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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand writers have had their works excluded from consideration for the country's prestigious literature prize because of the use of AI in creating their cover art.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 fiction award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following month due to new guidelines regarding AI usage.

The publishing house of the two books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards committee updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the covers for every submitted book would have previously been completed.

“It was, therefore, far too late for any publisher to have taken this clause into account in their design briefs,” Wilson noted.

Writers' Reactions

Johnson voiced understanding for the award administrators, stating she has deep concerns about AI in artistic industries, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she commented. “It’s my 22nd book, and it is my fourth collection of short stories. These stories … were written over a sort of 20 year period, so for me, it’s quite an important book.”

Johnson added that writers typically have minimal involvement in cover artwork and was did not know AI had been employed for her cover, which features a cat with human-like teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” the author explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated images.

The writer worried that readers might think she employed AI to compose her book, which she emphatically denied.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the designers spent hours crafting her publication's cover, which features a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter the artist's imagery.

“It is them I am most concerned about: that their meticulous work … is being disrespected,” she remarked.

Prize Committee's Position

Nicola Legat, head of the book awards trust that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust takes a strong position on the application of artificial intelligence in books.”

“The trust does not take lightly a decision that prevents the latest works of two of New Zealand’s most esteemed writers from being considered for the 2026 award,” Legat stated.

“Nevertheless, the rules apply equally to every participant, no matter their standing, and must be enforced uniformly.”

The move to amend the AI guidelines was driven by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property rights of the nation's authors and illustrators, she explained.

“With artificial intelligence advancing, the trust may need to review and refine these criteria in the future.”

Industry Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishers and writers often use software like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize AI, and this situation underscored the pressing requirement for well-defined guidelines.

“As an industry, we must work together to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs get little attention during judging.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” Smither said.

The application of AI in creative fields has encountered growing examination as the technology progresses, with some organizations creating methods to counter its influence.