Eleanor Catton’s novel The Luminaries won the fiction prize and also took home the people’s choice award while Vincent O’Sullivan’s book Us, Then was awarded the poetry prize.
In accepting her awards, Ms Catton announced that she will use the prize money to set up a new reading grant to support New Zealand writers.
It will be the only grant of its kind in this country—a sum of money that supports writers by allowing them time for structured reading which, Ms Catton says, is a crucial part of writing.
“Writers are readers first; indeed our love of reading is what unites us above all else. If our reading culture in New Zealand is dynamic, diverse, and informed, our writing culture will be too.”
Ms Catton said she had not yet named the grant “in case a nice philanthropist hears about this and would like to lend their name and support”.
Earlier this month, publisher of The Luminaries Victoria University Press, announced that the novel had sold over 117,000 copies in its first year in New Zealand alone. Ms Catton has had speaking engagements at literary festivals held around the world including in Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and Canada.
“I find myself now in the extraordinary position of being able to make a living from my writing alone, something I never dreamed was possible. It seems only right to do as Emery Staines would do, and start giving this fortune away,” said Ms Catton.
Emery Staines is a character in The Luminaries who wins big on the West Coast goldfields.
Ms Catton said it was an honour to be awarded the fiction prize and the people's choice award.
“I’d like to thank my publishing family and the readers who have supported The Luminaries. The response to the book has been phenomenal and I’m so grateful for the support I’ve had.”
Accepting his prize for the best book of poetry published in the last year, Vincent O’Sullivan said that poetry was in rude health and joked that “there are more publishing poets in New Zealand than there are commissioned officers in the army”.
Mr O’Sullivan is the current New Zealand Poet Laureate.
Victoria University Press (VUP) publisher Fergus Barrowman said that he was thrilled with both wins and proud of the success of all the VUP writers who were in this year's awards.
"I am delighted for Ellie and Vincent, and also for our best first book winners, Marty Smith and Amy Head. The inclusion of VUP titles in many finalist categories showcases the strength and breadth of our writers."
It was announced in July that Amy Head, a Wellington-based editor, had won the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Best First Book award for fiction for her collection of short stories, Tough, and that Hawke’s Bay teacher Marty Smith had won the NZSA Best First Book award for poetry for her first collection, Horse with Hat.
Ms Catton will be speaking at the WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival taking place from 27 – 31 August.