of short fiction, Kirsty Gunn’s Pretty Ugly challenged form and convention with literary precision.
Non-Fiction that Stretches the Mind
Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku’s memoir Hine Toa stood out—a compelling, personal chronicle underscored by her activism and academic rigour. Judges also praised The Unsettled by Richard Shaw for its subtle dismantling of colonisation’s enduring myths. In illustrated non-fiction, Toi Te Mana elevated Māori art history to global prominence.
Poetry, Reimagined
A poet’s prize may be crowned only once a year, but the voices here echoed through the shortlist. Slender Volumes by Richard von Sturmer, published by newcomer Spoor Books, captivated many with its precise language and spiritual undercurrent. Meanwhile, Hopurangi – Songcatcher by Robert Sullivan wove maramataka wisdom into lyrical form.
For Your Winter Reading Stack
Whether you're in chambers, chambers of thought, or just by the fireplace, here are some standout reads from this year's finalists:
Fiction: Delirious by Damien Wilkins; The Mires by Tina Makereti
Non-Fiction: Hine Toa by Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank
Poetry: Slender Volumes by Richard von Sturmer; Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit by Emma Neale
Illustrated: Edith Collier: Early New Zealand Modernist by Jill Trevelyan et al.