Happy publisher proud of winning authors

Paula Morris with Rangatira wins the Fiction category at the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards

Penguin Group (NZ) is proud that Paula Morris’s novel Rangatira has won the 2012 Fiction category at New Zealand’s prestigious New Zealand Post Book Awards. The award was announced at a ceremony held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum last night.

Rangatira was released in November 2011 with great success. The novel was a long-awaited and especially personal project for Paula Morris as it is based on the life of her ancestor Ngati Wai chief Paratene Te Manu. Rangatira is an immediate, gripping and accessible read that touches on the interesting and difficult dynamics of New Zealand’s colonial history. Extensively researched, Rangatira follows the true story of Paratene Te Manu on a historic journey, with a party of fourteen northern rangatira or elders, to England to meet Queen Victoria.

Penguin Group (NZ) was also delighted to have Hamish Clayton presented with his award for the NZSA Best First Book Award for Fiction – the country’s highest accolade for an emerging writer. Hamish is a fresh and talented new voice and his work Wulf was a stunning debut.

Margaret Thompson, Managing Director of Penguin Group (NZ) stated “We heartily congratulate Paula Morris and Hamish Clayton, and are delighted to share in their remarkable success.”