The 50 best New Zealand books of the past 50 years

This is one of the 743 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

About this list

Spinoff, 50 Books

To mark the Ockham New Zealand national book awards 50th Anniversary; the Spinoff asked 50 experts – authors, publishers, academics, booksellers – to name the very best New Zealand books published from 1968 - 2018.

This list was originally published in 2018 and was added to this site over 1 year ago.

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Cover of 'Plumb' by Maurice Gee

Plumb

Cover of 'To The Is Land' by Janet Frame

To The Is Land

Cover of 'The Bone People' by Keri Hulme

The Bone People

Cover of 'Potiki' by Patricia Grave

Potiki

Cover of 'An Angel At My Table' by Unknown

An Angel At My Table

Unknown

Cover of 'Redemption Songs' by Judith Binney

Redemption Songs

Cover of 'The Vintner's Luck' by Elizabeth Knox

The Vintner's Luck

Cover of 'The Book Of Fame' by Lloyd Jones

The Book Of Fame

Cover of 'Other Halves' by Sue McCauley

Other Halves

Cover of 'Te Puea' by Michael King

Te Puea

Cover of 'Can You Tolerate This?' by Ashleigh Young

Can You Tolerate This?

Cover of 'Once Were Warriors' by Alan Duff

Once Were Warriors

Cover of 'The Luminaries' by Eleanor Catton

The Luminaries

Cover of 'Tangata Whenua' by Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris

Tangata Whenua

Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris

Cover of 'The Life Of Katherine Mansfield' by Anthony Alpers

The Life Of Katherine Mansfield

Cover of 'The Treaty Of Waitangi' by Claudia Orange

The Treaty Of Waitangi

Cover of 'Pounamu, Pounamu' by Witi Ihimaera

Pounamu, Pounamu

Cover of 'A Novel About My Wife' by Emily Perkins

A Novel About My Wife

Cover of 'Smith’s Dream' by C. K. Stead

Smith’s Dream

Cover of 'The Sugarbag Years' by Tony Simpson

The Sugarbag Years

Cover of 'Not Her Real Name, And Other Stories' by Emily Perkins

Not Her Real Name, And Other Stories

Cover of 'The South Island Of New Zealand From The Road' by Robin Morrison

The South Island Of New Zealand From The Road

Cover of 'Hera Lindsay Bird' by Hera Lindsay Bird

Hera Lindsay Bird

Hera Lindsay Bird

Cover of 'The Trial Of The Cannibal Dog' by Anne Salmond

The Trial Of The Cannibal Dog

Cover of 'Blue Smoke' by Chris Bourk

Blue Smoke

Cover of 'Mister Pip' by Lloyd Jones

Mister Pip

Cover of 'Tangi' by Witi Ihimaera

Tangi

Cover of 'Lifted' by Bill Manhire

Lifted

Cover of 'Moriori' by Michael King

Moriori

Cover of 'Civilisation' by Steve Braunias

Civilisation

Cover of 'The Dictionary Of New Zealand English' by Harry Orsman

The Dictionary Of New Zealand English

Cover of 'Living In The Maniototo' by Janet Frame

Living In The Maniototo

Cover of 'Amiria' by Amiria Manutahi Stirling, Anne Salmond

Amiria

Amiria Manutahi Stirling, Anne Salmond

Cover of 'Bread And Roses' by Sonja Davies

Bread And Roses

Cover of 'Shape Shifter' by Hone Tuwhare

Shape Shifter

Cover of 'All Visitors Ashore' by C. K. Stead

All Visitors Ashore

Cover of 'Tu' by Patricia Grace

Tu

Cover of 'A City Possessed' by Lynley Hood

A City Possessed

Cover of 'The Unfortunate Experiment' by Sandra Coney

The Unfortunate Experiment

Cover of 'Opportunity' by Charlotte Grimshaw

Opportunity

Charlotte Grimshaw

Cover of 'Let The River Stand' by Vincent O’Sullivan

Let The River Stand

Vincent O’Sullivan

Cover of 'The Art Of Grahame Sydney' by Grahame Sydney

The Art Of Grahame Sydney

Cover of 'Māori' by Michael King

Māori

Cover of 'Trees And Shrubs Of New Zealand' by Audrey Eagle

Trees And Shrubs Of New Zealand

Cover of 'The 10pm Question' by Kate De Goldi

The 10pm Question

Cover of 'Two Worlds' by Anne Salmond

Two Worlds

Cover of 'Rita Angus' by Jill Trevelyan

Rita Angus

Cover of 'The Rehearsal' by Eleanor Catton

The Rehearsal

Cover of 'Oracles And Miracles' by Stevan Eldred-Grigg

Oracles And Miracles

Stevan Eldred-Grigg

Cover of 'Tragedy At Pike River Mine' by Rebecca Macfie

Tragedy At Pike River Mine