The $50,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize for 2018 will be judged by novelist, poet and academic Anna Smaill; journalist and reviewer Philip Matthews; and award-winning bookseller and reviewer Jenna Todd. They are joined in deciding the ultimate winner from their shortlist of four by Glasgow-based writer, journalist and founding editor of the Scottish Review of Books Alan Taylor.

The Poetry Award will be judged by poet, novelist and creative non-fiction writer Alison Wong; poet and deputy chief executive, Māori, at Manukau Institute of Technology Robert Sullivan; and Otago poet, publisher, editor and librettist Michael Harlow.

The Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non-Fiction will be judged by lecturer in the Māori faculty at the Auckland University of Technology Dr Ella Henry; editor and award-winning journalist Toby Manhire; and former bookseller and publisher Philip King.

The Illustrated Non-Fiction Award will be judged by Professor of History at the University of Otago and winner of the Illustrated Non-Fiction prize in 2017 Barbara Brookes; curator Mātauranga Māori at Te Papa Matariki Williams (Tūhoe, Taranaki, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Whakaue); and director of the public art gallery Objectspace Kim Paton.

Alan TaylorAlan Taylor

Alan Taylor

Alison WongAlison Wong

Alison Wong

Anna SmaillAnna Smaill

Anna Smaill

Barbara BrookesBarbara Brookes

Barbara Brookes

Ella HenryElla Henry

Ella Henry

Jenna ToddJenna Todd

Jenna Todd

Kim PatonKim Paton

Kim Paton

Matariki WilliamsMatariki Williams

Matariki Williams

Michael HarlowMichael Harlow

Michael Harlow

Philip KingPhilip King

Philip King

Philip MatthewsPhilip Matthews

Philip Matthews

Robert SullivanRobert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan

Toby ManhireToby Manhire

Toby Manhire