The Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards celebrate excellence among New Zealand's debut authors. Last night, AUP's Sophie van Waardenberg and Philip Garnock-Jones were recognised among the winners. 

Sophie's poetry collection, No Good, was chosen by the judges of the Jessie Mackay Prize for Poetry, who noted, 'The poetic persona in the poems of No Good begs for attention. And why? Sophie van Waardenberg’s honed ability to hold the reader’s focus is impossible to ignore. No Good reads like a stupefying kiss. The poet shares her insights on grief, love and friendship with generosity. She makes the work of editing look effortless. The ‘Cremation Sonnets’ sequence is particularly impressive for the confidence with which this debut poet tackles the inexpressible, non-literary realities of bereavement.'

He Puāwai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowers, the culmination of Phil's long career as a botanist, documenting our native flowers in words and pictures, was named the winner of the Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction. The judges shared, 'Built out of a career dedicated to research and scientific discovery, He Puāwai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowers cements Philip Garnock-Jones as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading botanists. Detailed, accessible and stunningly beautiful in its design, his first book is a celebration of scholarship and the power of stereoscopic photography. In the text, Garnock-Jones reveals the hidden sex life of Aotearoa flora supported by his exquisite macro photographs that communicate a sense of wonder about our natural world.'

Congratulations to Sophie and Phil, and all of the Ockham finalists, for their beautiful books. Read more about the awards on the Ockham Awards website.