2023 Awards

The $64,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction will be judged by bestselling author, critic and creative writing teacher Stephanie Johnson (convenor); editor and literature assessor John Huria (Ngāi Tahu, Muaūpoko, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Rangi); and Wellington bookseller Jemma Morrison. They will be joined in deciding the ultimate winner from their shortlist of four by British writer, publisher and books podcaster John Mitchinson.

The Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry will be judged by Dunedin poet, author and creative writing tutor Diane Brown (convenor); poet and kaiako Serie Barford;and Wellington poet and Grimshaw-Sargeson Fellow Gregory Kan.

The General Non-Fiction Award will be judged by writer and award-winning columnist Anna Rawhiti-Connell (convenor); prize-winning author, academic and researcher Alison Jones; and historian Professor Te Maire Tau (Ūpoko of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, a hapu of Ngāi Tahu).

The Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction will be judged by award-winning writer, historian and archivist Jared Davidson (convenor); researcher, writer and curator Dr Anna-Marie White (Te Ātiawa); and veteran television producer Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin MNZM.