The organisers of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are calling for expressions of interest from people keen to help select the most outstanding books published for young readers that are eligible for the 2027 awards.
Applications to join the judging panels are now open and close at 5pm on 2 November. Expressions of interest are welcomed from members of the children’s literature community and members of the public with suitable qualifications and relevant experience. Past judges have included booksellers, publishers, authors, librarians, teachers, academics, reviewers and bloggers.
The awards recognise excellence in six categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction, Illustration and te reo Māori. Five judges will be appointed in the English and bilingual categories, with a further three judges appointed to judge Te Kura Pounamu, for books written entirely in, or translated entirely into, te reo Māori.
The organisers encourage applications for both panels from people with a deep knowledge of te ao Māori and te reo Māori. Fluency in te reo Māori is essential for those judging Te Kura Pounamu entries.
Simie Simpson (Te Āti Awa), convenor of the 2026 judging panel and programmes manager for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura, says judging offers an opportunity to discover fresh perspectives on books for young readers.
“The judging process is enlightening and collegial; I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in publishing or writing children’s books, or who is connected with tamariki and the books they read. It is an opportunity to read widely and have in depth discussion with readers who feel as passionately about books as you do and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table in ways that will make you appreciate and see children’s literature in a new light.”
The English language judges will select up to five finalists in each of five subject categories and also up to five Best First Book finalists, then a winner in each category. Te reo Māori panel will also select up to five finalists and Te Kura Pounamu winners. Both panels will be responsible for deciding on the supreme winner to be awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year.
Entries for the 2027 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults will open on 19 November 2026 and the judges will begin their reading in mid-December. They will reveal their finalists on 10 June 2027, and the awards ceremony will be held on 18 August in Wellington.
Expressions of interest forms and background information on the judging process and judges’ responsibilities can be downloaded below or supplied on request by emailing childrensawards@nzbookawards.org.nz.
Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 2 November, and should include a covering letter and a brief resume that demonstrates the applicant’s experience and suitability for the judging role.
The judging panels will be selected by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust, which includes representatives from the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu, the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa, LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, the association for library and information professionals in New Zealand, and Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand.
The New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and their associated programmes are made possible through the generosity, commitment and vision of funders and partners: Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, the Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, Wellington City Council and Libraries, BookHub presented by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand, Wheelers Books, New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa, the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, and NielsenIQ BookData.