ReadingRoom
The great NZ poetry debate
An epic declaration on the state of contemporary poetry in NZ
Third place in the 2026 Sargeson Prize
Canterbury writer Lorraine Carmody has won 3rd place in the Sargeson Prize with a short story about a nurse caring for a woman at home
This week’s bestselling books – October 30
The latest NielsenIQ BookScan chart of NZ books, plus win a strong contender to win next year’s $65,000 fiction prize
Book of the Week: Lloyd Jones wishes to tell us things we already know
Death stalks the pages of a new memoir by one of NZ’s most distinguished writers
On a train, all things are possible
A new book comes to praise and downright adore Wellington Railway Station
The last of the Baxters
On the death of John Baxter, son of James K Baxter and Jacqueline Sturm
Winner of the school division of the 2026 Sargeson Prize
Green Bay High School student Haelyn King has won the schools division of the Sargeson Prize with her story about friendship, mental illness, and courage
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Award-winning author and writer Steve Braunias brings you the best literary coverage in NZ every Saturday.
PORTRAITS
The grandma no one wanted to talk about
Tracing a family history that unravels with a drowning in Karori Stream
Auf wiedersehen to far-right Germany
An NZ writer who has made Berlin her home for 15 years on life in the time of a right-wing revival
No more Pākehā memoirs
An author on attempting something new: a book on the metaphysics of the Pākehā people.
The last days of Antonios Papaspiropoulos
An author’s cancer diary as he prepares for one last trip home to Athens
Second place story in the 2026 Sargeson Prize
Auckland writer Cait Kneller has won 2nd place in the Sargeson Prize with her story about two girls who meet on holiday
Winning story of the 2026 Sargeson Prize
Wellington writer Mikee Donato has won the $15,000 Sargeson Prize for her short story about two soul mates
A short story is about to pay $15,000
Notes on the state of the NZ short story ahead of tonight’s Sargeson Prize
Short story: Losing Out, by Erica Stretton
A daughter returns to the family farm
NEWS
Airini, Breton, & Stacy win Surrey & Māpua residencies
Announcing the winners of a literary award in Grey Lynn and Māpua
Mulligan’s announcement, at 1.45pm
Jesse Mulligan will announce who won the 2026 Surrey Hotel and Māpua writers residency award this afternoon
Captain Cook: Thinking about James
With a new book tracing changing attitudes towards James Cook, five authors were asked, ‘What do you think of when you think of Cook?’
The Nicky Hager bombshell (if it is a bombshell)
Steve Braunias reports from the Nicky Hager book launch event
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The bestselling books at Labour Weekend
The bestselling NZ books this long weekend, plus win a political memoir by Ardern’s spin doctor
‘The words of bland praise most Kiwis want to hear from immigrants’
A review of a powerful new novel narrated by an Indian grandfather living in Wellington
New focus on doctor who beat his wife
Two senior figures in NZ law both seize on the ugly case of an abusive doctor in their new memoirs
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