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Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their works excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their cover art.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following thirty days due to new rules concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of both books, the publisher, stated that the awards organizers updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point 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 said.

Authors' Responses

Johnson expressed sympathy for the prize organizers, saying she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was disappointed by the decision.

“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 further stated that writers typically have minimal input in book artwork and was unaware AI had been used for her cover, which displays a feline 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,” Johnson said, noting that unlike younger age groups, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated images.

The writer worried that readers might think 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, Smither said that the designers spent considerable time creating her book's cover, which includes a locomotive and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by artist the artist's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that administers the prizes, affirmed the organization takes a “firm stance on the application of AI 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,” she stated.

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

The move to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a desire to protect the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's writers and illustrators, she added.

“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 employ tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident highlighted the urgent need for carefully crafted policies.

“Our industry must collaborate to prevent a recurrence of this scenario.”

Both Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs get minimal attention during judging.

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

The use of AI in creative fields has encountered increasing scrutiny as the tech progresses, with some groups developing methods to counter its impact.