Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards 2025 Winners’ Announcement

Bookseller’s Business Acumen Rewarded with a Top Industry Prize

The Martinborough Books & Post has won the Ugly Hill Press Bookshop of the Year at the 2025 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards for all round excellence and successfully diversifying its store offering to secure its future.

The award was presented to the store’s owner manager Brenda Channer at a gala dinner ceremony emceed by Mike McRoberts held in the AUT Atrium, Auckland this evening.

The prize was among 14 honours presented to booksellers, publishers and book trade stalwarts for excellence, success and innovation in work carried out in the industry between April 2024 and March 2025.

The judges said The Martinborough Books & Post demonstrated strong evidence of changed practice to a more sustainable retail model with great results.

‘Martinborough Books & Post is an exceptional provincial bookstore, skilfully curating a selection of books and services to a vast community. Its inclusion of a mixed revenue stream, with postal integration, has created a more resilient business model to weather future change and it’s rebranding has cemented its position in the local market.’

HarperCollins Aotearoa New Zealand has won the Nielsen IQ BookData NZ Publisher of the year.

The judges said HarperCollins’ range of books and their bold publishing initiatives gave them the edge.

‘HarperCollins’ list had real depth and breadth this year. It’s market growth leveraged as opposed to depended on overseas titles; and its cultural commitment is noticeable, demonstrated by the publication of much-deserved Ockham 2025 General Non-Fiction Award winner Hine Toa: A story of bravery by Ngāhuia te Awekotuku. HarperCollins’ shift to a New Zealand-based managing editor has made a big difference,’ said the judges.

Tasty by Chelsea Winter published by Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand has taken out the Nielsen BookData NZ Award for the bestselling New Zealand title.

The Sales Professional of the Year Award was won by Ross Lorimer of Archetype Book Agents.

The judges said Ross Lorimer was an exceptional talent; an experienced sales person who maintains the energy levels of someone fresh to the industry.

‘Ross’s skill at tailoring book offerings to each store’s market with knowledge built up over many years is second-to-none, and his familiarity of new titles, using data to back up recommendations, is legendary.’

The Marketing and Publicity Strategy of the Year Award has gone to Penguin Random House New Zealand for their campaign to launch The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone.

The judges agreed that the marketing of The Bookshop Detectives was faultless.

‘Penguin Random House’s campaign to launch the first The Bookshop Detectives title was very ambitious and it achieved all its objectives, doing so with great verve and originality. The Instagram campaign was fun and immersive, and the launch party was brilliant. The book didn’t seem to be a natural bestseller but the marketing really got this across the line.

‘We loved the publisher’s determination to see the book succeed.’

The ‘cosy crime’ novel The Bookstore Detectives: Dead Girl Gone, written by and loosely based on the lives of actual bookstore owners Louise Ward and Gareth Ward of Wardini Books in Hawke’s Bay, also won the Booksellers’ Choice Adult Award.

Mid-grade fantasy adventure novel The Grimmelings by Rachael King published by Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand took out the Hayden + Rollett Booksellers Choice Children’s Book Award.

The two titles were decided in a vote by the booksellers of Aotearoa as the books they’ll always keep on the shelf, that are considered modern classics, and are loved by customers and booksellers.

The Publishing Trailblazer of the Year Award went to Jasmine Sargent (Ngāti Porou), editor at Te Herenga Waka University Press

The judges said Jasmine stood out in a very strong field of contenders for her intense and concentrated editing work, and her commitment towards Māori literature.

‘In the six years of her role as editor, Jasmine has demonstrated incredible tenacity and an ambition to give more. She has carved out an important cultural role, providing a safe harbour, and caring for her authors – many of whom gave her their deep thanks.

‘She has made a real impact as a Māori editor of Māori writing.’

Mandy Myles of online retailer Bookety Book Books has won the Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year

The judges commented that Mandy’s initiative, smart thinking and sheer hard work saw her stand out from the other very worthy contenders.

‘Mandy has made some bold business decisions that have paid off. She has consciously, and self-reflectively, learned to work smarter not harder as a crucial lesson for long-term success. She has skilfully procured sponsorship and strategically beneficial partnerships, and her marketing and programming skills are among the best in the industry.’

Simon and Schuster’s audiobook Return to Blood by Michael Bennett narrated by Miriama McDowell has won the Libro.fm Audiobook of the Year Award. An honourable mention was given to Penguin Random House New Zealand’s audio adaptation of The Bone People by Keri Hulme.

The judges said listening to the six audiobooks nominated this year was truly a pleasure.

‘Each title offered a surprise, from production to narration, to the calibre of the content. But it was Michael Bennett’s Return to Blood narrated by Miriama McDowell that swept the competition. From the crystal-clear production to the captivating prose, captured perfectly by superstar narrator McDowell, there was never any doubt who should win,’ they said.

Karen Ferns has been honoured with the Publishers Association of NZ Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms Ferns is respected across the industry for her strategic focus, unremitting commitment to NZ authors, and determination to maximise sales for the publishers she has worked for over many years in leadership roles which include Penguin Random House NZ and HarperCollins Aotearoa New Zealand.

Bruce McKenzie of Bruce McKenzie Books in Palmerston North, an outstanding general bookseller whose career spans over 65 years in the book trade; Jo McColl, who has one of the longest institutional memories of bookselling in Aotearoa and has been instrumental in building and shaping the internationally recognised and award-winning Unity as its co-founder; and Tony Moores of Poppies Howick who is retiring this year after extensive experience across the trade in bookselling, publishing and governance, making him one of the most storied booksellers have received Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand (BSANZ) association manager Renee Rowland says she is delighted for each of this year’s winners in what has been a challenging year for booksellers.

‘Booksellers, like most retailers, are impacted by the incredibly challenging retail environment across the motu. The winners and finalists celebrated this evening have shown excellence and encourage amongst their peers by lifting bar, demonstrating best practice and pivoting strategically in response to their markets. 

‘To survive, let alone thrive in this environment requires hard work, innovation and a lot of creativity. Huge congratulations to all the worthy winners,’ says Ms Rowland.

Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) director Courtney Sina-Meredith commends the determination and innovation shown by each of this year’s recipients.

‘These award winners are among the very many significant achievers in an industry that understands what it takes to publish, sell and promote winning books.

‘By listening to the market, and nurturing this country’s diverse writing talent, we continue to build a thriving Aotearoa New Zealand literature. Congratulations to you all,’ says Ms Sina-Meredith.

The 2025 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards were judged by Anna Burkey (Australia Reads) and Steve Braunias (author and literary editor, Newsroom), joined by Anita Kingston, last year’s winner of the Book Retailer of the Year award in judging the Publisher awards, and Kevin Chapman (Upstart Press) in judging the bookseller awards.

BSANZ and PANZ sincerely thanks this year’s award sponsors and funders for their generous support.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards have been recognising the best New Zealand publishers, booksellers and industry stalwarts connecting Aotearoa books and readers for more than 20 years.

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