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A pair of award-winning Kiwi writers have had their books disqualified from contention for the nation's prestigious literary award due to the use of AI in designing their cover art.

Exclusion Particulars

The author's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 novel award in October, but were disqualified the next thirty days because of recently introduced rules concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of both books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the prize committee updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which time the cover designs for all entered title 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,” the publisher noted.

Authors' Reactions

Johnson expressed sympathy for the award administrators, stating she has serious worries about AI in creative industries, but was disappointed by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she remarked. “This marks my 22nd publication and my fourth short story anthology. These tales … were composed over roughly two decades, making this a particularly significant work for me.”

She added that authors usually have little input in book design and was did not know AI had been employed for her book cover, which features a cat with human-like teeth.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson said, adding that unlike younger generations, she finds it difficult to recognize computer-created images.

The writer worried that readers might assume she used artificial intelligence to write her book, which she emphatically did not do.

“Rather than discussing my book's themes and inspirations, we're focused on this AI issue, which I despise.”

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the artists spent considerable time creating her book's art, which features a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Committee's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the application of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“We do not make such a decision lightly, one that bars the newest works by two of New Zealand's most respected authors from the 2026 prize,” Legat said.

“However, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana [status], and must be consistently applied to all.”

The decision to revise the AI guidelines was motivated by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property rights of the nation's writers and artists, she explained.

“As AI evolves, there may well be a need for the trust to revisit and develop the criteria further.”

Publishing Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and authors regularly use tools like Grammarly and image editors, which utilize AI, and this situation highlighted the pressing need for well-defined policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that covers get minimal attention during judging.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” Smither said.

The use of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered growing scrutiny as the tech progresses, with some groups creating methods to address its impact.