Dame Jacinda Ardern a finalist for NZ's top book prize

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards finalists revealed

Jacinda Ardern is up for a prize for her memoir, while author Catherine Chidgey could be the first person to win three prizes for fiction in the Ockhams.

It’s surprising that Jacinda Ardern has made the 2026 Ockham Book Awards shortlist

Surprise inclusions, shock exclusions and plenty of debates to be had. The 16 books still in the running for the biggest prize in NZ literature, revealed.

Ardern to win Ockham book award

Jacinda Ardern is set to win a major prize at the Ockham NZ national book awards. Her memoir, A Different Kind of Power, was named in the shortlist, published today at 5am – and as the only shortlisted author with a debut work, she will almost certainly be awarded the $3000 prize for best first book of nonfiction. One down, one to go; the $12,000 nonfiction prize itself will be announced at the finalists ceremony on May 13. The full shortlist is…

Dame Jacinda Ardern a finalist for NZ's top book prize

Dame Jacinda Ardern is a finalist for one of New Zealand’s top book prizes, with her memoir A Different Kind of Power shortlisted for a 2026 Ockham New...