The award was presented in a ceremony at Auckland’s Aotea Centre on 13 May.
Massey University Press Publisher at Large Nicola Legat says the team is thrilled for Elizabeth Cox.
“Since this book was published last November it has been both wowing and wooing readers, especially in Wellington. It is one of our best-selling books and has featured on the Unity Wellington bestseller list for many weeks. This is another lovely feather in its cap.”
The Ockham award judges described Mr Ward's Map as innovative, engaging, inherently human and a celebration of research and storytelling.
“Elizabeth Cox deployed one historic cartographic document as the foundation for a superbly written publication that bridges multiple world views and time periods — highlighting one source and how it resonates in the contemporary moment.
“While anchored in Victorian Wellington, Cox presents a range of complex issues and histories that have universal reach. This skilfully interweaves impacts of colonial land alienation on tangata whenua, reveals imbalances and intersectional experiences of race, class and gender, and offers a reflection of societal changes, and what remains the same,” the judges said.
The award winning book has strong connections to Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. The stunning design is by Dr Jo Bailey of Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts and the College’s imaging expert Peter Miles was responsible for all the retouching work on the maps. completed by.
The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are the country’s premier literary honours for books written by New Zealanders. The 2026 award is an addition to the large string of awards won by the Press since it was established ten years ago.
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