The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist is here, and we’re thrilled to see two OUP books included: Books of Mana: 180 Māori-authored books of significance and Ruth Dallas: A writer’s life. A massive congratulations to the editors of Books of Mana – Jacinta Ruru, Angela Wanhalla and Jeanette Wikaira – and all the contributors, and to Diana Morrow, author of Ruth Dallas: A writer’s life.
Here are some comments from Claire Mabey on the Spinoff:
‘I think Books of Mana has a decent shot: a brilliantly reference-able container for Māori-authored books that actually left me wanting more (the over 180 books listed are all non-fiction; I am pestering for the fiction edition next).’
‘… in my fantasy line-up I’m putting Ruth Dallas: A Writer’s Life by Diana Morrow. Dallas was a poet that many might have heard of but few know anything about. Morrow’s book slunk under the radar a bit in 2025 but it’s a hugely important piece of work that illuminates the quiet persistence of this really quite remarkable woman who forged a body of work in post-war Aotearoa when men tended to dominate the literary scene.’
Congratulations also to all the other longlisted authors, and to our wonderful 2025 authors too. You’re all winners in our eyes!