These awards are principally (and generously) sponsored by Montana and Creative New Zealand and provide wonderful recognition each year for the best books written and illustrated by New Zealanders.
The annual awards ceremony and gala dinner were held last night in Auckland and from Bookman Beattie's view there were a number of stars.
*First and foremost Audrey Eagle. Her stunningly beautiful two volume "Eagle's Complete Trees & Shrubs of New Zealand" from Te Papa Press won the Illustrative book category, (it was the red hot favourite ), and also the big one, the Montana Medal for non-fiction.
But it was the author herself who stole the show with both her obvious surprise and delight and her comments that moved many in the audience including this hardened old award dinner attendee. Well done Audrey, we salute you. (See my blog review/comment from last November)
2.Jennifer Ward-Lealand
MC for the evening and what a great job she made of it.
If you are going to use celebrities for this sort of work, and not everyone believes you should, then it is vital that you get someone interested in the field, and in the case of book events someone who is an avid reader who feels passionately about the subject. Jennifer is just such a person and it is interesting to recall that she also opened the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival in May this year.
3.Paul Millar
Dr.Millar works in the English Department at Canterbury University, Christchurch and is an authority on James K. Baxter and his verse. He was Chairman of the Montana NZ Book Awards juding panel this year and made a superb fist of his responsibilties last evening.
I have requested a copy of Paul's notes with a view to publishing them on my blog in the next day or two.
Having judged and chaired these awards myself I know what a huge task it is and how important the chairman's role is at the awards ceremony. Well done Paul.
4.William Cottrell
William Cottrell's most impressive Furniture of the New Zealand Colonial Era picked up two well-merited awards but it was the sheer delight at his win and the story he told about an event resulting from his research that had the audience captivated. Wonderful stuff.
5.Helen Clark
The Prime Minister, a book lover from way back, is also Minister for the Arts, and I reckon she relishes these sorts of occasions, free as they are from politics and situated right in the heart of the arts world.
Another superb, non-political speech from the PM and I have been in touch with her electorate office to see if I might get a copy with a view to publishing on the blog. Watch this space.
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