Storylines, in line with its general advocacy for the development of New Zealand children’s literature, offers 11 awards to writers, illustrators, publishers and those working in the field of children’s literature and literacy.
These include:

• Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award for lifetime achievement and a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy.
• Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy.
• StorylinesTe Kāhurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira Award for a work originally written in te reo Māori, in association with Huia Publishers and Massey University Te Pūtahi-a-Toi: School of Māori Knowledge.
• Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text, in association with Scholastic New Zealand.
• Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a children's novel manuscript, in association with Scholastic New Zealand. The Storylines new writer's award for an unpublished writer shortlisted for the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award.
• Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a young adult novel manuscript, in association with Walker Books Australia.
• Storylines Janice Marriott Mentoring Award, for six months mentoring by Janice Marriott
• Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for a previously unpublished picture book illustrator, in association with Penguin Random House New Zealand.
• Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book.
• Storylines Notable Book Award List for books published in the previous calendar year.

Several Storylines awards are presented at the annual Storylines Margaret Mahy National Awards Day, usually in early April each year. The recipient of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal is announced in advance, and presents a lecture on a topic of their choice.

The Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award recipient delivers the Storylines Spring Lecture at an award presentation usually held in November.

All Storylines awards are chosen by appointed panels of acknowledged experts in children's literature, among them authors, illustrators, teachers, children's librarians, academics and whanau.

Storylines Award Deadlines

Deadlines, entry forms and guidelines for Storylines' achievement and manuscript  awards are detailed on the pages for each award.:

• Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service to New Zealand children’s literature. The award honours the ‘unsung heroes’ of children’s literature, either at a regional or national level. Deadline for nominations is 31 August each year and the presentation is usually held in November.
• Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award for lifetime achievement and a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy. Deadline for nominations is 30 November each year and the presentation is held in early April the following year.
• Storylines Notable Books Awards are presented in November for books published during the previous year. Submissions are accepted from the date of publication from publishers and authors. Deadline for submissions for the 2021 awards is 31 August 2021, for books published between 1 January 2020 and 31 July 2021.
• Storylines manuscript awards.
  • Entries close on 31 October each year for the Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text, the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a junior fiction manuscript, the Storylines Te Kāhurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira Award for a manuscript written originally in te reo Māori (all genres),  and the Storylines Janice Marriott Mentoring Award for a junior fiction manuscript.
  • Entries close on 31 October 2021 for the next biennial Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a Young Adult manuscript.
• Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for a work submitted by an unpublished illustrator. Entries for the 2021 award close 30 November 2020.

2020 Storylines Award presentations

All our virtual award presentations made online in 2020 are available for you to watch or re-watch on our YouTube or Vimeo channels). Use the links below to see:

• Maria Gill, Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal
• Amiria Stirling, Storylines Kahurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira Award
• Stacy Gregg, Storylines Kids Pick Award
• Tania Sickling, Storylines Joy Cowley Award
• Cristina Sanders, Storylines Tessa Duder Award
• Belinda O'Keefe, Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award
• Janet Bottin & Christine Dale, Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book
• Janine Williams, inaugural winner of the Storylines Janice Marriott Mentoring Award.