Poetry award Since 2020, this award has been the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry. Before 2019, this award was known as the Poetry Award. • 2025 –
Emma Neale,
Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit,
Otago University Press • 2024 –
Grace Yee,
Chinese Fish Giramondo • 2023 –
Alice Te Punga Somerville,
Always Italicise: How to Write While Colonised.
Auckland University Press • 2022 –
Joanna Preston,
Tumble.
Otago University Press • 2021 –
Tusiata Avia,
The Savage Coloniser Book.
Victoria University Press • 2020 –
Helen Rickerby,
How to Live.
Auckland University Press • 2019 –
Helen Heath,
Are Friends Electric?. Victoria University Press • 2018 –
Elizabeth Smither,
Night Horse. Auckland University Press • 2017 –
Andrew Johnston,
Fits & Starts. Victoria University Press • 2016 –
David Eggleton,
The Conch Trumpet.
Otago University Press • 2015 – no award due to change of sponsors • 2014 –
Vincent O'Sullivan,
Us, Then. Victoria University Press • 2013 –
Anne Kennedy,
The Darling North. Auckland University Press • 2012 –
Rhian Gallagher,
Shift. Auckland University Press • 2011 –
Kate Camp,
The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls. Victoria University Press • 2010 –
Brian Turner,
Just This. Victoria University Press • 2009 –
Jenny Bornholdt,
The Rocky Shore. Victoria University Press • 2008 –
Janet Charman,
Cold Snack. Auckland University Press • 2007 –
Janet Frame,
The Goose Bath.
Vintage • 2006 –
Bill Manhire,
Lifted. Victoria University Press • 2005 –
Vincent O'Sullivan,
Nice Morning for It, Adam. Victoria University Press • 2004 –
Anne Kennedy,
Sing-song. Auckland University Press • 2003 –
Glenn Colquhoun,
Playing God.
Steele Roberts • 2002 –
Hone Tuwhare,
Piggy-back Moon. Godwit • 2001 –
Allen Curnow, ''The Bells of St Babel's''. Auckland University Press • 2000 –
Elizabeth Smither,
The Lark Quartet. Auckland University Press • 1999 –
Vincent O'Sullivan,
Seeing You Asked. Victoria University Press • 1998 –
Hone Tuwhare,
Shape-Shifter. Steele Roberts • 1997 – edited by Jenny Bornholdt, Gregory O'Brien and Mark Williams,
An Anthology of New Zealand Poetry in English. Oxford University Press • 1996 –
Bill Manhire,
My Sunshine. Victoria University Press
Best first book award (poetry) Since 2022 and between 2015 and 2018, this award has been known as the
Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry. Between 2019 and 2021, this award was known as the MitoQ Best First Book Awards: Jessie Mackay Prize for Poetry. From 1997 to 2014, this award was known as the NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book of Poetry Prize. In 1996, this award was known as the Best First Book Award, Poetry. Prior to 1996, this award had been presented since 1940 by
PEN NZ, and was named for
Jessie Mackay, New Zealand's first local-born poet. • 2025 –
Rex Letoa Paget, ''Manuali'i''. Saufo'i Press • 2024 –
Megan Kitching,
At the Point of Seeing.
Otago University Press • 2023 –
Khadro Mohamed, ''We're All Made of Lightning''. Tender Press • 2022 –
Nicole Titihuia Hawkins,
Whai. We Are Babies Press • 2021 –
Jackson Nieuwland,
I Am a Human Being. Compound Press • 2020 –
Jane Arthur,
Craven.
Victoria University Press • 2019 –
Tayi Tibble,
Poūkahangatus. Victoria University Press • 2018 –
Hannah Mettner,
Fully Clothed and So Forgetful. Victoria University Press • 2017 –
Hera Lindsay Bird,
Hera Lindsay Bird. Victoria University Press • 2016 –
Chris Tse,
How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes.
Auckland University Press • 2015 – no award due to change of sponsors • 2014 –
Marty Smith,
Horse with Hat. Victoria University Press • 2013 –
Helen Heath,
Graft. Victoria University Press • 2012 –
John Adams,
Briefcase. Auckland University Press • 2011 –
Lynn Jenner,
Dear Sweet Harry. Auckland University Press • 2010 –
Selina Tusitala Marsh,
Fast Talking PI. Auckland University Press • 2009 –
Sam Sampson,
Everything Talks. Auckland University Press • 2008 –
Jessica Le Bas,
Incognito. Auckland University Press • 2007 –
Airini Beautrais,
Secret Heart. Victoria University Press • 2006 –
Karlo Mila,
Dream Fish Floating. Huia Publishers • 2005 –
Sonja Yelich,
Clung. Auckland University Press • 2004 –
Cliff Fell, ''The Adulterer's Bible''. Victoria University Press • 2003 –
Kay McKenzie Cooke,
Feeding the Dogs, Kay McKenzie Cooke. University of Otago Press • 2002 –
Chris Price,
Husk. Auckland University Press • 2001 –
Stephanie de Montalk,
Animals Indoors. Victoria University Press • 2000 –
Glenn Colquhoun,
The Art of Walking Upright. Steele Roberts • 1999 –
Kate Camp,
Unfamiliar Legends of the Stars. Victoria University Press • 1998 –
Kapka Kassabova,
All Roads Lead to the Sea. Auckland University Press • 1997 –
Diane Brown,
Before the Divorce We Go To Disneyland. Tandem Press • 1996 – James Brown,
Go Round Power Please. Victoria University Press ==General non-fiction==