New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults: YA Fiction Award

A note on the history of this award

Prior to 1993, there was no separate literary award in New Zealand recognising Young Adult fiction, but some winners of the Esther Glen Award for junior fiction would be considered part of the YA canon today. The YA Fiction Award proper came into existence in the year 1993 as part of the AIM Children’s Book Awards, and was known as the “Senior Fiction Award” from 1993-2004. In 1997, the AIM Children’s Book Awards became the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, and then it changed again to the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2004, at which time the “Senior Fiction Award” became the “Young Adult Fiction Award.”

The overall awards are now known as the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and the Young Adult Fiction Award currently carries prize money of NZ$7,500. In its distinguished history, it has been won by a number of the greats of New Zealand literature, with luminaries like Margaret Mahy, Jack Lasenby, Kate De Goldi, Maurice Gee, Tessa Duder, Elizabeth Knox and more in its list of recipients.

We have most of the award-winning books in our collection — explore the full list below.

Updated June 19, 2024
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Wellington City LibrariesYouth team at Wellington City Libraries
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Battlesaurus : rampage at Waterloo
Falkner, Brian
Paper Book
This riveting alt history reimagines the 1815 Battle of Waterloo as something other than a crushing defeat for the French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte, when he unleashes a terrible secret weapon--giant carnivorous survivors from pre-history--on his unsuspecting British and Prussian adversaries. In...

NZCYA Book Awards – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2016 winner

Stray
Craw, Rachael
Paper Book

NZCYA Book Awards – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2016 Children's Choice winner

Night vision
West, Ella
Paper Book
In the dark, Viola sees things no one else does . until the night she sees something she shouldn't. Would you take the money and run?

NZCYA Book Awards – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2015 Children's Choice winner

Mortal fire
Knox, Elizabeth.
Paper Book
Sixteen-year-old Canny Mochrie's parents go away on a vacation, so they send her off on a trip of her own with her step-brother Sholto and his opinionated girlfriend Susan, who are interviewing the survivors of a strange coal mine disaster and researching local folklore in 1959 Southland, New...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2014 winner

The bridge
Higgins, Jane.
Paper Book
The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside. nbsp; Nik is still in high school but is destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2012 Honour Award

Brain jack
Falkner, Brian.
Paper Book
Another terrifying sci-fi page-turner from the author of The Tomorrow Code! Las Vegas is gone--destroyed in a terrorist attack. Black Hawk helicopters patrol the skies over New York City. And immersive online gaming is the most dangerous street drug around. In this dystopic near...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2010 Children's Choice winner

The 10 p.m. question
De Goldi, Kate
Paper Book
Worry-prone Frankie keeps his family secret under control--until a bold, inquisitive girl enters his life--in this warm, witty, and captivating YA novel. Twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons is a talented kid with a quirky family, a best friend named Gigs, and a voice of anxiety...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2009 winner

Salt
Gee, Maurice.
Paper Book
Salt is an utterly compelling fantasy adventure, the work of a master storyteller at the peak of his powers. When his father Tarl is captured and enslaved to work in Deep Salt, Hari vows to rescue him. This is a forbidding task: no one returns from Deep Salt. But Hari was born and...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2008 winner

Genesis
Beckett, Bernard
Paper Book
Following the trend of dystopian novels, Genesis will appeal to readers of sci-fi and books like Robopocalypse, Blood Red Road, and the classic 1984. nbsp; It's the year 2075. nbsp; The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its...

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Young Adult Fiction Award – 2007 winner

Alchemy
Mahy, Margaret.
Paper Book
Roland is intrigued that his classmate, the mysterious Jess, is studying alchemy. When a sinister magician from Roland's past gets involved in the mystery surrounding Jess, Roland realizes he is trapped in a dangerous web of magic, power, and greed.

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards – Senior Fiction Award – 2003 winner

Voyage with Jason
Catran, Ken.
Paper Book
In this concise and clearly written handbook, worship leaders from every denomination and musical style will find a wealth of information on how to develop their leadership skills and improve the effectiveness of corporate worship. Kevin J. Navarro explains the four basic elements that are crucial...

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards – Senior Fiction Award – 2001 winner

Dare truth or promise
Boock, Paula
Paper Book
When Louie and Willa first meet, they don't know their lives will soon be changed forever. Self-assured Louie is gearing up for another successful year in high school, starring in a production of Twelfth Night and running the Comedy Club. Kicked out of her last school and still stinging from a...

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards – Senior Fiction Award – 1998 winner


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