Storylines Event Calendar
February
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal & Lecture Award winner announced.
April
- International Children’s Book Day, Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday 2 April.
Storylines Margaret Mahy and National Awards Day, to announce and present:
- Storylines Margaret Mahy National Awards Day – 29 March 2026, Auckland
- Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award for lifetime achievement and a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy. The winner presents the annual Margaret Mahy lecture.
- 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- Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a children’s novel manuscript by a published or unpublished writer, in association with Scholastic New Zealand.
- Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a young adult novel manuscript, open to published and unpublished writers in association with Allen & Unwin.
- Storylines Te Kahurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira Award for a manuscript written originally in te reo Māori, in association with Huia.
- Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for a previously unpublished picture book illustrator, in association with Penguin Random House New Zealand.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.
May
May, August, September and October
August
- Storylines Notable Book List for books published in the previous 12 months (16 November – 15 November). Entries close 31 August each year.
- Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding services to children’s literature and literacy. The recipient presents the Storylines Spring lecture. Nominations close 31 August each year.
October
- Storylines Children’s Writers and Illustrators’ National Hui, 3-4 October 2026, Dilworth School, Auckland.
- Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text, in association with Scholastic New Zealand. Entries close 31 October each year.
- Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a children’s novel manuscript by a published or unpublished writer, in association with Scholastic New Zealand. Entries close 31 October each year.
- Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a young adult novel manuscript, open to published and unpublished writers in association with Allen & Unwin. Entries close 31 October 2027.
- Storylines Te Kahurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira Award for a manuscript written originally in te reo Māori, in association with Huia. Entries close 31 October each year.
November
- Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award for lifetime achievement and a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy. The winner presents the annual Margaret Mahy lecture. Nominations close 30 November each year.
- Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for a previously unpublished picture book illustrator, in association with Penguin Random House New Zealand. Entries close 30 November 2027.
We particularly thank Creative New Zealand for its Toi Uru Kahikatea funding support of Storylines events, awards and activities.
Please contact us if you have any queries about the Storylines programme. We look forward to your support and to seeing you at one or more of the events we have lined up.