Ngaio Marsh Awards Winners Announced
By Ngaio Marsh Awards | Posted: Friday Sep 26, 2025
Warmest congratulations to all winners especially Ōtepoti’s very own Wendy Parkins, winner of the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel, and pictured here with our very own Vanda Symon!
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in a tremendous evening in Dame Ngaio's hometown tonight, that was the culmination of our 16th Ngaios season - our longest, most full-on ever, with 30+ events held around Aotearoa showcasing #yeahnoir storytellers, along with being our toughest judging year.
Particular thanks to Steph Walker, Kiran Dass, everyone at WORD Christchurch, Ngaios judge Fiona Jay, and the marvellous Court Jesters Ciaran and Brendon who delivered a wonderful improv murder mystery performance before each of our attending finalists was spotlighted onstage, then the winners were announced.
HISTORY-MAKERS AND HISTORICAL CRIMES:
without further ado, our 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards winners are:
The 2025 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel went to Otago-based academic turned author Wendy Parkins, for THE DEFIANCE OF FRANCES DICKINSON (Affirm Press), based on a true 1830s story, a young heiress has a daring plan to escape her abusive, gaslighting husband.
Our judges said: “A skilfully written historical tale based on true 1830s events and a sensational trial that’s not easy reading given some monstrous acts. Parkins soaks readers in an era and attitudes which have some scary echoes today.”
Our 2025 Ngaios Best Non-Fiction winners are investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston & academic James Hollings, co-writers of THE CREWE MURDERS (Massey University Press), which harnesses striking new testimony to tell the most in-depth version of NZ’s most infamous cold case.
Our judges said: “Scrupulously researched, carefully structured, layered with forensic and legal detail. Among a small library of writing about the Crewes and Thomas, this should be regarded as the definitive record of one of New Zealand’s most infamous and troubling crimes.
And finally, the 2025 Ngaio for Best Novel went to Māori filmmaker and author Michael Bennett for RETURN TO BLOOD (Simon & Schuster Australia), where a skeleton in the sand dunes upturns ex-Auckland police detective Hana Westerman’s hometown respite from the tumult of criminal investigations.
Our judges said: “Excellent characters, populating a nuanced and telling plot which once again tackles the concept of justice for marginalised people… the second Hana Westerman tale heralds what is already looking like a superb series.”
Huge congratulations not only to our four winning authors, but all the finalists, longlistees, and entrants, plus libraries, booksellers, media, events hosts, judges, and readers who collectively made our 2025 Ngaios season the biggest and arguably best ever.
“It was a brilliant night to cap an outstanding season for the Ngaio Marsh Awards, with our terrifically strong and varied group of finalists,” says awards founder Craig Sisterson. “We were also really stoked to have the marvellous Court Jesters involved, delivering a wonderful improv murder mystery we’re sure would have tickled theatre-loving Dame Ngaio; a full circle moment back to our original plans in 2010.”
Photos:
Top: Michael, James, and Wendy with their trophies (Kirsty was unable to attend on the night).
Left: modern-day Queen of NZ crime Vanda Symon with Best First Novel winner and fellow Otago author Wendy Parkins
Right: finalists Gavin Strawhan, Stephen Tester, and Charity Norman with Best Novel winner Michael Bennett, who made history by joining Kiwi Crime King Paul Cleave as our only three-time Ngaios winner - though in Michael's case it's three different categories!