Johnson told Morning Report writers often had little to do with the creation of covers. But she had suggested a \u201cwicked-looking cat with fake teeth\u201d for her novel.<\/p>\n
She said she understood why the trust wanted to draw a line in the sand as the industry grapples with the alarming rise of AI, but she argued the literary work should outweigh concerns about a fictional book\u2019s cover.<\/p>\n
This year is the first time AI regulations have been applied to the awards. The criteria spelled out in the entries pack state that books are judged as a whole \u2013 including jacket design \u2013 and that works containing AI-generated illustrations or AI-authored content are not eligible.<\/p>\n
However, publisher Quentin Wilson said the covers would have been created many months before the entry guidelines were issued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Awards Trust had signalled its intention to change the criteria well in advance of the submission process (such major changes are normally signalled a year in advance), more nuanced and widely understood eligibility criteria could have been developed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson said the situation highlighted the need to develop thorough and clear guidelines around AI use, especially when authors already heavily relied on tools like Photoshop and Grammarly.<\/p>\n
Nicola Legat, chairperson of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust, said the rules followed research and consultation with the local book sector and aimed to support creative and copyright interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Trust does not take lightly a decision that prevents the latest works of two of New Zealand\u2019s most esteemed writers from being considered for the 2026 award.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana, and must be consistently applied to all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe Blades, manager of Unity Books Auckland and a judge in the PANZ Book Design Awards, supported the restrictions, saying they set essential parameters around creative integrity.<\/p>\n
\u201cBook covers speak to what\u2019s inside the book, interpreted by sentient, compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful people, and it\u2019s those characteristics that AI can\u2019t offer that give a book its character and soul.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know this is a strong opinion and it\u2019s okay for people to disagree, but people designing a book cover is, just like writing the book, how we maintain our industry\u2019s creativity and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blades said AI poses a significant challenge to the book industry but welcomed the broader conversation about its use.<\/p>\n
\u201cAI is as big a threat to books as Amazon was when it arrived, if not more so, and we survived that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to work together to only let AI into our industry in a way that works for us \u2013 and preserve what makes this industry great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legat said the trust may revisit and refine the AI rules in the future.<\/p>\n
The 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, opening for entries this week, will include similar restrictions.<\/p>\n
The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards celebrate literary excellence for books written by New Zealanders.<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s first M\u0101ori wahine professor Ng\u0101huia te Awek\u014dtuku (Te Arawa, Ng\u0101puhi, Waikato) won the General Non-Fiction Award for her memoir Hine Toa: A Story of Bravery at the 2025 awards in May.<\/p>\n
The longlists for most of the 2026 Ockham categories will be announced on January 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
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