NEWS RELEASE: 30 September 2021

On Wednesday 29 September, booksellers and publishers gathered online to celebrate the 2021 Aotearoa Book Trade Industry Awards, hosted by PANZ Te Rau o Tākupu and Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand.

The two most sought-after awards, the Nielsen NZ Book Publisher of the Year and the Nielsen NZ Bookshop of the Year, are always exceptional categories with a high calibre of entries and this year was no different.

NZ Book Publisher of the Year is Mākaro Press. Mākaro Press Publishers Mary McCallum & Paul Stewart were thrilled with the win. Mary made special thanks to New Zealand’s booksellers – ‘one of the great professions’. She said, ‘Every day I am amazed and moved by your commitment to New Zealand books, stories and publishers.’ The Director of the Publishers Association New Zealand Catriona Ferguson said: ‘Despite the turmoil of the past eighteen months it’s heartening to see the range and depth of publishing in Aotearoa. And it’s especially exciting to witness the growth of newer publishers like Mākaro Press who are taking fresh and original voices to readers in Aotearoa and the world. Many hearty congratulations to Mary and the team for their fantastic achievement that the work Mākaro Press publishing in NZ fiction is noteworthy.’”

Read more about the Publisher of the Year

“The Nielsen Book NZ Bookshop of the Year Award proved this year to be an embarrassment of riches. Nominations met and surpassed the criteria repeatedly, all in different ways, with different stylistic and philosophical touches. This year’s winner is Schrödinger’s Books on Jackson Street in Petone, a relative newcomer to the scene, only opening in September 2019. The judges said that Schrödinger’s had it all: ‘a beautiful physical space, arresting windows and merchandising excellence, a focus on personalised customer service and commercial and community reach beyond their own doors. Their inventory is specific and curated, having developed a specialisation in Manga and a deliberate differentiation from their local competitor.’”

Read more about the Bookshop of the Year

The Book Trade Industry Awards have been recognising the best New Zealand publishers, booksellers and industry stalwarts for over 20 years. They are a chance for the book trade to celebrate the best and brightest, successes and innovations, and to acknowledge the excellent work being done in the New Zealand book trade. The Book Industry Awards are organised by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand and PANZ Te Rau o Tākupu (the Publishers Association of NZ) and sponsored by Nielsen Book, providers of data and statistical insight to the whole industry.

Bridget Williams awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award 

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bridget Williams of Bridget Williams Books (BWB) in recognition of her contribution to the Aotearoa publishing industry. Introducing Bridget’s award, General Manager HarperCollins NZ, Karen Ferns noted Bridget’s remarkable career, acknowledged her tenacity and sense of purpose and outlined a body of work that has made a signficant contribution to New Zealand’s cultural landscape. Amongst this work, Ferns noted Bridget’s contribution to the Listener Women’s Book Festival as an example of a book trade initiative with enduring impact. 

In her acceptance speech, Bridget thanked the authors she has worked with, the booksellers who have supported her and her books and the New Zealand publishers she has travelled with on her publishing journey, particularly those from the independent sector. Special acknowledgement was given by Bridget to the relationships with tangata whenua authors and advisors that have, over time, enabled her publishing on Māori history. Bridget also noted that, in these pandemic times, books continue to provide important comfort and solace. 

Graeme Cosslett PANZ President said, ‘We are delighted to acknowledge the incredible contribution that Bridget Williams has made to publishing in Aotearoa. Her drive, energy and vision have created a powerful and long-lasting cultural legacy.’ 

Read more about the Lifetime Achievement Award

Other categories awarded were:

Emerging NZ Publisher of the Year – Rachel Eadie, Penguin Random House New Zealand

Emerging NZ Bookseller of the Year - Rafael Moreira, of McLeods Booksellers (Rotorua)

Bestseller Award (for top seller by volume and value between April 2020 and March 2021) – Supergood by Chelsea Winter

Marketing and Publicity Strategy of the Year - Harper Collins NZ for Impossible: My Story by Stan Walker, campaign manager Rebecca Thorne

Aotearoa Booksellers’ Choice Award – Shared between Auē by Becky Manawatu (published by Mākaro Press) and Imagining Decolonisation by Rebecca Kiddle & Bianca Elkington & Moana Jackson & Ocean Mercier & Mike Ross & Jennie Smeaton & Amanda Thomas (published by BWB)

NZ Salesperson of the Year - Jessica Rice, Penguin Random House New Zealand

NZ Book Industry Innovation Award - Allen & Unwin