Māori and Pasifika designers have taken out the top honours at the 2024 PANZ Book Design Awards, held in Auckland this evening.

The supreme award, the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book sponsored by Nielsen BookData, went to Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere by Jade Kake and Jeremy Hansen (Massey University Press), a tribute to the late architect Rewi Thompson. Read Lama Tone's review of the book on Kete here.

The book’s cover was designed by Tyrone Ohia and Eva Charlton from design agency Extended Whānau, and the interior by Tyrone Ohia, Eva Charlton, Max Quinn-Tapara (Extended Whānau) and Katrina Duncan.

The designers are credited with crafting a work of bold elegance, where every detail — from the colour palette to the thoughtful typography — celebrates Rewi’s legacy.

The judging panel said the approach from the design team can be summed up in the he mihi at the opening of the book: “We battle, strive and live to tame this great fish that Māui caught. Our youthfulness allows us to be playful, energetic, lively, enthusiastic and experimental and not overburdened by the weight of our past.”

Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere and Pacific Arts Aotearoa, edited by Lana Lopesi (Penguin Random House NZ in association with Pacific Arts, Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa) and designed by Shaun Naufahu (Alt Group) and Katrina Duncan, were vying for the top spot in three of the most hotly contested categories.

Pacific Arts Aotearoa was the winner of the Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Best Typography while Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere took out the HarperCollins Publishers Award for Best Cover, before the shock announcement that both titles would receive the honour of Penguin Random House New Zealand Award for Best Illustrated Book.

The judges were split down the middle and felt strongly that both books were equally worthy of the prize so made the unusual decision to award it to two titles.

Finally, attendees at the ceremony had the chance to vote for the book they considered most beautiful. The audience clearly agreed with the judges and Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere was awarded the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand People’s Choice Award.

Other winners included Past the Tower, Under the Tree: Twelve Stories of Learning in Community edited by Balamohan Shingade and Erena Shingade (GLORIA Books) designed by Katie Kerr, which won the Upstart Press Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book. While The Observologist by beloved children’s author and illustrator Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press) designed by Vida Kelly, was awarded the Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book.

The highly anticipated Allen & Unwin Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults went to Fungi of Aotearoa by Liv Sisson (Penguin Random House NZ), designed by Carla Sy. And the always hotly contested 1010 Printing Award for Best Cookbookwas taken out by Enjoy: Food Worth Sharing with the People You Love by Kelly Gibney (Beatnik), designed by Sally Greer. The awards also recognise the best in Aotearoa's vibrant educational publishing scene with the Lift Education Award for Best Educational Book or Series — Primary going to Kuwi & Friends He Puka Ngohe: Activity Book by Kat Quin, translated by Pānia Papa (Illustrated Publishing), designed by Kat Quin and Chelsea McKirdy. The Lift Education Award for Best Educational Book or Series — Secondary/Tertiary was won by Reo Ora – Ko Te Weu Level Three: A Māori Language Course for Intermediate Learners by Rāpata Wiri (Huia Publishers), designed by Camilla Lau

The PANZ Book Design Awards were established by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) to promote excellence in, and provide recognition for, the best book design in New Zealand.

The 2024 PANZ Book Design Award Winners are:

Gerard Reid Award for Best Book sponsored by Nielsen BookData

• Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere by Jade Kake and Jeremy Hansen (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Tyrone Ohia & Eva Charlton (Extended Whānau), interior by Tyrone Ohia, Eva Charlton, Max Quinn-Tapara (Extended Whānau) & Katrina Duncan

Penguin Random House New Zealand Award for Best Illustrated Book (Joint winners)

• Pacific Arts Aotearoa edited by Lana Lopesi (Penguin Random House NZ in association with Pacific Arts, Creative New Zealand |Toi Aotearoa). Cover designed by Shaun Naufahu (Alt Group), interior by Shaun Naufahu (Alt Group) & Katrina Duncan

• Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere by Jade Kake and Jeremy Hansen (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Tyrone Ohia & Eva Charlton (Extended Whānau), interior by Tyrone Ohia, Eva Charlton, Max Quinn-Tapara (Extended Whānau) & Katrina Duncan

Upstart Press Award for Best Non-Illustrated Book

• Past the Tower, Under the Tree: Twelve Stories of Learning in Community edited by Balamohan Shingade and Erena Shingade (GLORIA Books). Designed by Katie Kerr

Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book

• The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press). Designed by Vida Kelly

Allen & Unwin Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults

• Fungi of Aotearoa by Liv Sisson (Penguin Random House NZ). Designed by Carla Sy

1010 Printing Award for Best Cookbook

• Enjoy: Food Worth Sharing with the People You Love by Kelly Gibney (Beatnik). Designed by Sally Greer

HarperCollins Publishers Award for Best Cover

• Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere by Jade Kake and Jeremy Hansen (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Tyrone Ohia & Eva Charlton (Extended Whānau)

Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Best Typography

• Pacific Arts Aotearoa edited by Lana Lopesi (Penguin Random House NZ in association with Pacific Arts, Creative New Zealand|Toi Aotearoa). Cover designed by Shaun Naufahu (Alt Group), interior by Shaun Naufahu (Alt Group) & Katrina Duncan

Lift Education Award for Best Educational Book or Series — Primary

• Kuwi & Friends He Puka Ngohe: Activity Book by Kat Quin, translated by Pānia Papa (Illustrated Publishing). Designed by Kat Quin and Chelsea McKirdy

Lift Education Award for Best Educational Book or Series — Secondary/Tertiary

• Reo Ora – Ko Te Weu Level Three: A Māori Language Course for Intermediate Learners by Rāpata Wiri (Huia Publishers). Designed by Camilla Lau

Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand People’s Choice Award

• Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere by Jade Kake and Jeremy Hansen (Massey University Press). Cover designed by Tyrone Ohia & Eva Charlton (Extended Whānau), interior by Tyrone Ohia, Eva Charlton, Max Quinn-Tapara (Extended Whānau) & Katrina Duncan