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Debut Collection Wins NZ's Richest Literary Prize
14 May
Summary
- Ingrid Horrocks' debut short story collection won a major NZ$65,000 literary prize.
- The winning book, 'All Her Lives', features nine women across different life stages.
- This marks only the fifth time a short story collection has won this prestigious award.
First-time fiction writer Ingrid Horrocks has been awarded the prestigious NZ$65,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn prize for fiction at the 2026 Ockham New Zealand book awards. Her debut short story collection, 'All Her Lives,' which delves into the lives of nine women across different generations and life stages, earned her this significant literary honor.
The winning collection, celebrated for its exploration of politics, gender, and motherhood, has made history as only the fifth short story collection to secure the top prize in the awards' 58-year history. Horrocks, previously known for her poetry, essays, and memoirs, expressed shock and delight at her win, noting that fiction allows her a deeper connection with her characters.
Judges praised Horrocks' collection for its crispness, clarity, and assured handling of themes concerning gender and sexuality. 'All Her Lives' traverses diverse settings and historical periods, from post-WWI rural New Zealand to modern-day Berlin and the 1981 Springbok tour protests, consistently centering women's experiences. The awards also recognized other debut works, including Jacinda Ardern's memoir and a poetry collection by Nafanua Purcell Kersel.
