Auckland, New Zealand - Schrödinger’s Books in Petone has won the NielsenIQ BookData Bookshop of the Year at the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards for its skilful curation of books catering to diverse community interests and excellence in showcasing local and international authors in a year-long series of in-store events.

The award was presented to the store’s owner manager Mary Fawcett at a cocktail ceremony

emceed by popular comedian and children’s book author Sam Smith held at Rydges Auckland.

The prize was among 15 honours presented to booksellers, publishers, authors and book trade stalwarts for excellence, success and innovation in work carried out in the industry between April 2025 and March 2026.

In a closely fought category, judges highlighted Schrödinger’s Books’ strong sense of reciprocity with its community, whose support helped fund a shop redesign that now allows it to host even more events.

‘Schrödinger’s is an exceptional bookstore that has increased its community reach through creative programmes conducted with a clear sense of purpose. The store’s submission demonstrated the huge effort and hard work put in by the team, led by a passionate owner.’

It is the second time Schrödinger’s Books has won Bookshop of the Year. The first was in in 2021.

A special achievement award was presented to Nigel Latta in memoriam for his contribution to the book industry.

The award was accepted by Latta’s wife, Dr Natalie Flynn, from Whitcoulls’ Book Manager Joan Mackenzie.

‘Nigel Latta has been a mainstay of both the publishing and bookselling industries, with his books being go-to recommendations for parents looking for help and support. His books delivered this in spades.

‘Readers came back again and again, knowing that his expert guidance could make their lives a little easier, and it made us proud to be the go-between. From our observation, an entire generation of children must have grown up beneath his wisdom and the world was a better place for it,’ says Ms Mackenzie.

More than 250,000 copies of Latta’s books have sold since his first book was published in 2000. They include Politically Incorrect Parenting, Mothers Raising Sons, Fathers Raising Daughters and his most recent, Lessons on Living, which was published on 30 September 2025 – the day he died.

Allen & Unwin has won the NZ Publisher of the Year.

The judges praised the publisher for its small, tightly focused team that continues to punch above its weight.

‘Allen & Unwin New Zealand is a publisher committed to amplifying untold stories alongside bigger titles and investing genuinely in its authors and communities,’ say the judges.

A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern published by Penguin Random House has taken out the NielsenIQ BookData NZ Award for the bestselling New Zealand title in the 2025 calendar year.

The former New Zealand Prime Minister’s memoir has sold more than 70,000 copies since publication.

Penguin Random House NZ won Marketing & Publicity Strategy of the Year for A Different Kind of Power’s launch campaign. 

The judges said the campaign was backed by an experienced team and a strong marketing budget, using multiple platforms to carry its title beyond the political-memoir category and into the wider national conversation.

The Sales Professional of the Year Award was won by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand’s sales team.

‘We found it hard not to score this team highly across every measure after a standout year of results,’ say the judges, who dubbed the team ‘The Formidables’.

The Book of Guilt by acclaimed author Catherine Chidgey published by Te Herenga Waka University Press has won the Booksellers’ Choice Adult Award.

Celebrated chef Al Brown’s practical, colourful and recipe-filled book Hooked: Learning to Fish, Illustrated by Hope McConnell and published by Allen & Unwin, NZ was awarded the Booksellers Choice Children’s Award.

The two titles were decided in a vote by the booksellers of Aotearoa as the books they’ll always keep on the shelf, that are considered modern classics and are loved by customers and booksellers.

The Publishing Trailblazer of the Year Award went to Alison Shucksmith, publisher at Little Moa (Hachette, Aotearoa New Zealand).

Judges pointed to Shucksmith’s commitment to developing Māori authors and championing inclusion and diversity, the establishment of the Margaret Mahy Illustrators Prize, the securing of multiple international publishing rights, and her work getting young readers to the Auckland Writers Festival — all in service of readers often under-represented in print.

Anastasia George of online retailer The Grimoire has won the Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year.

‘Anastasia won this award for building a genuinely innovative, greenfields bookselling business,’ say the judges. ‘In establishing The Grimoire as an outlet offering limited edition books, Anastasia has carved out a real niche, and she is steadily growing its New Zealand audience.’

Celebrated broadcaster Mike McRoberts’ memoir Speaking My Language (HarperCollins, New Zealand) has won the Libro.fm Audiobook of the Year Award. The judges described the audiobook, which McRoberts narrated himself, as exhibiting excellence in all of the necessary elements that make the experience memorable for the reader.

‘Mike McRoberts’ superb narration of his journey to reconnect with his whakapapa, paired with a flawless sound production by Audiobooks New Zealand, was the overall star of the show,’ say the judges.

Kevin Chapman has been honoured with the Publishers Association of NZ Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kevin is a publishing business leader who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years across New Zealand, the UK, Canada, the US and Australia. Before starting his own publishing company, Upstart Press, in 2013, he was managing director of Hachette NZ and Anne Geddes Publishing. He has also served as the president of the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ). Kevin’s publishing distribution warehouse based in Penrose, Auckland is a cornerstone of the local book industry.

Reviewer, event chair and books champion Carole Beu of The Women’s Bookshop in Ponsonby, Wendy Tighe-Umbers – former owner of Time Out in Mt Eden and David Cameron who has owned Scorpio Books in Christchurch for half a century were each presented with Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Carole Beu opened The Women’s Bookshop in 1989 after being persuaded to take over a Dominion Road lease from feminist magazine Broadsheet. Over more than 35 years, Beu has built the store, now situated in Ponsonby, into a much-loved community institution. She is a tireless champion of women’s writing, presents the annual Ladies’ Litera-Tea festival, and helped found the Auckland Writers Festival, serving as a trustee for 17 years. In 2019, Beu was awarded an MNZM for services to the literary industry and the LGBTQIA+ community.

A former science teacher and deputy principal, Wendy Tighe-Umbers bought Time Out Bookstore in Mt Eden in 2002 and ran it for almost 24 years, growing it into one of Auckland’s most-loved independent bookshops before passing the reins to long-serving manager Jenna Todd earlier this year.

David Cameron began bookselling at 16 at University Bookshop Otago, bought Christchurch’s Pisces Books in 1975 and renamed it Scorpio Books in 1979. With Dave’s trademark generosity, passion for books of all genres and focus on excellent customer service, Scorpio has grown to be Christchurch’s largest independent bookshop. Beloved by customers, the store, which weathered the Christchurch earthquakes, continues to extend its reach, and celebrates 50 years this year.

Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand (BSANZ) manager Renee Rowland says booksellers continue to punch above their weight in an increasingly difficult market‘Rising costs and changing reading habits have made the last few years some of the toughest the industry has faced, but our booksellers continue to adapt and innovate, and knowing the power that books have to change lives, they will continue to show up for their communities.

‘These awards are a chance to recognise booksellers and publishers who demonstrate an unswerving commitment to excellence and a determination to explore every opportunity to champion local books and authors.’

The 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards were judged by broadcaster and memoirist Susie Ferguson, NZ Society of Authors director Jenny Nagle, Australian Booksellers Association president and co-owner of Matilda Bookshop, Gavin Williams, and owner-manager of Bookstore of the Year 2025 The Martinborough Books & Post, Brenda Channer.

BSANZ sincerely thanks this year’s award sponsors and funders for their generous support.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards have been recognising the best New Zealand publishers, booksellers and industry stalwarts connecting Aotearoa books and readers for more than 20 years.