Authors disqualified from New Zealand book awards over AI-generated covers

Tuesday 18 November 2025 · 6 outlets · 2 reports · updated Tue 18 Nov 2025, 4:22pm

Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have been removed from contention for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. The decision follows the application of new regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence on book covers.

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1. Otago Daily TimesTue 18 Nov 2025, 2:00pm

   Top NZ authors dumped from book award over AI covers (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldTue 18 Nov 2025, 4:22pm

   Top writers ruled out of NZ book awards due to AI covers (opens in new tab)

   Also on 1News (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab), Waikato Times (opens in new tab)