2019 Awards

The $53,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize for 2019 will be judged by novelist and literary festival programme director Rachael King; novelist, short story writer and lecturer James George (Ngāpuhi); and journalist, reviewer and editor Sally Blundell. They are joined in deciding the ultimate winner from their shortlist of four by award-winning New York-based novelist Joseph O'Neill.

The Poetry Award will be judged by three award-winning poets: creative writing teacher Airini Beautrais; Massey University Professor Bryan Walpert; and Karlo Mila, Pasifika poet who runs an indigenous leadership programme.

The Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non-Fiction will be judged by academic and award-winning science writer Rebecca Priestley; award-winning historian and academic Angela Wanhalla; and curator, educator and writer Karl Chitham (Ngāpuhi).

The Illustrated Non-Fiction Award will be judged by well-known writer and commentator Douglas Lloyd Jenkins; art curator and writer Lucy Hammonds; and long-time bookseller Bruce Caddy.

Joseph O'Neill (credit: Sophia Evans / Eyevine / Redux)Joseph O'Neill (credit: Sophia Evans / Eyevine / Redux)

Joseph O'Neill (credit: Sophia Evans / Eyevine / Redux)

Airini BeautraisAirini Beautrais

Airini Beautrais

Angela WanhallaAngela Wanhalla

Angela Wanhalla

Bruce CaddyBruce Caddy

Bruce Caddy

Bryan WalpertBryan Walpert

Bryan Walpert

Douglas Lloyd JenkinsDouglas Lloyd Jenkins

Douglas Lloyd Jenkins

James GeorgeJames George

James George

Karl ChithamKarl Chitham

Karl Chitham

Karlo MilaKarlo Mila

Karlo Mila

Lucy HammondsLucy Hammonds

Lucy Hammonds

Rachael KingRachael King

Rachael King

Rebecca PriestleyRebecca Priestley

Rebecca Priestley

Sally BlundellSally Blundell

Sally Blundell