The Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry is an award at the

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are literary awards presented annually in New Zealand. The awards began in 1996 as the merger of two literary awards events: the New Zealand Book Awards, which ran from 1976 to 1995, and the Goodman Fielder Wa ...

, presented annually to the winner of the poetry category. The winner receives a 10,000 prize.

History

The New Zealand Book Awards were set up by the New Zealand Literary Fund, a government organisation, in 1976. Annual awards were presented for literary merit in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and (later) book production. The Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards, New Zealand's other principal literary awards event, did not specifically award poetry prizes until 1994, when sponsorship was taken over by

Montana Wines Brancott Estate is the brand adopted since 2010 by Pernod Ricard for New Zealand's largest wine producer, formerly Montana Wines, which now operates as the New Zealand division of Pernod Ricard Winemakers. The name comes from its Brancott winery ...

and the event's name was changed to the Montana Book Awards. In 1994 and 1995, the Montana Book Awards included a category for poetry. In 1996, the two awards events were merged to create the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, and offering prizes in six categories, including poetry. In 2010, the

New Zealand Post NZ Post (), shortened from New Zealand Post, is a state-owned enterprise responsible for providing most postal services in New Zealand. The New Zealand Post Office, a government agency, provided postal, banking, and telecommunications servi ...

took over as sponsor, having supported the

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children's and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards were founded in 1982, and have had severa ...

for the previous 14 years. In 2015, Auckland property development firm Ockham Residential assumed sponsorship of the awards. No prizes were presented in that year. The Poetry Award was presented from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, the name of the award was changed to the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry.

Winners of the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry, 2020–present

* 2025: Emma Neale, ''Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit'',

Otago University Press Otago University Press is an academic publisher associated with the University of Otago. The press is located in Dunedin, New Zealand. The Otago University Press is the oldest academic publisher in New Zealand. The Otago University Press publis ...

* 2024: Grace Yee, ''Chinese Fish''.

Giramondo Publishing Giramondo Publishing (Giramondo Publishing Company) is an independent Australian literary small press founded in 1995. It is a publisher of poetry, fiction and non-fiction by Australian and overseas writers, and works in translation from Chinese ...

* 2023: Alice Te Punga Somerville, '' Always Italicise: How to Write While Colonised''.

Auckland University Press Auckland University Press is a New Zealand publisher that produces creative and scholarly work for a general audience. Founded in 1966 and formally recognised as Auckland University Press in 1972, it is a publisher based within the University ...

. * 2022: Joanna Preston, ''Tumble''. Otago University Press * 2021: Tusiata Avia, ''The Savage Coloniser Book''.

Victoria University Press Te Herenga Waka University Press or THWUP (formerly Victoria University Press) is the book publishing arm of Victoria University of Wellington, located in Wellington, New Zealand. As of 2022, the press had published around 800 books. History V ...

*2020:

Helen Rickerby Helen Rickerby is a New Zealand poet, writer, editor and publisher. In 2020, she won the Mary and Peter Biggs poetry prize at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are literary awards presented annually in New ...

, ''How to Live''. Auckland University Press

Winners of the Ockham New Zealand Book Award for Poetry, 2016–2019

* 2019: Helen Heath, ''Are Friends Electric?''. Victoria University Press * 2018: Elizabeth Smither, ''Night Horse''. Auckland University Press * 2017: Andrew Johnston, ''Fits & Starts''. Victoria University Press * 2016:

David Eggleton David Eggleton (born 1952) is a New Zealand poet, critic and writer. Eggleton has been awarded the Ockham New Zealand Book Award for poetry and in 2019 was appointed New Zealand Poet Laureate, a title he held until 2022. Eggleton's work has ap ...

, ''The Conch Trumpet''. Otago University Press

Winners of the New Zealand Post Book Award for Poetry, 2010–2014

* 2014: Vincent O'Sullivan, ''Us, Then''. Victoria University Press * 2013: Anne Kennedy, ''The Darling North''. Auckland University Press * 2012: Rhian Gallagher, ''Shift''. Auckland University Press * 2011: Kate Camp, ''The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls''. Victoria University Press * 2010: Brian Turner, ''Just This''. Victoria University Press

Winners of the Montana New Zealand Book Award for Poetry, 1996–2009

* 2009: Jenny Bornholdt, ''The Rocky Shore''. Victoria University Press * 2008: Janet Charman, ''Cold Snack''. Auckland University Press * 2007:

Janet Frame Janet Paterson Frame (28 August 1924 – 29 January 2004) was a New Zealand author. She is internationally renowned for her work, which includes novels, short stories, poetry, juvenile fiction, and an autobiography, and received numerous award ...

, ''The Goose Bath''.

Vintage In winemaking, vintage is the process of picking grapes to create wine. A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine ...

* 2006: Bill Manhire, ''Lifted''. Victoria University Press *

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

: Vincent O'Sullivan, ''Nice morning for it, Adam'' *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

: Anne Kennedy, ''Sing-song'' *

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

: Glenn Colquhoun, ''Playing God'' *

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

Hone Tuwhare Hone Peneamine Anatipa Te Pona Tuwhare (21 October 1922 – 16 January 2008) was a noted Māori people, Māori New Zealand poet. He is closely associated with The Catlins in the Southland region of New Zealand, where he lived for the latter ...

, ''Piggy-Back Moon'' *

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

Allen Curnow Thomas Allen Monro Curnow (17 June 1911 – 23 September 2001) was a New Zealand poet and journalist. Life Curnow was born in Timaru, New Zealand, the son of a fourth generation New Zealander, an Anglican clergyman, and he grew up in a relig ...

, ''The Bells of Saint Babels'' *

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

: Elizabeth Smither, ''The Lark Quartet'' *

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

: Vincent O'Sullivan, ''Seeing You Asked'' *

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, ''Shape-Shifter'' *

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

: Jenny Bornholdt,

Gregory O'Brien Gregory Leo O’Brien (born 1961) is a New Zealand poet, painter, author and editor. He is also an art curator and writes art history and criticism for both adults and children. Life Born in Matamata in 1961, O'Brien trained as a journalist in ...

, Mark Williams, eds., ''Anthology of New Zealand Poetry in English'' *

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

: Bill Manhire, ''My Sunshine''

Winners of the Montana Book Award for Poetry, 1994–1995

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

, ''Pieces of Music'' *

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

, Bill Manhire, ed., ''100 New Zealand Poems''

Winners of the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry, 1976–1995

: Michele Leggott, ''Dia'' *

: Andrew Johnston, ''How to Talk'' *

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

: Brian Turner, ''Beyond'' *

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

: Bill Manhire, ''Milky Way Bar'' *

1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...

Cilla McQueen Priscilla Muriel McQueen (born 22 January 1949) is a New Zealand poet and three-time winner of the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry, New Zealand Book Award for Poetry. Early years and education McQueen was born on 22 January 1949 in Birm ...

, ''Berlin Diary'' *

1990 Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...

: Elizabeth Smither, ''A Pattern of Marching'' *

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

, ''Benzina'' *

1988 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

Anne French Anne French (born 1956) is a New Zealand editor and poet. Life Anne French was born in Wellington, New Zealand. She graduated from Wellington Girls' College and Victoria University of Wellington with a research MA. Initially she worked as Lite ...

, ''All Cretans are Liars'' *

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

, ''The Loop in Lone Kauri Road'' *

: Elizabeth Nannestad, ''Jump'' *

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

: Kendrick Smithyman, ''Stories About Wooden Keyboards'' *

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

: Bill Manhire, ''Zoetropes'' *

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

Fleur Adcock Fleur Adcock (10 February 1934 – 10 October 2024) was a New Zealand poet and editor. Of English and Northern Irish ancestry, Adcock lived much of her life in England. She is well-represented in New Zealand poetry anthologies, was awarded an ...

, ''Selected Poems'' *

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

, ''You Will Know When You Get There'' *

, ''Homing In'' *

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. ...

: Alistair Campbell, ''Collected Poems'' *

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

, ''Wall'' *

, ''An Incorrigible Music'' *

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

: Kevin Ireland, ''Literary Cartoons'' *

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...

: Bill Manhire, ''How to Take Your Clothes Off at a Picnic'' *

: Ian Wedde, ''Spells for Coming Down'' *

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

: Ruth Dallas, ''Walking in the Snow'' *

: Alan Loney, ''Dear Mondrian'' *

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

: Louis Johnson, ''Fires and Patterns'' *

: C.K. Stead, ''Quesada''

Notes

{{reflist

External links

Official website of the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
New Zealand poetry awards