Popular clinical psychologist and author Nigel Latta has been posthumously recognised with the Special Achievement Award at the Aotearoa NZ Book Industry Awards held on Saturday night.
The Special Achievement Award was accepted on Latta's behalf by his wife, Dr Natalie Flynn. Dr Flynn noted that the recognition reminded her of how well-loved Latta was during his life and that the love continues. She shared that Latta was humble and loved combining his passions of writing and helping people, deriving immense joy from knowing his work made a difference.
Readers and Industry Figures Share Impact of Latta’s Parenting Books
Dr Flynn reported that people frequently stop her on the street to explain how Latta's books guided them through difficult parenting years, with overseas readers also emailing about the reach of his material.
Full List of Winners at the Aotearoa NZ Book Industry Awards
The prize won by Latta was among 15 presented on Saturday night to booksellers, publishers, authors, and industry stalwarts for contributions over the past year.
- Nigel Latta – Special Achievement Award
- Petone-based Schrödinger’s Books – NielsenIQ Bookdata Bookshop of the Year
- Allen & Unwin – NZ Publisher of the Year
- A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern – Nielsen BookData NZ Award for the bestselling New Zealand title
- Penguin Random House NZ’s A Different Kind of Power’s launch campaign – Marketing & Publicity Strategy of the Year
- Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand’s sales team – Sales Professional of the Year Award
- The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey – Booksellers’ Choice Adult Award
- Hooked: Learning to Fish by Al Brown – Booksellers Choice Children’s Award
- Alison Shucksmith, publisher at Little Moa (Hachette, Aotearoa New Zealand) – Publishing Trailblazer of the Year Award
- Anastasia George of online retailer The Grimoire – Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year
- Speaking My Language by Mike McRoberts – Audiobook of the Year Award
- Kevin Chapman – Publishers Association of NZ Lifetime Achievement Award
- Carole Beu of The Women’s Bookshop in Ponsonby – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Wendy Tighe-Umbers, former owner of Time Out in Mt Eden – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards
- David Cameron, owner of Scorpio Books in Christchurch for half a century – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards
Industry Outlook and Judging Panel Context
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand manager Renee Rowland noted that rising costs and changing reading habits created a tough environment for the industry in recent years, though booksellers continued to punch above their weight. The awards were judged by RNZ broadcaster and memoirist Susie Ferguson, NZ Society of Authors director Jenny Nagle, Australian Booksellers Association president and Matilda Bookshop co-owner Gavin Williams, and The Martinborough Books & Post owner-manager Brenda Channer.
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