Click on the names for more information on our sponsors:
Rātā Foundation
NBS Community Banking
Whakarewa/Ngāti Rārua Ᾱtiawa Iwi Trust
Wilsons Abel Tasman National Park
Rātā Foundation
NBS Community Banking
Whakarewa/Ngāti Rārua Ᾱtiawa Iwi Trust
Wilsons Abel Tasman National Park
In 2025, our te reo Māori judge was cultural exponent, teacher, weaver, researcher, editor, translator and writer, Nuki Takao. The English language judge, Lee Murray, received the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction in 2023 and is a five-time Bram Stoker Award® winner. Read more about the 2025 judges here.
Click on placegetter titles to read stories with judges' comments
English Section
First: Billy's Place by Terry Carson
Second: My Watercress Kitty by Gayle King-Tamihana
Third: The Elephants by Jessica Le Bas
Other Shortlisted English entries
In alphabetical order:
In alphabetical order:
- Astrid, the disbeliever by Jillian Robinson
- Coq Au Vin For Dinner by Janet Pates
- Da Boyz by Adele Anderson
- Emily's Ballet Flats by Roly Andrews
- Flush by Michelle Duff
- Scarlet Woman by Amanda Aitken
- Waves rise up like mountains by Michelle Elvy
Māori Section
Highly commended
Kua roa te utu, kua keka te haere by Atakohu Middleton
Due to the limited number of entries received, judge Nuki Takao was unable to award finalist prizes in this section.