New Zealand's authors are of exceptional quality and are roundly celebrated.  The depth of skill in their writing is, of course, what books are all about.

But sometimes, it's OK to judge books a little more instantaneously.

The Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) have rolled out the finalists for this year's Book Design Awards, giving us express permission to - on this occasion - judge a book by its cover.

“Across the more than 130 entries we had the pleasure of reviewing, we were struck by the diversity of book design and artistic expression. Alongside grand and bold designs sat quieter books with intricately crafted typographic detail,” explains judging panel convener Anna Brown.

“We were invigorated by the publishing community's commitment to celebrating and elevating indigenous design. This year’s selections not only showcase extraordinary design but also honour the richness of Māori and Pacific narratives.”

134 entries have been whittled down to 46 finalists across 9 categories - with the winners of each in the running for the main prize, the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book.

Objectspace publication The Chair by Kim Paton has garnered three nominations for Cover designer Toby Curnow and the interior of Arch MacDonnell and Jane MacDonnell (all from Inhouse): Best Illustrated Book, Best Cover (just Curnow) and Best Typography.

Arch MacDonnell, in fact, has four nominations all up - with another Best Illustrated Book contender for The Lost hours by Laurence Simmons and a second Best Typography finalist nod with Gordon Walters by Francis Pound.

Four as well for designer Carla Sy - Best Non-Illustrated Book with Nga Kupu Wero, Best Children's Book for There Was an Odd Farmer Who Swallowed a Fly as well as Best Cover and Best Commercial Book for Adults with Fungi of Aotearoa.

Alan Deare and Dave McDonald of Area Design have three chances at success - Best Illustrated Book and Best Cover (Flora: Celebrating Our Botanical World) as well as Best Cookbook (Plated: A lifetime love affair with food as creative directors).

The design work of Shaun Naufahu and Katrina Duncan has seen the Creative NZ-supported Pacific Arts Aotearoa (edited by Lana Lopesi) nominated for Best Illustrated Book and  Best Typography.

Duncan is also attached to Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere in the Illustrated Book and Best Typography categories, Blood and Dirt: Prison Labour and the Making of New Zealand for Best Non-Illustrated Book for five all up - the most nominations by a single designer this year.

Vida Kelly dominates the Best Children's Book category with At the Bach, Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai and The Observologist all in the running, with the latter also up for Best Cover.

Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere also has three nominations all up with Tyrone Ohia and Eva Charlton from Extended Whānau up for Best Cover as well and its previous two nominations alongside Duncan and Max Quinn-Tapara.

Duncan Munro has three finalist invites too - twice for ‘A Bloody Difficult Subject': Ruth Ross, te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Making of History (Best Illustrated Book and Best Typography) and one for Continuous Ferment: A History of Beer and Brewing in New Zealand in Best Illustrated Book.

Katie Kerr's got two nods, in contention for Best Cover and Best Non-Illustrated Book with Past the Tower, Under the Tree: Twelve Stories of Learning in Community - as does Camilla Lau with Reo Ora – Ko Te Weu Level Three: A Māori Language Course for Intermediate Learners for Best Education Book or Series — Secondary/Tertiary and Best Typography.

Learnwell's Barnaby McBryde will contest the Best Education Book or Series — Primary award for Year 7 Mathematics Start Right Workbook and the Secondary/Tertiary category with Year 9 Material World Learning Guide and Year 9 Physical World Learning Guide.

Kate Barraclough has two chances as well, Butter, Butter for Best Cookbook and Be Your Best Self in the Best Commerical Book for Adults Category.

Best Cookbook finalist The Abundant Kitchen and Best Commercial Book for Adults contender Whakawhetai: Gratitude are both designed by Megan van Staden

The Awards will be handed out on 19 September in Auckland, followed by PANZ Book Design Workshop the next day filled with panel discussions and networking opportunities with their industry peers.

Top of the pops

The World Choir Games came to a spectacular close on Saturday (20 July) - as the Closing Ceremony brought Spark Arean to life with a near sold-out crowd enjoying the performance of the event's official song - Te taukaea tangata / Breathing in, breathing out, composed by Don McGlashan and Hana Mereraiha, performed by Marlon Williams and Ria Hall, accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia, and backed by the 600-voice Festival Stage Choir.

It's been an electric 11 days in Tāmaki Makaurau, with more than 11,000 participants for 'the Olympics of choral singing" at a number of events around the city - often seen bursting into spontaneous song and drawing appreciated crowds of onlookers.  The Parade of Nations literally stopped traffic.

From among the 250 choirs from 42 nations attending, a total of 21 Open Competition and 24 Champions Competition category winners were announced during the event. 

Among them 13 medals by the host country - as New Zealand choirs did the nation proud including Vocal FX winning gold in the Pop Choirs Champions category and the Indigenous category, Nota Bene gold in the Vocal Ensembles Open category, Sitting Room Singers tasting Open Mixed Chamber Choirs success and United Auckland Gospel Choir the Open Gospel gold medallists. 

There was so many incredible moments for the Aotearoa choirs - like the joyous performance and reception for Manurewa High's Rewaken Polycation Choir, in a must-see video here on The Big Idea.

New Zealand Choral Federation CEO Christine Argyle notes “Our New Zealand choirs have come away inspired by the extraordinary performances they’ve heard, invigorated by the workshops they’ve attended, and proud of the medals they’ve earned through months of preparation. Hosting the World Choir Games has been a tremendous boost to our choral sector and the benefits will reverberate for years to come.”

All up, New Zealand finished third on the overall medal table, with China the runaway winner with 63 medals, followed by the USA with 17. Aotearoa grabbed more than twice Australia's tally, with our Trans-Tasman neighbour finishing with 6.

Organisers of the event, INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch states “Auckland has thrilled the world! We have already received enthusiastic feedback from so many choirs, who described the World Choir Games 2024 as a magical and incredible experience. The powerful Māori culture has given this event a unique character, which will remain a lifelong memory for both the participants and us at INTERKULTUR.”

WCG 2024 Executive Director Kylie Sealy offered a shout out to those behind the scenes - “We couldn’t have delivered the Games without the immense support from our family of partners, funders, venues and suppliers, who helped us deliver 410 individual activities across the 11 days, along with our incredible 350 volunteers who were utterly dedicated in their support of our many choirs and activities.”

Te Reo Māori making money

The race to be Aotearoa's top film of 2024 has new leaders.

KA WHAWHAI TONU is now the highest-grossing New Zealand film this year after just four weeks in cinemas with almost $800,000 to its name -overtaking previous 2024 films lifetime box office including The Mountain and The Convert. 

Mark Chamberlain, General Manager of Transmission Films New Zealand comments “KA WHAWHAI TONU is an incredibly poignant film, and an absolute credit to the entire filmmaking team.  We have all been delighted to see the response from audiences flocking to the cinema to embrace this film, we believed in the film from the outset and it’s affirming to see the results thus far.”

New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annie Murray adds "This Māori language film is timely and has obviously resonated with New Zealand audiences, and we look forward to seeing it continue to reach audiences across various platforms locally and globally for many years to come.”

Director Mike Johnson gave The Big Idea an insight into the making of the film - set in 1864, KA WHAHWAI TONU tells the story of the pivotal battle of O-Rākau in the first New Zealand land wars in the Waikato region.
 

Given KA WHAWHAI TONU is still in theatres, their lead is likely to be extended even further.

Accelerated opportunity

For those hoping to follow in Johnson's footsteps, The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ) is now in charge of an important overseas opportunity.

DEGANZ  has taken over managing the participation of New Zealand short filmmakers in the Melbourne International Film Festival’s (MIFF) Accelerator Lab from NZ Film Commission (NZFC) as part of the organisation's change in strategy.

“Our thanks go to NZFC for putting its trust in DEGANZ to deliver this key talent development initiative for emerging New Zealand filmmakers,” explains DEGANZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu. “We appreciate, and are sure the industry does too, the NZFC’s ongoing commitment to NZ filmmaking talent and this initiative in particular.”

The Accelerator Lab is held during the MIFF in August, designed to nurture tomorrow’s top screen directors on the journey towards their first long-form works, with the participants selected from the Festival's short film entries.

The selective-entry lab provides up to 20 short film directors four days of workshops, screenings, seminars and networking events on the business and creative aspects of the film industry with leading local and international screen practitioners.

“DEGANZ looks forward to working with the MIFF Accelerator Lab to ensure the selected NZ filmmakers get the most out of this highly focused opportunity to help further their careers,” Ruwhiu adds.

New Zealanders at the MIFF Accelerator Lab has a hugely impressive alumni -  including Taika Waititi (Hunt For The Wilderpeople),  Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesdays), Michelle Savill (Millie Lies Low), Jeremiah Tauamiti (For My Father’s Kingdom), Zoe Macintosh (Stylebender), Sam Kelly (Savage), Matthew J. Saville (Juniper) and Gaysorn Thavat (The Justice of Bunny King).