NZ PM’s Awards for Literary Achievement winners announced

Creative New Zealand has announced the recipients of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement, worth NZ$60,000 (A$56,000) each.

In recognition of their contribution to New Zealand literature, Stephanie Johnson was awarded in the fiction category, historian Vincent O’Malley was honoured in nonfiction and poet James Norcliffe in poetry.

A founder of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival, Johnson’s many novels include the prize-winners The Shag Incident, The Whistler, and Belief (all PRHNZ). In 2019, Johnson was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature.

O’Malley, a founding partner of HistoryWorks, a group of historians specialising in Treaty of Waitangi research, is the author of books on New Zealand history including The Meeting Place: Māori and Pākehā encounters, 1642–1840 (Auckland University Press) and Beyond the Imperial Frontier: The contest for colonial New Zealand (Bridget Williams Books). His book on the Waikato War, The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (Bridget Williams Books), was published to acclaim in 2016, and O’Malley won the general nonfiction category at the at the 2022 Ockham NZ Book Awards.

Norcliffe has published 11 collections of poetry, a short story collection, a novel and several novels for young people. He has had a long involvement with takahē poetry magazine including as editor and was president of the New Zealand Poetry Society from 2005-2007.

‘Every year I’m delighted to have the opportunity to honour the incredible contribution of three of our most talented writers,’ said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. ‘The awards recognise not only their literary achievements, but also the significant impact their work has had on the cultural landscape of Aotearoa.’

The three winners will be honoured at a lunch hosted by the prime minister in March 2023.

Pictured (L-R): James Norcliffe, Stephanie Johnson, Vincent O’Malley.

Category: Awards Local news